Alternatives to Checkov
Scan infrastructure code for configuration problems. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
Checkov
Scan infrastructure code for configuration problems.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as Checkov.
Trivy
Scan software and infrastructure for known security issues.
Trivy combines configuration checks with container and filesystem vulnerability scanning, so one tool covers more than infrastructure code, under the same Apache-2.0 license.
KubeLinter
Review Kubernetes manifests for common configuration problems.
KubeLinter only reviews Kubernetes manifests, Helm charts and Kustomize definitions, so it drops coverage of other provisioning formats that Checkov supports.
Kubescape
Assess Kubernetes configuration and runtime security.
Kubescape targets Kubernetes configuration and adds runtime security features, which require installation and permissions inside the cluster rather than static file checks alone.
Also worth comparing
These listings name Checkov as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.
kube-bench
Check Kubernetes settings against CIS benchmark tests.
Checkov scans infrastructure-as-code across several formats for misconfigurations rather than testing a live cluster against CIS benchmarks.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
zizmor
Find security mistakes in CI configuration before they reach a runner.
Semgrep
Find code patterns and potential problems with static analysis.
Prowler
Check cloud environments for security configuration issues.
Gitleaks
Scans Git repositories, files and pipelines for leaked secrets.
OSV-Scanner
Check project dependencies against the OSV vulnerability database.
