Aqua Security vs Upwind: 2026 CNAPP comparison
Cloud Security Compare editors · Matchups reviewed September 2026 · Editorial assessment
The short version
Upwind scores higher overall, 3.9 to 3.7, and wins 4 of seven criteria: agentless coverage, runtime protection, risk prioritization and AI workload security. Aqua wins 2: code-to-cloud security and ecosystem and integrations. They tie on pricing transparency. Choose Aqua if developers will fix issues in code and you want cloud risks traced back to the repository; choose Upwind if you need inventory and posture for models, AI services, agents and MCP servers.
Aqua Security
3.7/ 5
Upwind
3.9/ 5
Aqua Security wins 2 criteria, Upwind wins 4, 1 tied.
Who wins Aqua vs Upwind?
Upwind is ahead by 0.24 points on exact totals. Aqua's wins cover 26% of our weights; Upwind's cover 64%; tied criteria cover 10%. The largest single gap is on AI workload security, where Upwind leads by 0.7.
Where each design starts, on our reading: Aqua, container pipeline and runtime enforcement; Upwind, runtime sensor, with agentless scanning.
How do Aqua and Upwind compare on each criterion?
| Criterion | Weight | Aqua | Upwind | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agentless coverage and time to value | 18% | 3.4 | 4.0 | Upwind +0.6 |
| Runtime protection depth | 16% | 4.5 | 4.7 | Upwind +0.2 |
| Risk prioritization and attack paths | 18% | 3.9 | 4.5 | Upwind +0.6 |
| Code-to-cloud and AppSec | 14% | 4.2 | 3.8 | Aqua +0.4 |
| AI workload security | 12% | 3.7 | 4.4 | Upwind +0.7 |
| Ecosystem and integrations | 12% | 3.8 | 3.5 | Aqua +0.3 |
| Pricing transparency | 10% | 1.5 | 1.5 | Tie |
Agentless coverage and time to value
Weight 18%
Aqua: Offers agentless posture visibility, but the platform's depth comes from kernel-layer enforcement.
Upwind: Agentless scanning is part of the platform, though Upwind's design centers on its runtime sensor.
Runtime protection depth
Weight 16%
Aqua: Kernel-layer enforcement blocks attacks without killing the container and preserves memory evidence.
Upwind: eBPF sensors, baselines of cloud activity and network flows, and forensic event timelines; Upwind says it detects threats in 15 seconds.
Risk prioritization and attack paths
Weight 18%
Aqua: Ranks vulnerabilities by reachability, EPSS scores and evidence of active exploitation.
Upwind: Correlates static findings with runtime context for attack path and exposure analysis; Upwind claims 93% noise reduction.
Code-to-cloud and AppSec
Weight 14%
Aqua: Scans images and repositories for vulnerabilities, secrets and misconfigurations and blocks noncompliant artifacts in the pipeline; Aqua maintains Trivy.
Upwind: IaC security, SCA and SBOM, DAST and a container admission controller; SAST is not among its listed modules.
AI workload security
Weight 12%
Aqua: GenAI application security from code to runtime and detection of unsanctioned AI usage.
Upwind: AI inventory, AI-BOM, AI-SPM, an AI sensor, AI detection and response, and offensive testing for models, agents and MCP servers.
Ecosystem and integrations
Weight 12%
Aqua: Trivy's open-source reach, FedRAMP High authorization and support for disconnected environments.
Upwind: A younger company (founded October 2022, 150+ customers per its newsroom) with a smaller partner and integration footprint.
Pricing transparency
Weight 10%
Aqua: No public price list found.
Upwind: No public price list; the pricing URL returns a 404.
Scores are 0 to 5. The marker leans toward the stronger vendor; a gap of 1.5 or more pins it to the end. How to read these bars
How do Aqua and Upwind price?
| Pricing fact | Aqua | Upwind |
|---|---|---|
| Published pricing | Not published. Contact sales. | Not published. Contact sales. |
| Billing basis | Not published. Contact sales. | Not published. Contact sales. The pricing URL returned a 404 when reviewed. |
| Pricing transparency score | 1.5 | 1.5 |
Source: Aqua platform · Reviewed Sep 2026
Source: Upwind home · Reviewed Sep 2026
What are the key differences?
| Fact | Aqua Security | Upwind |
|---|---|---|
| Deployment | Agentless posture plus kernel-layer runtime enforcement; public cloud, private cloud and disconnected environments | Agentless scanning combined with eBPF runtime sensors |
| Runtime sensor | Kernel-layer enforcement that blocks attacks without killing the container | eBPF sensor; CDR with cloud activity baselines and forensic timelines |
| Clouds named | Public cloud, private cloud and disconnected (air-gapped) environments | AWS, Google Cloud, Azure, OCI (named as partners) |
| Code security | Image and repository scanning for vulnerabilities, secrets and misconfigurations; pipeline gating | IaC security, SCA and SBOM, DAST, container admission controller |
| AI security | GenAI application security from code to runtime; unsanctioned AI usage detection | AI inventory, AI-BOM, AI-SPM, AI sensor, AI detection and response, offensive testing for models, agents and MCP servers |
| Ownership | Aqua Security | Standalone vendor; founded October 2022 in San Francisco; $250 million Series B announced 26 January 2026 |
| Public pricing | Not published. Contact sales. | Not published. Contact sales. |
| Open-source project | Trivy (maintained by Aqua Security, Apache-2.0) | None named |
Aqua Security sources: Aqua platform · Trivy · Reviewed Sep 2026
Upwind sources: Upwind home · Upwind newsroom · AI security platform · CDR · Reviewed Sep 2026
When should you choose Aqua?
- Developers will fix issues in code and you want cloud risks traced back to the repository. Aqua scores 4.2 against 3.8: Scans images and repositories for vulnerabilities, secrets and misconfigurations and blocks noncompliant artifacts in the pipeline; Aqua maintains Trivy.
- You want wide integration coverage and a larger platform around the CNAPP. Aqua scores 3.8 against 3.5: Trivy's open-source reach, FedRAMP High authorization and support for disconnected environments.
When should you choose Upwind?
- You need inventory and posture for models, AI services, agents and MCP servers. Upwind scores 4.4 against 3.7: AI inventory, AI-BOM, AI-SPM, an AI sensor, AI detection and response, and offensive testing for models, agents and MCP servers.
- You want the widest coverage without installing agents first. Upwind scores 4.0 against 3.4: Agentless scanning is part of the platform, though Upwind's design centers on its runtime sensor.
Frequently asked questions
Is Aqua or Upwind better?
Upwind scores higher overall, 3.9 to 3.7, and wins 4 of seven criteria: agentless coverage, runtime protection, risk prioritization and AI workload security. Aqua wins 2: code-to-cloud security and ecosystem and integrations. This is an editorial assessment of public vendor material, not a test result.
Where is Aqua stronger than Upwind?
On code-to-cloud security and ecosystem and integrations: code-to-cloud and AppSec 4.2 against 3.8; ecosystem and integrations 3.8 against 3.5.
Do Aqua and Upwind publish prices?
Aqua: Not published. Contact sales. Upwind: Not published. Contact sales.