Aqua Security vs Wiz: 2026 CNAPP comparison
Cloud Security Compare editors · Matchups reviewed September 2026 · Editorial assessment
The short version
Wiz scores higher overall, 4.4 to 3.7, and wins 5 of seven criteria: agentless coverage, risk prioritization, code-to-cloud security, AI workload security and ecosystem and integrations. Aqua wins 1: runtime protection. They tie on pricing transparency. Choose Aqua if detecting and blocking attacks inside running workloads is the main job; choose Wiz if you want the widest coverage without installing agents first.
Aqua Security
3.7/ 5
Wiz
4.4/ 5
Aqua Security wins 1 criterion, Wiz wins 5, 1 tied.
Who wins Aqua vs Wiz?
Wiz is ahead by 0.68 points on exact totals. Aqua's wins cover 16% of our weights; Wiz's cover 74%; tied criteria cover 10%. The largest single gap is on agentless coverage and time to value, where Wiz leads by 1.4.
Where each design starts, on our reading: Aqua, container pipeline and runtime enforcement; Wiz, agentless, with an added sensor.
How do Aqua and Wiz compare on each criterion?
| Criterion | Weight | Aqua | Wiz | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agentless coverage and time to value | 18% | 3.4 | 4.8 | Wiz +1.4 |
| Runtime protection depth | 16% | 4.5 | 4.2 | Aqua +0.3 |
| Risk prioritization and attack paths | 18% | 3.9 | 4.9 | Wiz +1.0 |
| Code-to-cloud and AppSec | 14% | 4.2 | 4.6 | Wiz +0.4 |
| AI workload security | 12% | 3.7 | 4.6 | Wiz +0.9 |
| Ecosystem and integrations | 12% | 3.8 | 4.9 | Wiz +1.1 |
| 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.
Wiz: Connects by API and, Wiz states, reaches VMs, containers, serverless, PaaS and AI resources without agents.
Runtime protection depth
Weight 16%
Aqua: Kernel-layer enforcement blocks attacks without killing the container and preserves memory evidence.
Wiz: The eBPF-based Wiz Sensor can block threats, but runtime is a layer added to an agentless core rather than where the product started.
Risk prioritization and attack paths
Weight 18%
Aqua: Ranks vulnerabilities by reachability, EPSS scores and evidence of active exploitation.
Wiz: The Security Graph links infrastructure, identities, data and AI resources into attack paths; it is the design most rivals get compared against.
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.
Wiz: Wiz Code covers SCA and SBOM, IaC, secrets and malware scanning, IDE and GitHub integration, ASPM and code-to-cloud tracing.
AI workload security
Weight 12%
Aqua: GenAI application security from code to runtime and detection of unsanctioned AI usage.
Wiz: Agentless AI-BOM across SageMaker, OpenAI, Bedrock and Vertex AI, AI attack paths, and runtime detection of prompt injection and rogue agents.
Ecosystem and integrations
Weight 12%
Aqua: Trivy's open-source reach, FedRAMP High authorization and support for disconnected environments.
Wiz: 200+ integrations through its WIN program, a Fortune 100 footprint Wiz puts above 65%, and Google ownership since March 2026.
Pricing transparency
Weight 10%
Aqua: No public price list found.
Wiz: No public price list; quotes come through sales or cloud marketplaces.
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 Wiz price?
| Pricing fact | Aqua | Wiz |
|---|---|---|
| Published pricing | Not published. Contact sales. | Not published. Contact sales. |
| Billing basis | Not published. Contact sales. | Not published. Contact sales. |
| Pricing transparency score | 1.5 | 1.5 |
Source: Aqua platform · Reviewed Sep 2026
Source: Wiz platform · Reviewed Sep 2026
What are the key differences?
| Fact | Aqua Security | Wiz |
|---|---|---|
| Deployment | Agentless posture plus kernel-layer runtime enforcement; public cloud, private cloud and disconnected environments | Agentless, connects by cloud API; optional Wiz Sensor for runtime |
| Runtime sensor | Kernel-layer enforcement that blocks attacks without killing the container | Wiz Sensor, eBPF-based, blocks threats in real time on VMs, containers and serverless containers (Wiz Defend) |
| Clouds named | Public cloud, private cloud and disconnected (air-gapped) environments | AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, OCI |
| Code security | Image and repository scanning for vulnerabilities, secrets and misconfigurations; pipeline gating | Wiz Code: SCA and SBOM, IaC, secrets, malware, IDE scanning, GitHub, code-to-cloud tracing, ASPM |
| AI security | GenAI application security from code to runtime; unsanctioned AI usage detection | AI-SPM with agentless AI-BOM (SageMaker, OpenAI, Bedrock, Vertex AI); runtime detection of prompt injection and rogue agents |
| Ownership | Aqua Security | Part of Google since 11 March 2026 ($32 billion deal announced 18 March 2025) |
| 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
Wiz sources: Wiz platform · Wiz Code · Wiz Defend and Sensor · Wiz AI-SPM · Google closes Wiz deal · Google announcement · Reviewed Sep 2026
When should you choose Aqua?
- Detecting and blocking attacks inside running workloads is the main job. Aqua scores 4.5 against 4.2: Kernel-layer enforcement blocks attacks without killing the container and preserves memory evidence.
- Its designation in our matrix is "Best for container pipelines and disconnected estates".
When should you choose Wiz?
- You want the widest coverage without installing agents first. Wiz scores 4.8 against 3.4: Connects by API and, Wiz states, reaches VMs, containers, serverless, PaaS and AI resources without agents.
- You want wide integration coverage and a larger platform around the CNAPP. Wiz scores 4.9 against 3.8: 200+ integrations through its WIN program, a Fortune 100 footprint Wiz puts above 65%, and Google ownership since March 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Is Aqua or Wiz better?
Wiz scores higher overall, 4.4 to 3.7, and wins 5 of seven criteria: agentless coverage, risk prioritization, code-to-cloud security, AI workload security and ecosystem and integrations. Aqua wins 1: runtime protection. This is an editorial assessment of public vendor material, not a test result.
Where is Aqua stronger than Wiz?
On runtime protection: runtime protection depth 4.5 against 4.2.
Do Aqua and Wiz publish prices?
Aqua: Not published. Contact sales. Wiz: Not published. Contact sales.