Wiz vs Prisma Cloud (now Cortex Cloud): which platform wins in 2026?
Cloud Security Compare editors · Matchups reviewed September 2026 · Editorial assessment
The short version
Wiz scores higher, 4.4 to 4.0, and wins five of seven criteria. Palo Alto Networks Cortex Cloud, the product Prisma Cloud became in 2025, wins runtime protection depth (4.6 against 4.2) and comes within 0.1 on code security. Pick Cortex Cloud if you already run Palo Alto Networks security operations tools; pick Wiz for agentless coverage and attack-path analysis.
Wiz
4.4/ 5
Palo Alto Networks Cortex Cloud (formerly Prisma Cloud)
4.0/ 5
Wiz wins 5 criteria, Palo Alto Networks Cortex Cloud (formerly Prisma Cloud) wins 1, 1 tied.
What is the verdict?
The name change matters to this comparison. Palo Alto Networks merged Prisma Cloud with Cortex CDR to form Cortex Cloud, announced on 13 February 2025, so the product is now built around runtime detection and response as well as posture. That shows in the scores: Cortex Cloud beats Wiz on runtime and trails it by 0.1 on code. Wiz stays ahead on agentless coverage, where the Cortex Cloud pages we reviewed lead with a runtime agent, and on attack paths, AI and ecosystem.
How do Wiz and Cortex Cloud compare on each criterion?
Agentless coverage and time to value
Weight 18%
Wiz: Connects by API and, Wiz states, reaches VMs, containers, serverless, PaaS and AI resources without agents.
Cortex Cloud: Posture, vulnerability and attack-surface modules work from cloud APIs, but the pages we reviewed lead with a runtime agent and do not name agentless workload scanning.
Runtime protection depth
Weight 16%
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.
Cortex Cloud: Formed by merging Prisma Cloud with Cortex CDR; a performance-optimized agent stops attacks as they execute.
Risk prioritization and attack paths
Weight 18%
Wiz: The Security Graph links infrastructure, identities, data and AI resources into attack paths; it is the design most rivals get compared against.
Cortex Cloud: SmartScore and SmartGrouping rank findings by real exposure, with attack path analysis across identities and data.
Code-to-cloud and AppSec
Weight 14%
Wiz: Wiz Code covers SCA and SBOM, IaC, secrets and malware scanning, IDE and GitHub integration, ASPM and code-to-cloud tracing.
Cortex Cloud: Application security is one of the platform's four pillars, aimed at stopping risk before it reaches production.
AI workload security
Weight 12%
Wiz: Agentless AI-BOM across SageMaker, OpenAI, Bedrock and Vertex AI, AI attack paths, and runtime detection of prompt injection and rogue agents.
Cortex Cloud: AI-SPM maps models, datasets and agents, flags model poisoning and supply chain risk, and classifies data used for RAG.
Ecosystem and integrations
Weight 12%
Wiz: 200+ integrations through its WIN program, a Fortune 100 footprint Wiz puts above 65%, and Google ownership since March 2026.
Cortex Cloud: Sits in the Palo Alto Networks Cortex portfolio next to its security operations products, and Prisma Cloud customers move onto it.
Pricing transparency
Weight 10%
Wiz: No public price list; quotes come through sales or cloud marketplaces.
Cortex Cloud: No public price list; Palo Alto Networks includes CNAPP at no additional cost for Cortex Cloud Runtime Security customers.
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
What are the key differences?
| Fact | Wiz | Palo Alto Networks Cortex Cloud (formerly Prisma Cloud) |
|---|---|---|
| Deployment | Agentless, connects by cloud API; optional Wiz Sensor for runtime | Cloud API posture modules plus a performance-optimized runtime agent |
| Runtime sensor | Wiz Sensor, eBPF-based, blocks threats in real time on VMs, containers and serverless containers (Wiz Defend) | Cortex Cloud Runtime Security agent; CDR from the Cortex CDR merger |
| Clouds named | AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, OCI | Multi-cloud (the pages we reviewed do not list clouds by name) |
| Code security | Wiz Code: SCA and SBOM, IaC, secrets, malware, IDE scanning, GitHub, code-to-cloud tracing, ASPM | Application security module aimed at stopping risk before production |
| AI security | AI-SPM with agentless AI-BOM (SageMaker, OpenAI, Bedrock, Vertex AI); runtime detection of prompt injection and rogue agents | AI-SPM: models, datasets and agents; model poisoning and supply chain risk; RAG data classification |
| Ownership | Part of Google since 11 March 2026 ($32 billion deal announced 18 March 2025) | Palo Alto Networks. Prisma Cloud merged with Cortex CDR to form Cortex Cloud (announced 13 February 2025) |
| Public pricing | Not published. Contact sales. | Not published. CNAPP included at no additional cost for Cortex Cloud Runtime Security customers. |
| Open-source project | None named | None named |
Wiz sources: Wiz platform · Wiz Code · Wiz Defend and Sensor · Wiz AI-SPM · Google closes Wiz deal · Google announcement · Reviewed Sep 2026
Palo Alto Networks Cortex Cloud (formerly Prisma Cloud) sources: Cortex Cloud launch press release · Cortex Cloud · Cloud posture security · AI-SPM · Reviewed Sep 2026
When should you pick Wiz?
- You want coverage without deploying agents first.
- Several teams will use the platform and you want the Security Graph as the shared view.
- You are not committed to a Palo Alto Networks security operations stack.
When should you pick Cortex Cloud?
- You are a Prisma Cloud customer; Palo Alto Networks moved Prisma Cloud customers onto Cortex Cloud.
- Your SOC runs on Cortex and you want cloud detections in the same place.
- You are buying Cortex Cloud Runtime Security, which includes CNAPP at no additional cost, according to Palo Alto Networks.
What do buyers get wrong about this matchup?
Buyers still compare "Wiz vs Prisma Cloud" using Prisma Cloud reviews from before 2025. The product sold now is Cortex Cloud, with runtime and CDR from Cortex. Old Prisma Cloud weaknesses, and old strengths, may no longer apply. Ask for a Cortex Cloud demonstration, not a Prisma Cloud one.
Frequently asked questions
Is Prisma Cloud still sold?
Palo Alto Networks announced in February 2025 that Prisma Cloud was merged with Cortex CDR to form Cortex Cloud, and that Prisma Cloud customers would upgrade to Cortex Cloud. Buyers should evaluate Cortex Cloud.
Is Wiz better than Prisma Cloud?
In our assessment Wiz scores 4.4 and Cortex Cloud 4.0. Cortex Cloud is stronger on runtime protection depth; Wiz is stronger on five criteria; pricing transparency is tied.
Does Cortex Cloud scan without agents?
Its posture, vulnerability and attack-surface modules work from cloud APIs. The pages we reviewed describe a performance-optimized runtime agent and do not name agentless workload scanning, so confirm coverage in a proof of concept.