Aqua vs CrowdStrike: cloud security facts side by side
How do their category maps compare?
CrowdStrike Falcon Cloud Security
- Described on the vendor's pages we read
- Not in our sources (it may exist; we did not find it on the pages we read)
What are the facts, side by side?
| Fact | Aqua | CrowdStrike |
|---|---|---|
| Positioning | A cloud native security platform built around kernel-layer runtime enforcement, with agentless posture visibility, for public, private and disconnected environments. | CrowdStrike's cloud security module, which pairs agentless posture with the same Falcon sensor used on endpoints. |
| Agent approach | Agentless parts, agent for depth Offers agentless posture visibility; the platform's depth comes from kernel-layer enforcement on the workload. Source: Aqua cloud native security platform, read . | Agentless parts, agent for depth Agentless CSPM; workload protection is split between agentless scanning and the Falcon sensor. Source: CrowdStrike Falcon Cloud Security, read . |
| Runtime sensor | Kernel-layer enforcement that blocks attacks without killing the container itself. Source: Aqua cloud native security platform, read . | The CrowdStrike Falcon sensor, the same agent used for endpoints. Source: CrowdStrike Falcon Cloud Security, read . |
| Clouds namedDiffers | AWS, Azure, GCP, OCI, Alibaba Aqua names AWS, Azure, GCP, Oracle and Alibaba Cloud environments, plus Kubernetes; its platform page also describes private cloud and disconnected environments. Source: Aqua pricing, read . | AWS, Azure, GCP, OCI The Falcon Cloud Security page links to AWS, Azure, Google Cloud and OCI pages; Alibaba Cloud is not named. Source: CrowdStrike Falcon Cloud Security (re-read), read . |
| CNAPP | Described Positions one platform across posture, pipeline scanning and runtime enforcement. Source: Aqua cloud native security platform, read . | Described Combines CSPM, workload protection, CIEM, ASPM and AI-SPM under Falcon Cloud Security. Source: CrowdStrike Falcon Cloud Security, read . |
| CSPM | Described CSPM is listed among the capabilities on its pricing page, alongside CWPP, agentless and agent-based scanning and eBPF runtime detection. Source: Aqua pricing, read . | Described Agentless CSPM enriched with adversary intelligence. Source: CrowdStrike Falcon Cloud Security, read . |
| CWPP | Described Monitor, detect, enforce and contain inside running workloads, with kernel-layer enforcement. Source: Aqua cloud native security platform, read . | Described Cloud workload protection with agent and agentless options. Source: CrowdStrike Falcon Cloud Security, read . |
| CIEMDiffers | Not in our sources Not named as an Aqua capability on the pricing or CSPM pages we read. Source: Aqua CSPM product page, read . | Described CIEM is listed. Source: CrowdStrike Falcon Cloud Security, read . |
| DSPMDiffers | Not in our sources Not described on the pages we read. | Described DSPM is named: discover, classify and protect cloud data. Source: CrowdStrike Falcon Cloud Security (re-read), read . |
| Vulnerability management | Described Ranks vulnerabilities by reachability, EPSS scores and evidence of active exploitation. Source: Aqua cloud native security platform, read . | Described AI-driven vulnerability management is named. Source: CrowdStrike Falcon Cloud Security (re-read), read . |
| Code securityDiffers | Scans images and repositories for vulnerabilities, secrets and misconfigurations and blocks noncompliant artifacts in the pipeline. Source: Aqua cloud native security platform, read . | ASPM maps business applications onto cloud infrastructure; source-code scanning is not the focus of the pages we read. Source: CrowdStrike Falcon Cloud Security, read . |
| AI security | GenAI application security from code to runtime, and detection of unsanctioned AI usage. Source: Aqua cloud native security platform, read . | AI-SPM covers AI infrastructure. Source: CrowdStrike Falcon Cloud Security, read . |
| Kubernetes runtime | Runtime enforcement for containers that blocks attacks without killing the container. Source: Aqua cloud native security platform, read . | Workload protection for cloud workloads through the Falcon sensor and agentless scanning. Source: CrowdStrike Falcon Cloud Security, read . |
| Private cloud or on-premisesDiffers | Supports private cloud environments. Source: Aqua cloud native security platform, read . | Not in our sources |
| Disconnected environmentsDiffers | Supports disconnected environments. Source: Aqua cloud native security platform, read . | Not in our sources |
| Compliance reportingDiffers | Out-of-the-box compliance reporting, with built-in compliance and custom reports; the page does not list the frameworks. Source: Aqua pricing, read . | Not in our sources |
| Public-sector authorization | States FedRAMP High Authorization. Source: Aqua cloud native security platform, read . | CrowdStrike lists Falcon Cloud Security, Falcon Cloud Security for Containers and for Managed Containers among its FedRAMP High authorized products. Source: Securing Critical Systems: CrowdStrike Achieves FedRAMP High Authorization, read . |
| Price | Not published No list prices. Cloud Security is priced by number of workloads (EC2 instances, Fargate containers, Lambda functions) and Dev Security by number of code repositories; request a trial or demo. Source: Aqua pricing, read . | Not published AWS Marketplace pay-as-you-go listing that combines Falcon Cloud Security with Next-Gen SIEM: runtime host protection (EC2, WorkSpaces) $0.023 per hour per running host; container cluster and node protection $0.054 per hour per running worker node; Fargate container protection $0.01 per hour per Fargate instance; 30-day free trial with up to $500 in usage credits. CrowdStrike's own pricing page lists endpoint bundles only. Source: AWS Marketplace: CrowdStrike Falcon Next-Gen SIEM and Cloud Security (pay as you go), read . |
| Open source | Trivy (maintained by Aqua Security, Apache-2.0) | None named |
| Ownership | Aqua Security. Named Mike Dube CEO and Nir Makovski CTO in February 2026. Source: Aqua press release: new leadership and runtime focus, read . | CrowdStrike. Source: CrowdStrike Falcon Cloud Security, read . |
Where do they differ?
- Clouds named: Aqua names AWS, Azure, GCP, OCI and Alibaba; CrowdStrike names AWS, Azure, GCP and OCI.
- CIEM: Aqua is not in our sources; CrowdStrike describes it.
- DSPM: Aqua is not in our sources; CrowdStrike describes it.
- Code security: Aqua matches; CrowdStrike partly matches.
- Private cloud or on-premises: Aqua matches; CrowdStrike is not in our sources.
- Disconnected environments: Aqua matches; CrowdStrike is not in our sources.
- Compliance reporting: Aqua matches; CrowdStrike is not in our sources.
Choose Aqua if
- You run disconnected or private environments, or need FedRAMP High.
- You want enforcement inside containers and already use Trivy.
Choose CrowdStrike if
- The Falcon sensor already runs on your endpoints and servers.
- You want cloud posture read against adversary intelligence.
Which limits should you check?
Aqua
- CIEM and DSPM are not described on the pages we read.
- No list prices: Cloud Security is priced by number of workloads, by quote.
CrowdStrike
- Its only public price is an AWS Marketplace pay-as-you-go listing that combines Falcon Cloud Security with Next-Gen SIEM; CrowdStrike's own pricing page lists endpoint bundles only.
- Compliance frameworks are not listed on the Falcon Cloud Security page we read, and source-code scanning is not the focus.
Frequently asked questions
How do Aqua and CrowdStrike differ?
Neither is scored on this site. Aqua describes 4 of six categories and CrowdStrike 6 on the pages we read, and they differ on 7 recorded facts. Which fits depends on your clouds, agent tolerance and existing tools; the finder checks those.
Which of the two needs an agent?
Aqua: Agentless parts, agent for depth. CrowdStrike: Agentless parts, agent for depth.
Do Aqua or CrowdStrike publish prices?
Aqua: No list prices. Cloud Security is priced by number of workloads (EC2 instances, Fargate containers, Lambda functions) and Dev Security by number of code repositories; request a trial or demo. CrowdStrike: AWS Marketplace pay-as-you-go listing that combines Falcon Cloud Security with Next-Gen SIEM: runtime host protection (EC2, WorkSpaces) $0.023 per hour per running host; container cluster and node protection $0.054 per hour per running worker node; Fargate container protection $0.01 per hour per Fargate instance; 30-day free trial with up to $500 in usage credits. CrowdStrike's own pricing page lists endpoint bundles only.