Aqua vs SentinelOne: cloud security facts side by side
How do their category maps compare?
- 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 | SentinelOne |
|---|---|---|
| Positioning | A cloud native security platform built around kernel-layer runtime enforcement, with agentless posture visibility, for public, private and disconnected environments. | SentinelOne's cloud security line: an agentless CNAPP (Cloud Native Security) plus Cloud Workload Security for runtime. |
| Agent approachDiffers | 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 core SentinelOne describes Cloud Native Security as "an agentless CNAPP". Source: SentinelOne Cloud Native Security, read . |
| Runtime sensor | Kernel-layer enforcement that blocks attacks without killing the container itself. Source: Aqua cloud native security platform, read . | Cloud Workload Security detects and stops threats inside running containers, VMs and AI workloads. Source: SentinelOne Singularity Cloud, 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 Onboards AWS, Azure, GCP and many other cloud environments with agentless deployment. Source: SentinelOne Cloud Native Security (re-read), read . |
| CNAPP | Described Positions one platform across posture, pipeline scanning and runtime enforcement. Source: Aqua cloud native security platform, read . | Described Cloud Native Security is described as an agentless CNAPP. Source: SentinelOne Cloud Native 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 CSPM is listed in Singularity Cloud. Source: SentinelOne Singularity Cloud, 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 Security for containers, VMs and AI workloads. Source: SentinelOne Singularity Cloud, 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: SentinelOne Singularity Cloud, read . |
| DSPMDiffers | Not in our sources Not described on the pages we read. | Described DSPM is listed. Source: SentinelOne Singularity Cloud, read . |
| Vulnerability management | Described Ranks vulnerabilities by reachability, EPSS scores and evidence of active exploitation. Source: Aqua cloud native security platform, read . | Described The Offensive Security Engine checks which exposures are exploitable and shows Verified Exploit Paths; a vulnerability management module is not named on the pages we read. Source: SentinelOne Cloud Native Security, read . |
| Code security | Scans images and repositories for vulnerabilities, secrets and misconfigurations and blocks noncompliant artifacts in the pipeline. Source: Aqua cloud native security platform, read . | Scans repositories, IaC templates and container images, and validates 850+ secret types. Source: SentinelOne Cloud Native 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 for AI models, services and data pipelines. Source: SentinelOne Singularity Cloud, read . |
| Kubernetes runtime | Runtime enforcement for containers that blocks attacks without killing the container. Source: Aqua cloud native security platform, read . | Cloud Workload Security covers running containers. Source: SentinelOne Singularity Cloud, 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 . | SentinelOne states Singularity Cloud Security is available as a FedRAMP High authorized service; the FedRAMP Marketplace listing includes Singularity Cloud Native Security. Source: SentinelOne Singularity Platform High, FedRAMP Marketplace, read . |
| PriceDiffers | 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 Not published. Contact sales. Source: SentinelOne Singularity Cloud, 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 . | SentinelOne. Source: SentinelOne Singularity Cloud, read . |
Where do they differ?
- Agent approach: Aqua has agentless parts and an agent for depth; SentinelOne has an agentless core.
- Clouds named: Aqua names AWS, Azure, GCP, OCI and Alibaba; SentinelOne names AWS, Azure and GCP.
- CIEM: Aqua is not in our sources; SentinelOne describes it.
- DSPM: Aqua is not in our sources; SentinelOne describes it.
- Private cloud or on-premises: Aqua matches; SentinelOne is not in our sources.
- Disconnected environments: Aqua matches; SentinelOne is not in our sources.
- Compliance reporting: Aqua matches; SentinelOne is not in our sources.
- Price: Aqua partly matches; SentinelOne 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 SentinelOne if
- You already run SentinelOne Singularity on endpoints.
- You want findings checked for exploitability before they reach your queue.
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.
SentinelOne
- No public price on its own pages we read, and compliance frameworks are not listed on the product page.
- A vulnerability management module is not named; exploit validation is the stated approach.
Frequently asked questions
How do Aqua and SentinelOne differ?
Neither is scored on this site. Aqua describes 4 of six categories and SentinelOne 6 on the pages we read, and they differ on 8 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. SentinelOne: Agentless core.
Do Aqua or SentinelOne 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. SentinelOne: Not published. Contact sales.