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Cloud · head to head

Crossplane vs Wiz

Crossplane logo

Crossplane

Cloud

The Cloud-Native Framework for Platform Engineering

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Wiz logo

Wiz

Cloud

Cloud and AI security platform unifying code, cloud, and runtime protection.

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Crossplane has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Crossplane requires Kubernetes expertise and infrastructure; Wiz no public pricing; licensing requires a custom quote based on workloads and sensors.
  • They diverge on capability: Crossplane covers Kubernetes extension, Wiz covers Cloud security posture management.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Crossplane and Wiz actually diverge.

Attributes where Crossplane and Wiz differ
AttributeCrossplaneWiz
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelUnknownquote
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsKubernetes, AWS, Azure, GCPweb, api

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Cloud).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Crossplane

  • Kubernetes extension
  • Custom API building
  • Resource management anywhere
  • Declarative interfaces
  • Component library
  • Provider ecosystem

Only in Wiz

  • Cloud security posture management
  • Code security (Wiz Code)
  • Runtime threat detection (Wiz Defend)
  • AI security agents
  • AI workload protection
  • Attack path analysis

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Crossplane

  • Building platform-as-a-service offerings for internal teamsnot Wiz
  • Creating unified control layers for multi-cloud infrastructurenot Wiz
  • Designing declarative APIs for infrastructure provisioningnot Wiz

Wiz

  • Identifying cloud misconfigurations across multi-cloud environmentsnot Crossplane
  • Securing code from IDE through CI/CD deploymentnot Crossplane
  • Detecting and responding to active threats at runtimenot Crossplane
  • Governing AI workloads and models in the cloudnot Crossplane
  • Prioritizing risk with cross-environment attack path analysisnot Crossplane

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Crossplane

  • Requires Kubernetes expertise and infrastructure
  • Steep learning curve for teams new to Kubernetes patterns
  • Provider ecosystem smaller than Terraform

Wiz

  • No public pricing; licensing requires a custom quote based on workloads and sensors.
  • Modular licensing across Cloud, Code, Defend, and Sensor products can complicate cost planning.
  • Full runtime protection value depends on deploying Wiz Sensor agents, adding operational overhead.
  • Primarily aimed at mid-to-large enterprises despite the smaller Wiz Go bundle.

Pricing, plan by plan

Crossplane

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Crossplane review.

Wiz

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Wiz review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Crossplane if

  • You need kubernetes extension.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Kubernetes, AWS, Azure, GCP.
  • You also want custom api building.
Crossplane review

Choose Wiz if

  • You need cloud security posture management.
  • You work on web, api.
  • You also want code security (wiz code).
Wiz review

Questions people ask

Is Crossplane or Wiz better?
Neither clearly leads. Crossplane starts at Free and Wiz at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Crossplane or Wiz?
Crossplane has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Crossplane and On request for Wiz.
Does Crossplane or Wiz run on more platforms?
Crossplane runs on Kubernetes, AWS, Azure, GCP. Wiz runs on web, api.
Can I use Crossplane for free?
Yes. Crossplane has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Wiz starts at On request.
What is Crossplane best used for?
Crossplane is most often used for building platform-as-a-service offerings for internal teams, creating unified control layers for multi-cloud infrastructure, designing declarative apis for infrastructure provisioning. Of those, building platform-as-a-service offerings for internal teams and creating unified control layers for multi-cloud infrastructure are not what Wiz is typically brought in for.
What can Crossplane do that Wiz cannot?
Crossplane covers Kubernetes extension, Custom API building, Resource management anywhere, Declarative interfaces. Wiz covers Cloud security posture management, Code security (Wiz Code), Runtime threat detection (Wiz Defend), AI security agents.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Crossplane: Is Crossplane free?

Yes, Crossplane is open source and free to use. It requires a Kubernetes cluster but has no licensing costs.

Source
Wiz: How much does Wiz cost?

Wiz does not publish standard pricing. The platform uses modular licensing based on workloads, active developers, log ingestion, or sensors. All pricing requires requesting a custom quote directly from the company.

Source
Crossplane: What is Crossplane used for?

Crossplane is used to build control planes and platforms for infrastructure management, enabling platform teams to expose safe APIs to other teams.

Source
Wiz: Does Wiz offer a free trial?

No free trial information is mentioned on Wiz's pricing page. Pricing is determined by custom quote based on organizational needs.

Source
Wiz: What products does Wiz offer?

Wiz provides five modular licensing options: Wiz Cloud, Wiz Code, Wiz Defend, Wiz Sensor, and Wiz Go Bundle for SMBs, allowing organizations to scale based on specific security requirements.

Source
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