Cybersecurity · head to head
Falco vs Wiz
Falco
Cybersecurity
CNCF-graduated runtime threat detection for Linux and Kubernetes using eBPF
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Wiz
Cloud
Cloud and AI security platform unifying code, cloud, and runtime protection.
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Falco has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Falco falco detects and alerts but does not block; stopping an attack requires wiring up Falco Talon or your own response tooling, so out of the box a confirmed detection still means a human intervening after the fact.; Wiz no public pricing; licensing requires a custom quote based on workloads and sensors.
- They diverge on capability: Falco covers eBPF kernel instrumentation, Wiz covers Cloud security posture management.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Falco and Wiz actually diverge.
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).
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 Falco
- eBPF kernel instrumentation
- System call rules engine
- Container and Kubernetes context
- Default rule set
- Falcosidekick
- Falco Talon
- Plugins framework
- DaemonSet deployment
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.
Falco
- A platform team that needs to know when a shell is opened inside a production container, which image scanning cannot detect because it happens at runtimenot Wiz
- A regulated business required to evidence host and container intrusion detection on Kubernetes nodes for an auditnot Wiz
- A security team wanting a vendor-neutral detection layer whose rules they can read and modify rather than a black-box agentnot Wiz
- A cluster where a compromised dependency might write to sensitive paths or open unexpected outbound connections, and only kernel-level visibility will catch itnot Wiz
Wiz
- Identifying cloud misconfigurations across multi-cloud environmentsnot Falco
- Securing code from IDE through CI/CD deploymentnot Falco
- Detecting and responding to active threats at runtimenot Falco
- Governing AI workloads and models in the cloudnot Falco
- Prioritizing risk with cross-environment attack path analysisnot Falco
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Falco
- Falco detects and alerts but does not block; stopping an attack requires wiring up Falco Talon or your own response tooling, so out of the box a confirmed detection still means a human intervening after the fact.
- The default rule set is noisy in real clusters and generates a large volume of benign matches from normal operational activity; without weeks of tuning, alert fatigue sets in and the team stops reading the feed, which is the usual failure mode.
- There is no storage, console, search or case management in the project, so a working detection capability means also running Falcosidekick, an event store, a dashboard and alert routing, all of which you build, host and maintain.
- The modern eBPF driver requires kernel 5.8 or later; older hosts fall back to the legacy probe or the kernel module, which brings driver-building against kernel headers and the operational fragility that comes with it on every kernel upgrade.
- Per-node syscall instrumentation carries measurable CPU overhead on busy hosts, and the cost scales with syscall volume rather than with cluster size, so the noisiest and most performance-sensitive workloads are exactly the ones that feel it most.
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
Falco
Free- Falco (open source)Free
- Apache 2.0 licence, CNCF graduated project
- eBPF and kernel module drivers
- Full rules engine and default rule set
Wiz
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the Wiz review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Falco if
- You need ebpf kernel instrumentation.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Linux, Kubernetes, Self-hosted.
- You also want system call rules engine.
Choose Wiz if
- You need cloud security posture management.
- You work on web, api.
- You also want code security (wiz code).
Questions people ask
- Is Falco or Wiz better?
- Neither clearly leads. Falco 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, Falco or Wiz?
- Falco has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Falco and On request for Wiz.
- Does Falco or Wiz run on more platforms?
- Falco runs on Linux, Kubernetes, Self-hosted. Wiz runs on web, api.
- Can I use Falco for free?
- Yes. Falco has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Wiz starts at On request.
- What is Falco best used for?
- Falco is most often used for a platform team that needs to know when a shell is opened inside a production container, which image scanning cannot detect because it happens at runtime, a regulated business required to evidence host and container intrusion detection on kubernetes nodes for an audit, a security team wanting a vendor-neutral detection layer whose rules they can read and modify rather than a black-box agent, a cluster where a compromised dependency might write to sensitive paths or open unexpected outbound connections, and only kernel-level visibility will catch it. Of those, a platform team that needs to know when a shell is opened inside a production container, which image scanning cannot detect because it happens at runtime and a regulated business required to evidence host and container intrusion detection on kubernetes nodes for an audit are not what Wiz is typically brought in for.
- What can Falco do that Wiz cannot?
- Falco covers eBPF kernel instrumentation, System call rules engine, Container and Kubernetes context, Default rule set. Wiz covers Cloud security posture management, Code security (Wiz Code), Runtime threat detection (Wiz Defend), AI security agents.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Falco: Does Falco block attacks?
No. It detects and emits events. Response requires Falco Talon or your own automation on top.
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.
SourceFalco: Is Falco owned by Sysdig?
Sysdig created and open sourced it, but it graduated within the CNCF in February 2024, so governance sits with the foundation rather than the vendor.
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.
SourceFalco: What does it cost?
The project is Apache 2.0 with no licence fee. The cost is the storage, routing, tuning and staff time needed to make its output useful.
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.
SourceFalco: What kernel version do I need?
Kernel 5.8 or later for the default modern eBPF driver. Older hosts need the legacy eBPF probe or the kernel module.
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