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Developer Tools · head to head

Helm vs Orca Security

H

Helm

Developer Tools

The package manager for Kubernetes

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Full reviewWebsite
Orca Security logo

Orca Security

Cloud

Agentless cloud-native application protection platform for code-to-runtime security.

From
On request
Free plan
No
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Helm has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Helm licensed under Apache License 2.0 per the project's GitHub repository (helm/helm LICENSE); as open source software it has no paid tier or vendor price to compare; Orca Security no public pricing; requires a demo and custom quote from sales.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 29 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Helm and Orca Security actually diverge.

Attributes where Helm and Orca Security differ
AttributeHelmOrca Security
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelopen-sourcequote
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWebweb, api
CategoryDeveloper ToolsCloud

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 Helm

Nothing recorded that Orca Security does not also cover.

Only in Orca Security

  • Agentless cloud scanning
  • Attack path analysis
  • Shadow AI detection
  • Secure code development
  • Alert prioritization
  • Workload protection

What people use each for

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

Helm

  • Kubernetes package manager and deployment toolnot Orca Security

Orca Security

  • Gaining full cloud asset visibility without deploying agentsnot Helm
  • Prioritizing cloud risk with attack path correlationnot Helm
  • Detecting shadow AI usage across cloud environmentsnot Helm
  • Scanning code, containers, and IaC before deploymentnot Helm
  • Reducing alert fatigue through contextual risk scoringnot Helm

Where each one falls short

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

Helm

  • Licensed under Apache License 2.0 per the project's GitHub repository (helm/helm LICENSE); as open source software it has no paid tier or vendor price to compare
  • Contributors must sign commits under the Developer Certificate of Origin to have them accepted, per helm.sh, a process requirement not all Kubernetes tools impose

Orca Security

  • No public pricing; requires a demo and custom quote from sales.
  • Agentless-only scanning may miss some runtime telemetry that agent-based tools capture.
  • Full value depends on integrating many of the platform's modules across code, cloud, and AI.
  • Primarily targeted at mid-to-large organizations with multi-cloud environments.

Pricing, plan by plan

Helm

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Helm review.

Orca Security

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Orca Security review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Helm if

  • You want to start without paying.
Helm review

Choose Orca Security if

  • You need agentless cloud scanning.
  • You work on web, api.
  • You also want attack path analysis.
Orca Security review

Questions people ask

Is Helm or Orca Security better?
Neither clearly leads. Helm starts at Free and Orca Security at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Helm or Orca Security?
Helm has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Helm and On request for Orca Security.
Does Helm or Orca Security run on more platforms?
Helm runs on Web. Orca Security runs on web, api.
Can I use Helm for free?
Yes. Helm has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Orca Security starts at On request.
What is Helm best used for?
Helm is most often used for kubernetes package manager and deployment tool. Of those, kubernetes package manager and deployment tool is not what Orca Security is typically brought in for.
What can Helm do that Orca Security cannot?
Orca Security covers Agentless cloud scanning, Attack path analysis, Shadow AI detection, Secure code development.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Helm: How much does Helm cost?

Helm is free and open-source. It is a graduated project in the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) with no commercial pricing model.

Source
Orca Security: How much does Orca Security cost?

Orca Security does not publish pricing tiers or rates on their website. Organizations must contact Orca Security directly or request a demo to receive custom pricing information based on their specific use case and requirements.

Source
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