Powerpipe

Powerpipe is an open-source infrastructure dashboard and benchmark tool from Turbot. It is best suited to cloud and security teams comfortable working with a local interface and HCL-based configuration. Its breadth of prebuilt content is a useful starting point, but it is not a hosted, seat-based service.

Overview

Powerpipe turns cloud data and benchmark results into dashboards and reports that users can filter, pivot, group, and snapshot. Its use cases include security and compliance monitoring, cost management, detections, and asset inventory. Prebuilt dashboards for AWS, Azure, GCP, Kubernetes, and more surface resource counts, cost, usage, and relationships.

Powerpipe can work with PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite, or DuckDB, and does not require Steampipe. Powerpipe Hub offers hundreds of dashboards, benchmarks, and examples, with mods covering services such as DigitalOcean, Alibaba Cloud, GitHub, and Docker. That library offers a practical way to start, while HCL authoring and composition leave room to tailor dashboards and benchmarks to a team's needs.

Key features

Benchmarks and exports

Prebuilt benchmarks assess cloud environments against CIS, GDPR, NIST, PCI, SOC 2, HIPAA, and FedRAMP. The CLI can list and run benchmarks and controls, then export results in CSV, HTML, JSON, Markdown, and ASFF formats. This gives security teams multiple ways to carry findings into reports and other workflows, though running the CLI and working with exported data is a different proposition from using a managed reporting service.

Dashboards as code

Dashboards and benchmarks are written in HCL, can be composed from existing content, and can be version controlled, shared, and edited with standard Git tooling. That makes changes reviewable and repeatable for teams already working in code. It also means HCL and Git are central to customization and collaboration rather than optional conveniences.

Local interface and data sources

Powerpipe serves a locally hosted web UI for filtering and grouping benchmark data. Its database options—PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite, and DuckDB—give teams several ways to work with data without requiring Steampipe. The local interface fits workflows where users can install and operate the tool themselves; teams that need a vendor-hosted workspace should consider another approach.

Pricing

The Open-source Powerpipe CLI costs nothing. The open-source tool can be installed locally, used as a prebuilt container, or built from source. There is no paid plan or free trial in this offering; the trade-off is a self-managed workflow rather than a priced hosted service with seat-based terms. For teams comfortable operating the tool and managing dashboards as code, the free plan avoids a software charge while retaining the described dashboard, benchmark, and export capabilities.

Platforms

Powerpipe supports Linux, macOS, and Windows, with installation options for all three and manual binary or source installation also described. It serves its web interface locally and can be self-hosted, making it a fit for teams that want to run the tool in their own environment rather than depend on a hosted application.

Who it's for

Powerpipe suits cloud, security, and compliance practitioners who want dashboards and framework-based checks across multiple cloud environments, and who are comfortable with a CLI, HCL, and Git. Its prebuilt content can help teams begin with established views and benchmarks, while composable code makes it possible to adapt them. It is less suited to buyers looking for a turnkey hosted dashboard product or an interface that avoids configuration and local operation.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Hundreds of Hub dashboards, benchmarks, and examples provide a substantial starting library across cloud providers and services.
• Pros: Benchmark results can be exported in five formats, including CSV, JSON, and ASFF, which supports varied reporting workflows.
• Pros: HCL dashboards can be version controlled and composed, helping teams manage infrastructure views through Git.
• Pros: The open-source CLI is free, works with four listed database options, and does not require Steampipe.
• Cons: The locally hosted interface and command-line workflow require teams to install and operate the tool themselves.
• Cons: Customization and collaboration are oriented around HCL and Git, which may be a poor fit for teams seeking a no-code, managed workflow.
• Cons: Turbot says it acknowledges vulnerability reports within one week but does not offer a monetary incentive or bug bounty program.

Alternatives

OmniGCloud is worth considering if a SaaS workspace and connector-based access suit the team better: its free plan includes one connector, a single SaaS workspace, basic CSV export, and a basic audit trail.

Cloud Custodian is another free, open-source option for teams looking for a policy-as-code tool across Linux, macOS, self-hosted, or Windows environments.

Kyverno is a free Apache License 2.0 open-source project for teams seeking a policy tool available across API, Linux, macOS, self-hosted, and Windows environments.

AWS Control Tower may suit teams seeking an AWS service with no additional charge for Control Tower itself; underlying AWS services are billed based on usage.

CGPulse offers a freemium option for teams considering a cloud governance product with a free trial.

Kubewarden is a free alternative for teams looking for an option available on Linux, macOS, self-hosted, and Windows.

AWS Config is a paid, usage-based option for teams seeking AWS configuration tracking; monthly charges depend on configuration items recorded and active rules.

CoreStack Cloud Governance offers custom pricing for teams seeking a choice of one product, a bundle, or a bundle with unlimited CoreStack Assessments.

Browse Cloud Governance Software and Cloud Security Posture Management Software for more options in these categories.

Verdict

Choose Powerpipe if your team wants a free, open-source way to build cloud dashboards and run compliance benchmarks, and is prepared to work locally with HCL and Git. Its strongest reason to choose is the combination of a broad prebuilt library, composable dashboards, and varied export formats without requiring Steampipe. Look elsewhere if a managed hosted workspace or a less code-oriented workflow is essential.