Best Security Configuration Management Software in 2026
Updated
In short: Chef InSpec is ranked #1 of 25 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of Mondoo CSPM and OpenSCAP. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Mondoo CSPM. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Lynis at $0.25/mo.
Security configuration management software helps you assess system and cloud settings against security requirements. Compare agentless assessment, CIS benchmarks, and configuration drift, as well as whether automated remediation and policy as code are listed. Cloud infrastructure support and deployment model help clarify technical fit; free-plan availability and paid-from pricing add cost considerations. Puppet and Steampipe lead the ranking, followed by Chef InSpec and Mondoo CSPM. OpenSCAP and Kubescape also appear near the top. Consider the environments you need to manage and use these criteria to compare how each entry addresses configuration assessment and policy.
25 security configuration management software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
#1 Chef InSpec Top pick · 7.1 Free plan · Free
#2 Mondoo CSPM Runner-up · 7.1 Free plan · Free
#3 OpenSCAP Also great · 7.1 Free plan · Free- Free planFree trial apiLinuxmacOSself-hostedWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Deployment model
- hybrid
- CIS benchmarks
- Yes
- Configuration drift
- Yes
- Automated remediation
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Free plan apiLinuxmacOSWebWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Automated remediation
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Free plan LinuxmacOSself-hostedWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Deployment model
- hybrid
- CIS benchmarks
- Yes
- Automated remediation
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Free trial apiLinuxWeb
- Free plan
- No
- Deployment model
- hybrid
- CIS benchmarks
- Yes
- Configuration drift
- Yes
- Automated remediation
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Free plan apiLinuxmacOSself-hostedWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Free plan LinuxmacOSself-hosted
- Free plan
- Yes
- Paid from
- 1.5 /mo
- Deployment model
- agent
- CIS benchmarks
- Yes
- Automated remediation
- No
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms$0.25/mofirst paid tier About LynisVisit site - Free planFree trial apiLinuxself-hostedWeb
- Free plan
- No
- Paid from
- 79 /mo
- Automated remediation
- No
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms$99/mofirst paid tier About Prowler CloudVisit site - apiLinuxmacOSself-hostedWindows
- Deployment model
- hybrid
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Free plan Web
- Free plan
- Yes
- Paid from
- 5 /mo
- Deployment model
- agentless
- Configuration drift
- Yes
- Automated remediation
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms$5/mofirst paid tier About DigitalOcean Cloud Security Posture ManagementVisit site - Free trial apiLinuxmacOSself-hostedWebWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Configuration drift
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - apiLinuxmacOSself-hostedWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Deployment model
- agentless
- CIS benchmarks
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - apiLinuxmacOSself-hostedWebWindows
- Deployment model
- hybrid
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Free trial LinuxmacOSWebWindows
- Deployment model
- hybrid
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - LinuxWebWindows
- Deployment model
- hybrid
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - apiLinuxmacOSself-hostedWindows
- Free plan
- No
- Deployment model
- agentless
- CIS benchmarks
- Yes
- Configuration drift
- Yes
- Automated remediation
- No
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms$200/mofirst paid tier About CIS-CAT Pro AssessorVisit site - Free trial apiLinuxmacOSWebWindows
- Free plan
- No
- Automated remediation
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Free trial apiLinuxmacOSself-hostedWindows
- Free plan
- No
- Deployment model
- hybrid
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Web
- Free plan
- No
- Deployment model
- hybrid
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Web
- Free plan
- No
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - LinuxWeb
- Free plan
- No
- Deployment model
- hybrid
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - Web
- Free plan
- No
- Deployment model
- hybrid
- Configuration drift
- Yes
- Automated remediation
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms - LinuxmacOSWindowsRecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms
- WebRecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms
- WebRecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms
- Web
- Free plan
- No
- Automated remediation
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatforms
Is your app on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which security configuration management software is ranked first on Everything Xiaomi?
Chef InSpec is ranked #1 of 25 with a score of 7.1. Mondoo CSPM is second and OpenSCAP third.
How many of these have a free plan?
7 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, Lynis has the lowest first paid tier we found: $0.25/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked on what each maker publishes: documentation depth, a free tier and the platforms it runs on. Paid placements never change a rank.