Chef InSpec
8.0#1 in infrastructure testing toolsFrom $59 a yearFree planAPILinuxmacOSSelf-hosted
VisitChef InSpec vs Lynis
Lynis
6.6#10 in security configuration management softwareFrom $36 a yearFree planLinuxmacOSSelf-hosted
VisitWhat both publish
| Fact | Chef InSpec | Lynis |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Chef InSpec tests and audits applications and infrastructure by comparing their actual state with a desired state expressed in InSpec code. | Lynis performs security health scans to support system hardening and compliance testing on Linux, macOS, and Unix based systems. |
| Supported systems | Commercial support lists Amazon Linux, Debian, macOS, Oracle Linux, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, SUSE Linux, Ubuntu and Windows, with x86-64 and selected ARM64 support. | Listed systems include AIX, FreeBSD, HP-UX, Linux, macOS, NetBSD, NixOS, OpenBSD, and Solaris; the maker also mentions Raspberry Pi, IoT, and QNAP devices. |
Chef InSpec plans
- FreeFree
- TrialFree
- Business$59 a year
- Enterprise$189 a year
- CommercialPriced on request
- Enterprise PlusPriced on request
Lynis plans
- LynisFree
- Lynis Enterprise - SaaS premium$36 a year
- Lynis Enterprise - Self-hostedPriced on request
Pick Chef InSpec if…
It suits teams that need to express compliance or security requirements as code and assess cloud or other infrastructure. The free plan is limited to non-production, personal, non-commercial use.
Pick Lynis if…
Lynis suits developers, system administrators, IT auditors, and penetration testers who need system security scans or compliance checks. It requires shell and basic utilities, and normal-user or preferably root permissions.