Cilium vs Falco: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Cilium and Falco side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Cilium
Cloud native networking, observability, and security powered by eBPF.
Best for you if:
- • You want high performance due to eBPF kernel-level operation
Falco
Detect runtime threats in containers and Kubernetes
Best for you if:
- • You want a fully free tool (Cilium requires payment)
| At a Glance | Cilium | Falco |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free plan | Free 100% free |
Category | DevOps Cloud & Infrastructure | Cloud & Infrastructure Security |
Rating | n/a | n/a |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Choose Cilium or Falco?
Choose Cilium if
- You want high performance due to eBPF kernel-level operation
- You want granular security policies based on workload identity
- You work in DevOps, not cloud & infrastructure
Choose Falco if
- You want a fully free tool (Cilium requires payment)
- You want runtime security
- You want kubernetes native
- You work in cloud & infrastructure, not DevOps
In-Depth Analysis
Cilium
Cloud native networking, observability, and security powered by eBPF.
Strengths
- Pro: High performance due to eBPF kernel-level operation
- Pro: Granular security policies based on workload identity
- Pro: Deep visibility into network and application traffic
- Pro: Seamless integration with Kubernetes
- Pro: Reduces need for sidecar proxies for certain functions
Weaknesses
- Con: Requires understanding of eBPF and advanced networking concepts
- Con: Can have a steeper learning curve for new users
- Con: Configuration complexity can increase with advanced use cases
Key features
Falco
Detect runtime threats in containers and Kubernetes
Falco's pricing is exceptionally generous as it is entirely free and open-source.
Strengths
- Pro: Runtime security
- Pro: Kubernetes native
- Pro: CNCF graduated
- Pro: Good detection
- Pro: Open source
Weaknesses
- Con: Learning curve
- Con: Rule writing complex
- Con: Resource overhead
- Con: Alert fatigue risk
- Con: Setup complexity
Key features
Plans and prices: Cilium vs Falco
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Cilium | No plan prices on file | cilium.io/get-started |
| Falco |
| falco.org read Oct 7, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on Cilium pricing and Falco pricing.
Key Takeaways
Cilium
- Choose if you want cloud native networking, observability, and security powered by eBPF
Falco
- Choose if you want detect runtime threats in containers and Kubernetes
What the data shows
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair.
- Both have a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Cilium and Falco compare in 2026?
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair. Both have a free plan.
What are Cilium and Falco used for?
Cilium: Cloud native networking, observability, and security powered by eBPF. Falco: Detect runtime threats in containers and Kubernetes.
What does Cilium cost vs Falco?
Cilium has no public paid-plan price on file. Falco is free. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 7, 2026.
What's the main difference between Cilium and Falco?
Cilium's main strength: high performance due to eBPF kernel-level operation. Falco's main strength: runtime security.