OPA Gatekeeper vs Falco: Which Should You Choose in 2026?
Choosing between OPA Gatekeeper and Falco comes down to understanding what each tool does best. This comparison breaks down the key differences so you can make an informed decision based on your specific needs, not marketing claims.
By Toolradar Team · Last updated February 28, 2026 · Methodology
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
OPA Gatekeeper
Enforce policies and governance for Kubernetes clusters using Open Policy Agent.
Best for you if:
- • Enforces policies in Kubernetes clusters.
- • Uses Open Policy Agent (OPA) for policy definition.
Falco
Cloud-native runtime security
Best for you if:
- • You want the higher-rated option (8.6/10 vs 0.0/10)
- • You need something completely free
- • Falco is an open-source runtime security tool for Kubernetes and containers
- • It detects abnormal behavior and security threats using kernel-level monitoring
| At a Glance |  Falco | |
|---|---|---|
Price | Free + Paid | Free |
Best For | Container Orchestration | Container Orchestration |
Rating | —/100 | 86/100 |
| Feature | OPA Gatekeeper | Falco |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Free |
| Editorial Score | — | 86 |
| Community Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Total Reviews | 0 | 0 |
| Community Upvotes | 0 | 0 |
| Categories | Container OrchestrationCompliance | Container OrchestrationMonitoring |
How OPA Gatekeeper and Falco Compare
OPA Gatekeeper
Enforce policies and governance for Kubernetes clusters using Open Policy Agent.
Free tier available
Falco
Cloud-native runtime security
Free · 86/100 score
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Falco is free. OPA Gatekeeper is freemium.
Go with: Falco
Want the highest-rated option?
Falco scores 86/100. OPA Gatekeeper is unrated.
Go with: Falco
Value user reviews?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: Falco
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
OPA Gatekeeper is freemium. Falco is free. Go with Falco if free matters most.
What's your use case?
Both are container orchestration tools. Compare their specific features to decide.
How important are ratings?
Not all tools have been rated yet.
Key Takeaways
Falco
- Higher score: 86/100 vs unrated
- Completely free
- Our pick for this comparison
OPA Gatekeeper
The Bottom Line
Falco (86/100) is our pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is OPA Gatekeeper or Falco better?
Falco scores 86/100 in our evaluation. OPA Gatekeeper is freemium and Falco is free.
What are OPA Gatekeeper and Falco used for?
OPA Gatekeeper: Enforce policies and governance for Kubernetes clusters using Open Policy Agent.. Falco: Cloud-native runtime security.
What does OPA Gatekeeper cost vs Falco?
OPA Gatekeeper is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Falco is completely free. Visit their websites for detailed pricing.