Steampipe vs CloudQuery: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between Steampipe and CloudQuery 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.
Bottom line: Steampipe is our overall pick for developer tools workflows. Pick CloudQuery if you need cloud & infrastructure.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
Steampipe
Dynamically query APIs, code, and cloud resources with SQL for Zero-ETL insights.
Best for you if:
- • You need something completely free
- • You need developer tools features specifically
- • Queries cloud APIs and other data sources using SQL.
- • Provides a Zero-ETL approach for real-time data access.
CloudQuery
Open-source cloud asset inventory
Best for you if:
- • You need cloud & infrastructure features specifically
- • Open-source data pipeline for cloud security and asset inventory with usage-based pricing
- • Extract from AWS, Azure, GCP, and 70+ sources to any destination database
| At a Glance |  Steampipe |  CloudQuery |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Custom/moTurbot Pipes Team | $500/monthTeam |
Best For | Developer Tools | Cloud & Infrastructure |
Rating | - | - |
Choose Steampipe or CloudQuery?
Choose Steampipe if
Dynamically query APIs, code, and cloud resources with SQL for Zero-ETL insights.
- SQL for cloud APIs
- Good plugins
- Open source
- You want a fully free tool (CloudQuery requires payment)
- Your work is developer tools-shaped, not cloud & infrastructure-shaped
Choose CloudQuery if
Open-source cloud asset inventory
- Cloud asset inventory
- SQL interface
- Many plugins
- Your work is cloud & infrastructure-shaped, not developer tools-shaped
| Feature | Steampipe | CloudQuery |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Free | Freemium |
| User Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Categories | Developer ToolsAPI Tools | Cloud & InfrastructureData & Databases |
In-Depth Analysis
Steampipe
Dynamically query APIs, code, and cloud resources with SQL for Zero-ETL insights.
Strengths
- +SQL for cloud APIs
- +Good plugins
- +Open source
- +Active development
- +Good documentation
Weaknesses
- -Learning curve
- -Niche use case
- -Resource usage
- -Plugin quality varies
- -Still maturing
Key features
CloudQuery
Open-source cloud asset inventory
Strengths
- +Cloud asset inventory
- +SQL interface
- +Many plugins
- +Open source
- +Active development
Weaknesses
- -Learning curve
- -Setup complexity
- -Resource intensive
- -Documentation improving
- -Enterprise features paid
Key features
Pricing: Steampipe vs CloudQuery
| Plan | Steampipe | CloudQuery |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Free Open Source | Free Free |
| Tier 2 | Free Turbot Pipes Developer | $500 month Team |
| Tier 3 | Custom Turbot Pipes Team | custom Enterprise |
Pricing verified from each vendor's public pricing page. Compare in detail on Steampipe pricing and CloudQuery pricing.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Steampipe is free. CloudQuery is freemium.
Go with: Steampipe
Want the highest-rated option?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: Steampipe
Value user reviews?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: Steampipe
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Steampipe is free. CloudQuery is freemium. Go with Steampipe if free matters most.
What's your use case?
Steampipe is a developer tools tool. CloudQuery is in cloud & infrastructure. Pick the category that matches your needs.
How important are ratings?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Key Takeaways
Steampipe
- Completely free
- Our pick for this comparison
CloudQuery
- Better fit for cloud & infrastructure
The Bottom Line
Steampipe is our pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Steampipe or CloudQuery better?
Steampipe is rated in our evaluation. Steampipe is free and CloudQuery is freemium.
What are Steampipe and CloudQuery used for?
Steampipe: Dynamically query APIs, code, and cloud resources with SQL for Zero-ETL insights.. CloudQuery: Open-source cloud asset inventory.
What does Steampipe cost vs CloudQuery?
Steampipe is completely free. CloudQuery is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Visit their websites for detailed pricing.