Terrascan vs Infracost: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between Terrascan and Infracost 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.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
Terrascan
Detect compliance and security violations across Infrastructure as Code (IaC) to mitigate risk.
Best for you if:
- • You need something completely free
- • You need security features specifically
- • Scans Infrastructure as Code (IaC) for security and compliance violations.
- • Includes 500+ out-of-the-box policies and supports custom policies via OPA/Rego.
Infracost
Shift FinOps Left: Proactively find and fix cloud cost issues before deployment.
Best for you if:
- • You need cloud & infrastructure features specifically
- • Provides pre-deployment cloud cost estimates for infrastructure-as-code changes.
- • Integrates into engineering workflows (GitHub, GitLab, Azure DevOps) to shift FinOps left.
| At a Glance |  Terrascan |  Infracost |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free | $50/monthCloud |
Best For | Security | Cloud & Infrastructure |
Rating | - | - |
Choose Terrascan or Infracost?
Choose Terrascan if
Detect compliance and security violations across Infrastructure as Code (IaC) to mitigate risk.
- Infrastructure as Code security scanner
- Policy as code approach
- Multi-IaC support (Terraform, K8s, etc.)
- You want a fully free tool (Infracost requires payment)
- Your work is security-shaped, not cloud & infrastructure-shaped
Choose Infracost if
Shift FinOps Left: Proactively find and fix cloud cost issues before deployment.
- Cloud cost estimates
- Terraform integration
- CI/CD integration
- Your work is cloud & infrastructure-shaped, not security-shaped
| Feature | Terrascan | Infracost |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Free | Freemium |
| User Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Categories | SecurityDevOps | Cloud & InfrastructureDeveloper Tools |
In-Depth Analysis
Terrascan
Detect compliance and security violations across Infrastructure as Code (IaC) to mitigate risk.
Strengths
- +Infrastructure as Code security scanner
- +Policy as code approach
- +Multi-IaC support (Terraform, K8s, etc.)
- +Open-source and free
- +CI/CD integration ready
Weaknesses
- -Configuration required
- -False positives possible
- -Policy writing needed
- -Learning curve for rules
- -May slow CI pipelines
Key features
Infracost
Shift FinOps Left: Proactively find and fix cloud cost issues before deployment.
Strengths
- +Cloud cost estimates
- +Terraform integration
- +CI/CD integration
- +Open source
- +Active development
Weaknesses
- -Accuracy varies
- -Limited cloud support
- -Learning curve
- -Enterprise features paid
- -Setup effort
Key features
Pricing: Terrascan vs Infracost
| Plan | Terrascan | Infracost |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Free Open Source | Free Free |
| Tier 2 | N/A | $50 month Cloud |
| Tier 3 | N/A | custom Enterprise |
Pricing verified from each vendor's public pricing page. Compare in detail on Terrascan pricing and Infracost pricing.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Terrascan is free. Infracost is freemium.
Go with: Terrascan
Want the highest-rated option?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: Terrascan
Value user reviews?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: Infracost
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Terrascan is free. Infracost is freemium. Go with Terrascan if free matters most.
What's your use case?
Terrascan is a security tool. Infracost is in cloud & infrastructure. Pick the category that matches your needs.
How important are ratings?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Key Takeaways
Infracost
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
Terrascan
- Completely free
- Better fit for security
The Bottom Line
Infracost is our pick. That said, Terrascan is free, hard to beat on price.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Terrascan or Infracost better?
Infracost is rated in our evaluation. Terrascan is free and Infracost is freemium.
What are Terrascan and Infracost used for?
Terrascan: Detect compliance and security violations across Infrastructure as Code (IaC) to mitigate risk.. Infracost: Shift FinOps Left: Proactively find and fix cloud cost issues before deployment..
What does Terrascan cost vs Infracost?
Terrascan is completely free. Infracost is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Visit their websites for detailed pricing.