Terrascan vs Prisma Cloud: Which Should You Choose in 2026?
Choosing between Terrascan and Prisma Cloud 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:
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 infrastructure as code 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.
Prisma Cloud
Cloud-native security platform
Best for you if:
- • You want the higher-rated option (8.2/10 vs 7.2/10)
- • You need vulnerability scanning features specifically
- • Prisma Cloud is a cloud-native security platform from Palo Alto Networks
- • It secures cloud infrastructure, containers, and serverless workloads
| At a Glance |  Terrascan |  Prisma Cloud |
|---|---|---|
Price | Free | Paid |
Best For | Infrastructure as Code | Vulnerability Scanning |
Rating | 72/100 | 82/100 |
| Feature | Terrascan | Prisma Cloud |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Free | Paid |
| Editorial Score | 72 | 82 |
| Community Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Total Reviews | 0 | 0 |
| Community Upvotes | 0 | 0 |
| Categories | Infrastructure as CodeVulnerability Scanning | Vulnerability ScanningSecurity Monitoring |
How Terrascan and Prisma Cloud Compare
Terrascan
Detect compliance and security violations across Infrastructure as Code (IaC) to mitigate risk.
Free · 72/100 score
Prisma Cloud
Cloud-native security platform
Paid · 82/100 score
Terrascan is a infrastructure as code tool. Prisma Cloud is in vulnerability scanning.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Terrascan is free. Prisma Cloud is paid.
Go with: Terrascan
Want the highest-rated option?
Terrascan: 72/100. Prisma Cloud: 82/100.
Go with: Prisma Cloud
Value user reviews?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: Prisma Cloud
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Terrascan is free. Prisma Cloud is paid. Go with Terrascan if free matters most.
What's your use case?
Terrascan is a infrastructure as code tool. Prisma Cloud is in vulnerability scanning. Pick the category that matches your needs.
How important are ratings?
Prisma Cloud scores higher: 82/100 vs 72/100.
Key Takeaways
Prisma Cloud
- Higher score: 82/100 vs 72
- Our pick for this comparison
Terrascan
- Completely free
- Better fit for infrastructure as code
The Bottom Line
Prisma Cloud (82/100) is our pick. That said, Terrascan is free — hard to beat on price.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Terrascan or Prisma Cloud better?
Prisma Cloud scores 82/100 in our evaluation. Terrascan is free and Prisma Cloud is paid.
What are Terrascan and Prisma Cloud used for?
Terrascan: Detect compliance and security violations across Infrastructure as Code (IaC) to mitigate risk.. Prisma Cloud: Cloud-native security platform.
What does Terrascan cost vs Prisma Cloud?
Terrascan is completely free. Prisma Cloud is a paid tool. Visit their websites for detailed pricing.