Skip to content
Toolradar
Steampipe logo

Steampipe

Claim this toolEditor reviewed

Dynamically query APIs, code, and cloud resources with SQL for Zero-ETL insights.

Developer ToolsAPI ToolsData & Databases
Visit Website
Reviews onG2
5705 reviews tracked

The Bottom Line

Entry price

Free, no paid tier

Biggest pro

SQL for cloud APIs

Biggest con

Learning curve

TL;DR - Steampipe

  • Queries cloud APIs and other data sources using SQL.
  • Provides a Zero-ETL approach for real-time data access.
  • Offers a vast plugin library for diverse data integrations.
Pricing: Free forever
Best for: Individuals & startups
4.6/5 across review platforms

What is Steampipe?

Editorial review
Steampipe is an open-source data-access layer that allows users to query cloud APIs, code, and other data sources using standard SQL. It eliminates the need for complex ETL processes by providing a 'Zero-ETL' approach, treating live cloud configurations and other data as a dynamic database. This enables developers, security professionals, and operations teams to gain real-time insights without syncing or relying on outdated data. The platform leverages a vast library of plugins (over 500) to connect to various services like AWS, Azure, GCP, and many others, organizing their metadata into discoverable SQL tables. This unified SQL interface simplifies tasks such as compliance auditing, security posture assessment, cost optimization, and operational troubleshooting. Steampipe can be used as a CLI tool, or integrated as a PostgreSQL FDW or SQLite extension, making it a versatile tool for anyone needing to analyze and manage their cloud infrastructure and API data efficiently.

Available on: Web, macOS, Linux, Windows

how we evaluateSourcesteampipe.io ↗

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • SQL for cloud APIs
  • Good plugins
  • Open source
  • Active development
  • Good documentation

Cons

  • Learning curve
  • Niche use case
  • Resource usage
  • Plugin quality varies
  • Still maturing

Ratings Across the Web

4.6(5,705 reviews)

Steampipe holds an aggregate rating of 4.6 out of 5 from 5,705 reviews across G2, last checked August 12, 2026.

G25,705 reviews
4.6/5

Ratings aggregated from independent review platforms. Learn more

Key Features

Cloud SQL queriesMulti-cloudAPI as tablesDashboardsCompliance checksOpen source

Pricing Plans

Free Trial

Pricing checked Aug 20, 2026

Open Source

Free

  • Self-hosted
  • SQL for cloud APIs
  • 140+ plugins
  • Full community support

Turbot Pipes Developer

Free

  • Free cloud hosting
  • No credit card required
  • Personal workspaces
  • Community support

Turbot Pipes Team

Custom

  • Team workspaces
  • Usage-based pricing
  • 800+ dashboards
  • Priority support
Calculate your costView full pricing

Is Steampipe worth the price?

90/100

Steampipe offers a very generous pricing model with two free tiers.

The 'Open Source' option provides full self-hosted functionality at $0, while 'Turbot Pipes Developer' offers free cloud hosting, making it highly accessible for individuals. The 'Turbot Pipes Team' tier, with custom pricing, is designed for organizations needing advanced features and support.

Hidden Costs & Gotchas

Custom pricing for Team tier can vary widely

Usage-based pricing in Team tier needs clarification

Priority support likely adds to Team cost

How Steampipe Compares to Competitors

Compared to commercial data integration platforms like Fivetran or Stitch Data, which often start at hundreds of dollars per month for basic usage, Steampipe's free tiers are exceptionally competitive. While those competitors focus on ETL, Steampipe's Zero-ETL approach with SQL querying of live APIs offers a distinct, cost-effective alternative for real-time insights without the data warehousing overhead.

Reviews

Improve Your Thinking Patterns Using ChatGPT cover
$99Free with your review

Review Steampipe, get a free AI guide

Share your experience and we will send you Improve Your Thinking Patterns Using ChatGPT, free.

Write a review
4.6/5

Across 5,705 verified user reviews on G2

Add your hands-on experience using the offer above to help the next buyer.

Best Steampipe Alternatives

Top alternatives based on features, pricing, and user needs.

Tableau logo
TableauPaid

See and understand data with beautiful, drag-and-drop visualizations

4.5
Microsoft Power BI logo
Microsoft Power BIFreemium

Visualize data, share insights, and ask questions with natural language

4.6
Metabase logo
MetabaseFreemium

Business intelligence for everyone

4.4
Apache Superset logo
Apache SupersetFree

Open-source business intelligence and data visualization

CloudQuery logo
CloudQueryFreemium

Open-source cloud asset inventory

See all developer tools →

Still deciding?

Most buyers shortlist 2 or 3 tools before committing. Pull a side-by-side comparison or browse the full alternatives shortlist below.

Steampipe vs TableauHead-to-head: features, pricing, who winsSteampipe vs Microsoft Power BIHead-to-head: features, pricing, who winsSteampipe vs MetabaseHead-to-head: features, pricing, who wins

Explore More

Best Developer ToolsBest API ToolsBest Data & Databases ToolsBest Free Developer ToolsBest Free API ToolsBest Free Data & Databases

Steampipe FAQ

How does Steampipe facilitate compliance auditing for cloud resources?

Steampipe allows users to query live cloud configurations and other data using standard SQL, which simplifies tasks like compliance auditing. By organizing metadata into discoverable SQL tables, it enables real-time insights for assessing security posture and ensuring adherence to policies.

Which teams benefit most from using Steampipe?

Developers, security professionals, and operations teams are the primary beneficiaries of Steampipe. It helps them gain real-time insights into cloud infrastructure and API data for tasks such as security posture assessment, cost optimization, and operational troubleshooting.

How does Steampipe compare to CloudQuery?

Steampipe, like CloudQuery, allows users to query cloud APIs and resources using SQL. However, Steampipe emphasizes a 'Zero-ETL' approach by treating live cloud configurations as a dynamic database, eliminating the need for complex ETL processes.

What kind of limitations should users be aware of when adopting Steampipe?

Users should be aware that Steampipe has a learning curve and can be resource-intensive. Additionally, while it offers a vast library of plugins, the quality of these plugins can vary, and the product is still maturing.

How is Steampipe priced?

Steampipe is free to use, as it is an open-source data-access layer. There is no paid plan required to utilize its features for querying cloud APIs, code, and other data sources with SQL.

Can Steampipe integrate with existing database systems?

Yes, Steampipe can be integrated as a PostgreSQL FDW (Foreign Data Wrapper) or a SQLite extension. This versatility allows it to connect with existing database systems and extend their querying capabilities to cloud resources and APIs.

How does Steampipe achieve 'Zero-ETL' insights?

Steampipe achieves 'Zero-ETL' by treating live cloud configurations and other data as a dynamic database. This approach eliminates the need for traditional ETL processes, allowing users to gain real-time insights without syncing or relying on outdated data.

Source: steampipe.io

Guides & Articles

Best Free API Testing Tools in 2026

Features Steampipe

Best Prompt Management & PromptOps Tools 2026

Expert guide

Best Headless CMS Platforms in 2026

Expert guide