Independent pricing analysis. Not affiliated with Wiz, Inc. or Google Cloud. All estimates are based on publicly reported transaction data and may not reflect current rates.
Wiz vs Orca Security: Pricing, Features, and the Agentless CNAPP Showdown (2026)
Wiz and Orca Security are the two leading agentless CNAPP platforms. Both scan your cloud environment without deploying agents, both cover the full CNAPP spectrum, and both compete for the same enterprise buyers. The difference comes down to pricing, depth of analysis, deployment flexibility, and now corporate ownership. This comparison uses actual pricing data to help you make an informed decision.
30-Second Summary
Wiz is the premium choice for large enterprises needing the deepest attack path analysis (Security Graph), broadest cloud provider support (including OCI), and the backing of Google. Orca is 20-30% cheaper with stronger CI/CD shift-left integration, more deployment flexibility (SaaS, In-Account, BYOC), and independence from any hyperscaler. Both are agentless, both cover the full CNAPP stack, and both are excellent platforms.
Pricing Comparison at Four Workload Tiers
The table below shows estimated annual costs for Wiz and Orca Security at four common enterprise scales. These estimates are based on reported transaction data from Vendr, Spendflo, and industry benchmarks. Actual pricing for both platforms is quote-based and will vary.
| Workloads | Wiz (Est.) | Orca (Est.) | Orca Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500 | $40,000 - $75,000 | $30,000 - $55,000 | $10,000 - $20,000 |
| 1,000 | $75,000 - $150,000 | $55,000 - $110,000 | $20,000 - $40,000 |
| 3,000 | $150,000 - $280,000 | $110,000 - $200,000 | $40,000 - $80,000 |
| 5,000 | $220,000 - $350,000 | $160,000 - $270,000 | $60,000 - $80,000 |
Estimates based on 1-year contracts with CSPM + CWPP modules. Multi-year discounts can reduce both platforms by 20-35%.
Feature Comparison Matrix
| Feature | Wiz | Orca Security |
|---|---|---|
| Scanning Approach | Agentless (snapshot) | Agentless (SideScanning) |
| Cloud Providers | AWS, Azure, GCP, OCI, Alibaba | AWS, Azure, GCP, Alibaba |
| CSPM | Yes (included) | Yes (included) |
| CWPP | Yes | Yes |
| DSPM | Yes (deep) | Yes |
| CIEM | Yes | Yes |
| Attack Path Analysis | Security Graph (industry-leading) | Attack Path Analysis |
| CI/CD Integration | Basic | Strong (shift-left focus) |
| Runtime Protection | Wiz Sensor (add-on agent) | Agentless runtime |
| CDR / Threat Detection | Wiz Defend (premium add-on) | Included |
| Deployment Modes | SaaS only | SaaS, In-Account, BYOC |
| Compliance Frameworks | 40+ frameworks | 35+ frameworks |
| Fortune 100 Adoption | 40%+ | Significant, growing |
| Ownership | Google (acquired March 2026) | Independent (VC-backed) |
| Per-Workload Estimate | $8 - $30 | $6 - $22 |
Where Wiz Wins
Security Graph and attack path analysis: Wiz's Security Graph is widely considered the best attack path visualisation in the CNAPP market. It maps relationships between cloud resources, identities, vulnerabilities, and misconfigurations to show how an attacker could chain findings into a full compromise. Security teams consistently cite this as the primary reason they chose Wiz over Orca. If your security programme has matured beyond basic posture management into proactive attack surface reduction, the Security Graph is a differentiating capability.
Enterprise adoption and market momentum: Wiz is deployed in 40%+ of Fortune 100 companies. This matters beyond marketing. It means Wiz has battle-tested integrations with enterprise tools (ServiceNow, Splunk, Jira), a mature professional services organisation, and a large community of security practitioners sharing best practices. When your security team attends conferences, they will find more Wiz peers than Orca peers.
DSPM depth: Wiz's Data Security Posture Management module is more mature than Orca's. If sensitive data discovery and classification across cloud stores is a priority (particularly for GDPR, HIPAA, or PCI DSS compliance), Wiz's DSPM has an edge in detection accuracy and data classification granularity.
Google backing and R&D investment: Following the $32B acquisition, Wiz has Google's resources for product development. Integration with Chronicle SIEM, VirusTotal, and Mandiant threat intelligence is already underway. For organisations invested in Google Cloud, this creates a compelling unified security platform story.
Where Orca Security Wins
20-30% lower cost: At virtually every workload tier, Orca is cheaper than Wiz. For a company with 1,000 workloads, the difference is roughly $20K to $40K per year. At 5,000 workloads, you could save $60K to $80K annually by choosing Orca. If your budget is constrained and you need agentless CNAPP coverage, Orca delivers comparable capabilities at a meaningful discount.
Stronger CI/CD integration: Orca's shift-left capabilities are more developed than Wiz's. If your security programme emphasises developer-facing tools, pipeline scanning, and infrastructure-as-code security feedback loops, Orca's CI/CD integration is more mature and developer-friendly.
Vendor independence: Orca remains an independent, VC-backed company. For organisations that prefer not to depend on a hyperscaler-owned security tool (particularly if you run primarily on AWS or Azure and are wary of Google's influence), Orca's independence is a genuine strategic advantage. You avoid the risk of a platform vendor having access to your security data.
Flexible deployment: Orca offers three deployment modes: standard SaaS, In-Account (data stays in your cloud account), and BYOC (Bring Your Own Cloud, full control over data residency). Wiz currently offers SaaS only. For organisations with strict data sovereignty or residency requirements, Orca's In-Account mode can be a deal-maker.
Decision Framework
Choose Wiz When
- Attack path analysis is a top priority for your security programme
- You are investing in or already using Google Cloud
- You need Oracle Cloud Infrastructure support
- Deep DSPM for sensitive data discovery is essential
- Your enterprise prefers the market leader with the largest user community
- Budget is secondary to capability depth
Choose Orca When
- Budget is a primary factor and you need to save 20-30%
- CI/CD and developer-facing security tools are priorities
- You prefer an independent vendor without hyperscaler ownership
- Data sovereignty requires In-Account or BYOC deployment
- You do not need the deepest possible attack path analysis
- Your primary clouds are AWS and Azure (no OCI needed)
Related Comparisons
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Orca Security cheaper than Wiz?
Yes, Orca Security is typically 20-30% cheaper than Wiz at equivalent workload counts. At 1,000 workloads, Orca estimates range from $55K-$110K compared to Wiz's $75K-$150K. At 5,000 workloads, the gap widens: Orca at $160K-$270K versus Wiz at $220K-$350K. However, Wiz offers deeper attack path analysis and broader enterprise adoption that may justify the premium.
What is the main difference between Wiz and Orca?
Both are agentless CNAPP platforms, but they differ in key areas. Wiz is known for its Security Graph (attack path analysis), has broader enterprise adoption (40% of Fortune 100), and is now owned by Google. Orca offers stronger CI/CD integration, remains independent (no acquisition), and provides more flexible deployment modes (SaaS, In-Account, BYOC). Orca also tends to be 20-30% cheaper.
Does the Google acquisition affect the Wiz vs Orca comparison?
Yes. Google's $32B acquisition of Wiz (completed March 2026) means Wiz is no longer an independent vendor. For buyers who prefer vendor neutrality, Orca's independence may be an advantage. However, Google's backing gives Wiz significant resources for R&D and integration with Google Cloud services. The EU required Wiz to remain multi-cloud, so AWS and Azure support continues.
Can Orca Security replace Wiz?
For most use cases, yes. Orca covers CSPM, CWPP, DSPM, vulnerability management, CIEM, and code security, similar to Wiz. Where Wiz has an edge is in attack path analysis (Security Graph) and DSPM depth. If your primary needs are posture management, vulnerability scanning, and compliance, Orca is a capable and cheaper alternative.
Which is better for multi-cloud: Wiz or Orca?
Both support AWS, Azure, and GCP. Wiz additionally supports Oracle Cloud Infrastructure and Alibaba Cloud. Orca supports AWS, Azure, GCP, and Alibaba Cloud. For a three-cloud environment (AWS + Azure + GCP), both platforms provide comprehensive coverage. If you need OCI support specifically, Wiz is the better choice.