go-pillage-registries vs kube-bench: Side-by-Side Comparison (2026)
Features, pricing, ratings, and pros & cons — compared head-to-head.
go-pillage-registries is a free container security tool. kube-bench is a free container security tool. Compare features, ratings, integrations, and community reviews side by side to find the best container security fit for your security stack.
CST VerdictBased on our analysis of available product data, here is our conclusion:
Container security teams who need fast reconnaissance of their Docker registry attack surface should reach for go-pillage-registries; it extracts manifest and configuration data at command-line speed without requiring API credentials or authentication, making it invaluable for teams auditing registry hygiene and identifying misconfigurations before they become incidents. The tool's 114 GitHub stars and zero dependencies reflect its focused design, though it's strictly a discovery and analysis tool, not a runtime enforcement layer. Skip this if you're looking for continuous monitoring or policy enforcement; go-pillage-registries is the flashlight, not the guard.
Teams running Kubernetes who need to know whether their cluster configuration actually matches CIS Benchmark standards should start with kube-bench; it's free, it runs locally, and it will catch misconfigurations that most teams have never audited. The tool covers 93 checks across control plane, node, and policies, which means you'll find real gaps in RBAC, network policies, and pod security posture in your first run. Skip this if you need continuous runtime monitoring or remediation automation; kube-bench is a point-in-time scanner that tells you what's broken, not what's attacking you.
