kube-bench vs MKIT - Managed Kubernetes Inspection Tool: Side-by-Side Comparison (2026)
Features, pricing, ratings, and pros & cons — compared head-to-head.
kube-bench is a free container security tool. MKIT - Managed Kubernetes Inspection Tool 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:
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.
MKIT - Managed Kubernetes Inspection Tool
Platform teams managing multi-cloud Kubernetes deployments will value MKIT for its speed; it runs as a Docker container and flags misconfigurations across AKS, EKS, and GKE without requiring agents or cloud credentials. The tool's free tier and 397 GitHub stars indicate active maintenance and community trust for baseline cluster hygiene checks. Skip this if you need runtime threat detection or policy enforcement; MKIT is assessment-only, not prevention, and won't catch lateral movement or exploitation after deployment.
