Free CIS Benchmark Tool
Scored CIS Level 1 and 2, DISA STIG, and Microsoft Security Baselines across Windows, macOS, and Linux, in one console with trend tracking. 200 endpoints free forever.
What a free CIS benchmark tool should do
Most free ways to check CIS compliance hand you a raw scan and stop there. A registration-gated desktop tool runs one machine at a time against a subset of benchmarks. Open-source scanners emit SCAP or XML you then have to store, diff, and chart yourself. Hardening auditors give you a general score that is not tied to a published benchmark's pass or fail. All of them tell you something; none of them give you a scored, trended fleet you can hand to an auditor.
The useful question is whether a tool produces a per-control score you can track over time, across every operating system you run, and whether it covers more than one framework. The table below sorts the main free options by exactly that, and names where each one stops.
The free options, compared
A fair look at the main free ways to assess CIS and hardening today, checked against each source page. Chef InSpec is not tabled because it is a compliance-as-code framework with no built-in CIS or STIG content and no numeric score, so it is noted here rather than scored as a row.
| Tool | Free limit | Frameworks | Platforms | Scored output | The catch |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TridentStack Control | 200 endpoints, forever | CIS L1/L2, DISA STIG, MS baselines | Windows, macOS, Linux | Yes, 1 to 100 with trend | $5/endpoint/mo past 200, every feature included |
| CIS-CAT Lite (CIS) | Free, registration-gated | CIS only (subset of benchmarks) | Windows, Linux, macOS | Yes, CIS score | No DISA STIG or MS baselines; no remediation or support; commercial use needs paid membership |
| OpenSCAP + SCAP Security Guide | Free/OSS, no cap | CIS, STIG (varies by profile) | Linux only | Per scan, no central dashboard | Command-line and XML workflow; coverage varies by platform and profile; you self-host all reporting |
| Wazuh SCA | Free/OSS, self-hosted | CIS (via SCA module) | Windows, macOS, Linux (agent) | Pass/fail SCA checks | Bundled in a broader XDR and SIEM; no native DISA STIG or Microsoft baseline packs |
| Microsoft SCT | Free download | Microsoft baselines only | Windows | No, settings diffs and Excel | Windows and Microsoft-product baselines only; output is a settings diff, not a compliance score; no CIS or STIG |
| Lynis (CISOfy) | Free/OSS, no cap | Hardening index (not a published benchmark) | Linux, macOS, Unix (no Windows) | Hardening index, not pass/fail | A general hardening audit, not scored against a published CIS Benchmark; the fleet dashboard is paid Lynis Enterprise |
Free tiers verified against each vendor's own page.
What is in the free tier
Scored compliance for your first 200 endpoints, at no cost, across every operating system you run.
Scored CIS Level 1 and 2
Per-control CIS Benchmark assessment with a numeric score you can track, not a raw checklist dump.
DISA STIG assessment
STIG findings scored alongside CIS in the same console, so one platform covers both frameworks.
Microsoft Security Baselines
Microsoft's recommended baselines assessed and scored, not just exported as settings diffs.
macOS benchmarks included
The CIS Apple macOS 14 Sonoma Benchmark is scored the same way as Windows and Linux, not left out.
Trend tracking and exceptions
Watch scores move over time, and record exceptions with an expiration date and an audit trail.
Unlimited admin users
Bring your whole team. Role-based access is included, with no per-seat fees on the free tier.
When you outgrow free
Past your first 200 endpoints it is $5 per endpoint per month, every feature still included, no tiers. See the pricing calculator.
Free DISA STIG scanner
DISA STIG assessment runs in the same console as CIS, so a Windows fleet can be scored against the applicable STIG without exporting SCAP files and charting them by hand. Each control returns a pass or fail with context, rolled up into a score you can trend and filter by asset or tag.
That is the difference between a raw STIG scan and a scored assessment. A one-off SCAP or XML scan tells you the state of one machine at one moment; a scored, trended console shows whether the whole fleet is drifting toward or away from the baseline, and lets you attach dated exceptions to the controls you have formally accepted.
More free tools from TridentStack Control
Free Patch Management Software
Patch Windows, macOS, and Linux from one console. 200 endpoints free forever.
Free Vulnerability Scanner
Continuous, agent-based CVE detection with CVSS prioritization across your fleet.
Free Endpoint Management Software
A web settings catalog with enforcement that works without Active Directory.
Free Group Policy Alternative
Enforce settings across Windows, macOS, and Linux without a domain controller.
Frequently asked questions
Is CIS-CAT Lite free for commercial use?
CIS-CAT Lite is free to download and run, but commercial use requires a paid CIS SecureSuite membership, and Lite covers only a subset of benchmarks with no DISA STIG or Microsoft baseline support. TridentStack Control's free tier is licensed for production use across 200 endpoints.
Do you cover macOS?
Yes. The CIS Apple macOS 14 Sonoma Benchmark is scored the same way as Windows and Linux, so a mixed fleet is assessed from one console.
Do you do DISA STIG too?
Yes. DISA STIG assessment runs alongside CIS Level 1 and 2 and Microsoft Security Baselines, all scored in the same place.
Do you score against NIST?
We map CIS controls to NIST 800-53 as cross-references, so you can see the linkage, but we do not ship a scored NIST baseline. The frameworks scored are CIS, DISA STIG, and Microsoft Security Baselines.
Is it really free forever, and do I need a credit card?
Your first 200 endpoints are free forever with every feature included, and you can start without entering payment details. It is not a trial and it does not expire.
Start scoring compliance, free
200 endpoints free forever, every framework included. No credit card, no time limit.
Competitor facts verified against each vendor page. Last verified 2026-08-17.