# External Secrets Operator vs HashiCorp Vault

**Leader by vioscaleAI score:** HashiCorp Vault

| Attribute | External Secrets Operator | HashiCorp Vault |
|---|---|---|
| **vioscaleAI score** | 54.8 (42% (low)) | 69.9 (73% (medium)) |
| activity.commits_last_30d | 58 | 100 |
| adoption.dependent_repos | 5 | 8,444 |
| adoption.github_stars | 6,903 | 36,339 |
| content.faq | `[{"answer":"External Secrets Operator integrates Kubernetes with third-party secret management services like AWS Secrets Manager, HashiCorp Vault, and others, automatically fetching and injecting secret values into native Kubernetes Secrets. It is indexed under Secrets Management Tools.","source":"https://external-secrets.io/","question":"What is External Secrets Operator?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"External Secrets Operator is open source, so it can be self-hosted and used at no licence cost. It is released under the Apache-2.0 licence. Pricing changes often, so verify at source before relying on it.","source":"https://external-secrets.io/","question":"Is External Secrets Operator free to use?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"External Secrets Operator supports a command-line interface. Platforms we have not confirmed are simply not listed here rather than ruled out.","source":"https://external-secrets.io/","question":"What platforms does External Secrets Operator support?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"Yes. External Secrets Operator can be deployed cloud / SaaS, on-premise and self-hosted, so it does not have to run on the vendor's infrastructure.","source":"https://external-secrets.io/","question":"Can External Secrets Operator be self-hosted?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"We have confirmed 8 integrations for External Secrets Operator, including AWS Secrets Manager, HashiCorp Vault, Google Secrets Manager, Azure Key Vault, IBM Cloud Secrets Manager, Akeyless, CyberArk Secrets Manager and Pulumi ESC. This is what we could verify from public sources, so the vendor may support others we have not indexed.","source":"https://external-secrets.io/","question":"What does External Secrets Operator integrate with?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"Yes. External Secrets Operator is published under the Apache-2.0 licence, a permissive licence that generally allows commercial use and modification. Licence terms can change between releases, so verify against the repository for the version you intend to use.","source":"https://github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets","question":"Is External Secrets Operator open source?","confidence":0.95}]` | `[{"answer":"Provides secure secret storage, dynamic credential generation, encryption services, and fine-grained access control with detailed audit logging for applications and infrastructure. It is indexed under Secrets Management Tools.","source":"https://www.vaultproject.io/","question":"What is HashiCorp Vault?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"HashiCorp Vault is open source, so it can be self-hosted and used at no licence cost. Pricing changes often, so verify at source before relying on it.","source":"https://www.vaultproject.io/","question":"Is HashiCorp Vault free to use?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"HashiCorp Vault supports the web and a command-line interface. Platforms we have not confirmed are simply not listed here rather than ruled out.","source":"https://www.vaultproject.io/","question":"What platforms does HashiCorp Vault support?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"Yes. HashiCorp Vault can be deployed self-hosted, so it does not have to run on the vendor's infrastructure.","source":"https://www.vaultproject.io/","question":"Can HashiCorp Vault be self-hosted?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"We have confirmed 5 integrations for HashiCorp Vault, including AWS, SQL databases, Consul, OCI and Okta. This is what we could verify from public sources, so the vendor may support others we have not indexed.","source":"https://www.vaultproject.io/","question":"What does HashiCorp Vault integrate with?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"We have independently confirmed SOC 2, ISO 27001 and GDPR for HashiCorp Vault. Certifications we do not list are ones we have not been able to verify from public sources, which is not the same as HashiCorp Vault not holding them. Always confirm compliance directly before you rely on it.","source":"https://www.vaultproject.io/security","question":"What security certifications does HashiCorp Vault have?","confidence":0.6}]` |
| deployment.options | `{"self_hosted":true}` | `{"self_hosted":true}` |
| description.long | External Secrets Operator integrates Kubernetes with third-party secret management services like AWS Secrets Manager, HashiCorp Vault, and others, automatically fetching and injecting secret values into native Kubernetes Secrets. | A system for securely storing and controlling access to secrets like credentials, API keys, and certificates. It generates temporary credentials on-demand, automatically revokes expired secrets, and provides encryption without persistent storage, enabling applications to access secrets through a unified interface with comprehensive audit logging. |
| features.capabilities | `{"hosting":"both","tool_type":"sync_inject","secret_rotation":true,"open_source_core":true,"kubernetes_native":true,"fine_grained_policy":true}` | `{"pki_ca":true,"hosting":"both","tool_type":"store","hsm_support":true,"audit_logging":true,"dynamic_secrets":true,"secret_rotation":true,"open_source_core":true,"fine_grained_policy":true,"encryption_as_a_service":true}` |
| integrations.count | 18 | 9 |
| integrations.list | `[{"name":"AWS Secrets Manager"},{"name":"HashiCorp Vault"},{"name":"Google Secrets Manager"},{"name":"Azure Key Vault"},{"name":"IBM Cloud Secrets Manager"},{"name":"Akeyless"},{"name":"CyberArk Secrets Manager"},{"name":"Pulumi ESC"},{"name":"1Password"},{"name":"GitHub"},{"name":"Google Secret Manager"},{"name":"Yandex Lockbox"},{"name":"Conjur"},{"name":"SecretServer"},{"name":"BeyondTrust"},{"name":"OpenBao"},{"name":"ngrok"},{"name":"Infisical"},{"name":"VolcEngine"},{"name":"AWS Certificate Manager"},{"name":"OpenStack Barbican"},{"name":"Azure AD"},{"name":"Pulumi"},{"name":"Webhook"},{"name":"DVLS"}]` | `[{"name":"AWS"},{"name":"SQL databases"},{"name":"Consul"},{"name":"OCI"},{"name":"Okta"},{"name":"Azure","native":true,"category":"cloud"},{"name":"GCP","native":true,"category":"cloud"},{"name":"Oracle Cloud","native":true,"category":"cloud"},{"name":"Nomad","native":true,"category":"orchestration"},{"name":"LDAP","native":true,"category":"directory"},{"name":"OpenLDAP","native":true,"category":"directory"},{"name":"Duo","native":true,"category":"mfa"},{"name":"GCP Secret Manager","native":true,"category":"cloud"}]` |
| language.primary | Go | Go |
| license.spdx | Apache-2.0 | - |
| platform.support | `{"cli":true}` | `{"web":true}` |
| pricing | `{"type":"open_source","summary":"Free, open source","freeTier":true,"sourceUrl":"https://external-secrets.io/","retrievedAt":"2026-10-15T20:25:43.513Z"}` | `{"type":"open_source","freeTier":true,"sourceUrl":"https://www.vaultproject.io/","retrievedAt":"2026-08-14T15:24:58.948Z"}` |
| pricing.free_tier | yes | yes |
| pricing.model | open_source | commercial |
| pricing.price_level | free | free |
| pricing.transparent | yes | yes |
| release.cadence_days | 2 | 22 |
| release.history | `[{"url":"https://github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets/releases/tag/v2.12.0","date":"2026-10-06T08:44:36Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.12.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets/releases/tag/helm-chart-2.12.0","date":"2026-10-06T11:40:43Z","type":"stable","version":"helm-chart-2.12.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets/releases/tag/helm-chart-2.11.0","date":"2026-09-21T12:12:54Z","type":"stable","version":"helm-chart-2.11.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets/releases/tag/v2.11.0","date":"2026-09-18T14:38:00Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.11.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets/releases/tag/v2.10.0","date":"2026-08-28T11:49:18Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.10.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets/releases/tag/helm-chart-2.10.0","date":"2026-08-28T13:09:40Z","type":"stable","version":"helm-chart-2.10.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets/releases/tag/helm-chart-2.9.0","date":"2026-08-08T12:43:21Z","type":"stable","version":"helm-chart-2.9.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets/releases/tag/v2.9.0","date":"2026-08-07T16:37:22Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.9.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets/releases/tag/helm-chart-2.8.0","date":"2026-07-18T16:52:08Z","type":"stable","version":"helm-chart-2.8.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets/releases/tag/v2.8.0","date":"2026-07-18T05:36:33Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.8.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets/releases/tag/v2.7.0","date":"2026-06-26T12:05:27Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.7.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets/releases/tag/helm-chart-2.7.0","date":"2026-06-26T13:35:17Z","type":"stable","version":"helm-chart-2.7.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets/releases/tag/helm-chart-2.6.0","date":"2026-06-07T06:20:46Z","type":"stable","version":"helm-chart-2.6.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets/releases/tag/v2.6.0","date":"2026-06-05T17:56:12Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.6.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets/releases/tag/v2.5.0","date":"2026-05-15T12:27:05Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.5.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets/releases/tag/helm-chart-2.5.0","date":"2026-05-15T13:06:51Z","type":"stable","version":"helm-chart-2.5.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets/releases/tag/v2.4.1","date":"2026-04-28T10:26:32Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.4.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets/releases/tag/helm-chart-2.4.1","date":"2026-04-28T11:07:11Z","type":"stable","version":"helm-chart-2.4.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets/releases/tag/v2.4.0","date":"2026-04-24T15:15:37Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.4.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/external-secrets/external-secrets/releases/tag/helm-chart-2.4.0","date":"2026-04-24T18:43:56Z","type":"stable","version":"helm-chart-2.4.0"}]` | `[{"url":"https://github.com/hashicorp/vault/releases/tag/v2.1.1","date":"2026-09-16T21:04:32Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.1.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/hashicorp/vault/releases/tag/v2.1.0","date":"2026-09-01T14:37:47Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.1.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/hashicorp/vault/releases/tag/v2.0.4","date":"2026-08-04T18:34:44Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.0.4"},{"url":"https://github.com/hashicorp/vault/releases/tag/v2.0.3","date":"2026-06-17T20:23:38Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.0.3"},{"url":"https://github.com/hashicorp/vault/releases/tag/v2.0.2","date":"2026-06-05T16:26:07Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.0.2"},{"url":"https://github.com/hashicorp/vault/releases/tag/v2.0.1","date":"2026-05-19T20:57:55Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.0.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/hashicorp/vault/releases/tag/v2.0.0","date":"2026-04-14T20:07:04Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.0.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/hashicorp/vault/releases/tag/v2.0.0-rc1","date":"2026-04-03T03:01:53Z","type":"prerelease","version":"v2.0.0-rc1"},{"url":"https://github.com/hashicorp/vault/releases/tag/v1.21.4","date":"2026-03-05T06:37:01Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.21.4"},{"url":"https://github.com/hashicorp/vault/releases/tag/v1.21.3","date":"2026-03-04T22:47:38Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.21.3"},{"url":"https://github.com/hashicorp/vault/releases/tag/v1.21.2","date":"2026-01-07T18:09:58Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.21.2"},{"url":"https://github.com/hashicorp/vault/releases/tag/v1.21.1","date":"2025-11-19T17:36:49Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.21.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/hashicorp/vault/releases/tag/v1.21.0","date":"2025-10-22T20:29:23Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.21.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/hashicorp/vault/releases/tag/v1.21.0-rc1","date":"2025-10-10T00:53:48Z","type":"prerelease","version":"v1.21.0-rc1"},{"url":"https://github.com/hashicorp/vault/releases/tag/v1.20.4","date":"2025-09-24T20:43:32Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.20.4"},{"url":"https://github.com/hashicorp/vault/releases/tag/v1.20.3","date":"2025-08-28T18:21:23Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.20.3"},{"url":"https://github.com/hashicorp/vault/releases/tag/v1.20.2","date":"2025-08-06T04:09:48Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.20.2"},{"url":"https://github.com/hashicorp/vault/releases/tag/v1.20.1","date":"2025-07-24T20:10:34Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.20.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/hashicorp/vault/releases/tag/v1.20.0","date":"2025-06-25T13:57:41Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.20.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/hashicorp/vault/releases/tag/v1.20.0-rc2","date":"2025-06-17T20:20:54Z","type":"prerelease","version":"v1.20.0-rc2"}]` |
| reliability.status_page | - | yes |
| security.disclosure_policy | - | yes |
| security.gdpr | - | yes |
| security.iso27001 | - | yes |
| security.scorecard | 8.2 | 6.5 |
| security.soc2 | - | yes |
| security.vulnerabilities | `{"count":6,"source":"https://advisories.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/advisories?ecosystem=go&package_name=github.com%2Fexternal-secrets%2Fexternal-secrets&per_page=100","last_12m":4,"max_severity":"CRITICAL"}` | `{"count":0,"source":"https://advisories.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/advisories?ecosystem=go&package_name=github.com%2Fhashicorp%2Fvault%2Fapi&per_page=100","last_12m":0,"max_severity":null}` |

## Capabilities (Secrets Management Tools)

| Capability | External Secrets Operator | HashiCorp Vault |
|---|:--:|:--:|
| **Core** |  |  |
| Tool type | Sync / injection | Secret store / engine |
| Dynamic (short-lived) secrets | - | ✓ |
| **Deployment** |  |  |
| Hosting | Cloud + self-hosted | Cloud + self-hosted |
| **Lifecycle** |  |  |
| Automatic secret rotation | ✓ | ✓ |
| **Crypto** |  |  |
| Encryption as a service (transit) | - | ✓ |
| **Compliance** |  |  |
| FIPS 140-2/3 validated crypto | - | - |
| HSM support | - | ✓ |
| **Access** |  |  |
| Fine-grained / identity-based policy | ✓ | ✓ |
| **Governance** |  |  |
| Audit logging | - | ✓ |
| **Integration** |  |  |
| Kubernetes native (CRD / CSI / K8s auth) | ✓ | - |
| **Scope** |  |  |
| PKI / certificate authority | - | ✓ |
| **Licensing** |  |  |
| Open-source core | ✓ | ✓ |
| **Ecosystem** |  |  |
| CNCF maturity | - | - |

*Source: vioscaleAI. Generated 2026-10-16T18:31:43.957Z. "-" = undocumented, not absent.*