Steampipe
What it is
Steampipe is a free, open-source toolkit for querying live data from APIs and services with SQL. Its CLI presents connected resources as relational data and includes its own PostgreSQL database, so users can work with dynamic information without first building an ETL pipeline. Plugins implement the interface for each cloud service, file, or other resource being queried. Steampipe can join live cloud configuration data with internal or external datasets, with compliance, security, operations, and cost listed as use cases. Other distributions include PostgreSQL Foreign Data Wrappers, SQLite extensions that translate queries into API calls, and standalone export CLIs that extract information without a database. Turbot Pipes provides hosted database instances, shared dashboards, and snapshots. Installers are available for macOS, Linux, and Windows, with API and self-hosted use also listed. The Steampipe Hub offers plugins across public cloud, SaaS, security, and software development categories. AWS access can use default credentials from a credential file or environment variables.
For and against
For
- Free and open source
- SQL over live API data
- Joins cloud and external datasets
- Multiple deployment and export formats
- Installers for macOS, Linux, and Windows
Against
- A plugin is required for each resource
- Hosted features use Turbot Pipes
- Live queries depend on configured credentials
The verdict
Steampipe gives technical users several ways to query live service data without a traditional ETL pipeline. Its plugin requirement is central to setup, while its CLI, extensions, exports, and hosted option provide flexible deployment choices.
Who it suits
It suits technical teams querying cloud, SaaS, security, and operational data directly from APIs using SQL and reusable plugins.
On the record
- Company
- Turbot says it was founded in 2014 and is bootstrapped.turbot.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Credentials
- The AWS tutorial says Steampipe uses default AWS credentials from the user's credential file or environment variables out of the box.steampipe.io · read 3 Oct 2026
- Data joins
- Steampipe can join live cloud configuration data with internal or external datasets.steampipe.io · read 2 Oct 2026
- Export
- Steampipe Export CLIs are standalone binaries for extracting information from cloud services and APIs without a database.steampipe.io · read 2 Oct 2026
- Hosted option
- Turbot Pipes provides hosted Steampipe database instances, shared dashboards, and snapshots.steampipe.io · read 2 Oct 2026
- Live data
- Steampipe queries live cloud configuration data and can join it with internal or external data sets.steampipe.io · read 3 Oct 2026
- Maker
- Turbot says it was founded in 2014 and is 100% bootstrapped.turbot.com · read 2 Oct 2026
- Open source
- Steampipe is described as an open-source zero-ETL engine, and its GitHub repository identifies its license as Apache 2.0.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Other distributions
- Steampipe is also available as PostgreSQL FDWs, SQLite extensions, and standalone export CLIs.steampipe.io · read 3 Oct 2026
- Plugin library
- The Steampipe Hub lists 157 plugins across categories including public cloud, SaaS, security, and software development.hub.steampipe.io · read 3 Oct 2026
- Plugins
- Plugins implement interfaces to cloud services, files, and other resources, and the Hub lists 158 plugins.hub.steampipe.io · read 2 Oct 2026
- PostgreSQL
- Steampipe is available as PostgreSQL Foreign Data Wrappers that can be installed in supported PostgreSQL versions.steampipe.io · read 2 Oct 2026
- Query engine
- The Steampipe CLI exposes APIs and services as a relational database and includes its own PostgreSQL database.steampipe.io · read 3 Oct 2026
- Security maintenance
- The changelog lists dependency upgrades to remediate security vulnerabilities in Steampipe CLI releases.steampipe.io · read 3 Oct 2026
- Security reports
- Turbot says SOC 2 reports are available on request under NDA and that its annual SOC examinations take place each April.turbot.com · read 2 Oct 2026
- Setup requirement
- Steampipe requires a plugin to implement the interface for each cloud service, file, or other resource being queried.steampipe.io · read 3 Oct 2026
- SQLite
- Steampipe SQLite Extensions provide virtual tables that translate queries into API calls.steampipe.io · read 2 Oct 2026
- SQL queries
- The Steampipe CLI exposes APIs and services as a relational database for SQL queries over dynamic data.steampipe.io · read 2 Oct 2026
