Snyk vs Trivy -- Application Security Compared
Trivy provides free, open-source vulnerability scanning across the broadest range of targets with zero configuration, while Snyk offers a commercial platform with automated remediation, a larger proprietary vulnerability database, and a centralized management dashboard. Trivy is the best choice for teams that want free, fast scanning with no vendor lock-in, while Snyk is better for organizations that need remediation workflow automation and enterprise management capabilities.
Choose Trivy if you want a free, open-source scanner with the broadest target coverage and zero-config deployment, especially for container and Kubernetes environments. Choose Snyk if you need automated remediation workflows, a centralized management dashboard, a larger vulnerability database, and enterprise support for a commercial application security program.
| Feature | Trivy | Snyk |
|---|---|---|
| Container Scanning | Excellent open-source container scanning | Commercial container scanning with remediation |
| IaC Scanning | Built-in misconfiguration detection | Dedicated IaC scanning product |
| SAST | No dedicated SAST engine | Snyk Code with real-time analysis |
| SCA | Dependency scanning via vulnerability DB | Industry-leading SCA with proprietary database |
| Automated Remediation | No automated fix PR generation | Automated fix PRs with upgrade and patch suggestions |
| Management Dashboard | CLI-only (Aqua Platform for dashboard) | Centralized web dashboard with org-wide visibility |
| Pricing | Completely free and open source | Free tier / $25 per developer per month |
| Setup Complexity | Zero-config, single binary | Account setup, integration configuration required |
Common questions about choosing between Snyk and Trivy.
Trivy provides free, open-source vulnerability scanning across the broadest range of targets with zero configuration, while Snyk offers a commercial platform with automated remediation, a larger proprietary vulnerability database, and a centralized management dashboard. Trivy is the best choice for teams that want free, fast scanning with no vendor lock-in, while Snyk is better for organizations that need remediation workflow automation and enterprise management capabilities.
Choose Trivy if you want a free, open-source scanner with the broadest target coverage and zero-config deployment, especially for container and Kubernetes environments. Choose Snyk if you need automated remediation workflows, a centralized management dashboard, a larger vulnerability database, and enterprise support for a commercial application security program.
Trivy pricing: Free (open source) / Aqua Platform for enterprise features. Snyk pricing: Free (limited scans) / Team from $25/developer/month / Enterprise custom pricing. Trivy's pricing model is open source with commercial aqua platform, while Snyk uses per-developer (monthly) pricing.
Yes, you can migrate from Snyk to Trivy. The migration process depends on your specific setup and the features you use. Both platforms offer APIs that can facilitate automated migration. Consider running both tools in parallel during the transition to ensure zero downtime.
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