Grype vs Nancy
Grype
github.comNancy
github.comSide by side
| Figure | Grype | Nancy |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | Yes | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 2 | 1 |
| Spec score · Software Composition Analysis Software | 8.7 (#4) | 8.2 (#13) |
| Installation | Official binaries and source archives are provided for Linux, macOS and Windows, with installer-script, Docker and package-manager options. | The project offers source builds, downloadable GitHub release binaries, and Homebrew installation on macOS. |
| Integrations | The installation documentation provides a Docker image and lists community installation options including Homebrew, MacPorts, Winget, Scoop, and Snapcraft. | The project documents GitHub Actions, CircleCI, Docker, and Sonatype Lifecycle integrations. |
| License | The project is released under the Apache-2.0 License. | The Nancy repository lists the Apache-2.0 license. |
| Output formats | Configuration supports table, template, JSON and CycloneDX vulnerability-report outputs. | Nancy supports text, JSON, pretty JSON, and CSV output. |
| Purpose | Grype scans container images, filesystems, and SBOMs for known vulnerabilities. | Nancy checks Go dependencies for vulnerabilities using Sonatype Guide and can also scan with Sonatype Lifecycle. |
| Support | Commercial support is offered through Anchore, while community help is routed through issues, contribution documentation and community meetings. | The maintainers say Nancy is a community project not officially supported by Sonatype, and direct users to GitHub Issues rather than Sonatype support tickets. |
Plans
In their own words
Grype
Grype is a free, Apache-2.0-licensed scanner for known vulnerabilities in container images, filesystems, and software bills of materials (SBOMs). It can also scan directories, individual files, archives, and packages identified by PURL or CPE. Coverage includes major operating-system package ecosystems and language packages such as Ruby, Java, JavaScript, Python, .NET, Go, PHP, and Rust; supported image formats include Docker, OCI, and Singularity. Grype uses EPSS, KEV, and risk scoring to help prioritize findings. OpenVEX can filter results or add context. Reports can be emitted as a table, JSON, SARIF, or a custom Go template. The project supports SBOM generation and runs on Linux, macOS, Windows, or in a self-hosted setup. Installation options include a Docker image and community packages such as Homebrew, MacPorts, Winget, Scoop, and Snapcraft. Individual package scanning is described as useful for lightweight vulnerability checks and compliance scanning of specific dependencies. Security updates are applied only to the most recent release, and vulnerability-report support is described as best effort.