Trivy vs Snyk
Both Trivy and Snyk are security scanning tools, but they differ in features, scope, and pricing models.
| Feature | Trivy 🛡️ (by Aqua Security) | Snyk 🔥 |
|---|---|---|
| License | Open-source (free) | Freemium (paid plans for advanced features) |
| Scanning Targets | Containers, Kubernetes, IaC, Cloud, Code Repos, VM Images, SBOM, File System, Registry | Containers, Kubernetes, IaC, Cloud, Code Repos, VM Images, SBOM |
| Vulnerability Database | Uses multiple sources (NVD, Red Hat, Debian, etc.) | Uses proprietary Snyk vulnerability database |
| Infrastructure as Code (IaC) | Supports Terraform, CloudFormation, Kubernetes manifests | Supports Terraform, CloudFormation, Kubernetes, Helm |
| Container Security | Scans images, filesystem, and rootfs | Scans images, registries, and runtime |
| Cloud Security | Scans AWS, Azure, GCP services | Scans AWS, Azure, GCP services |
| Integration | Works with Kubernetes, Docker, CI/CD, AWS Security Hub | Works with GitHub, GitLab, Jenkins, AWS Security Hub |
| SBOM Generation | Supports SPDX and CycloneDX | Supports SPDX and CycloneDX |
| Developer Fix Suggestions | No automatic fix suggestions | Provides automatic fixes for dependencies |
| CI/CD Integration | GitHub Actions, GitLab, Jenkins, ArgoCD | GitHub Actions, GitLab, Jenkins, CircleCI |
| AWS Security Hub Integration | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Performance | Fast and lightweight | Slightly heavier but more detailed |
| Best For | Open-source projects, DevOps security | Enterprise security, developer-friendly fixes |
Which One Should You Use?¶
✅ Use Trivy if you want a free, open-source, lightweight scanner that works well in DevOps pipelines.
✅ Use Snyk if you need developer-friendly fixes and enterprise support with deep GitHub/GitLab integration.
🚀 For AWS/Azure security scanning, both tools work well, but Snyk integrates better with CI/CD pipelines.