Refuse vs Socket: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Refuse and Socket side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, Refuse leads on lower entry price. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Refuse
Block vulnerable package installs across your dev and CI/CD
Best for you if:
- • You want significantly enhances software supply chain security by preventing vulnerable package installations
Socket
Secure your dependencies and ship with confidence.
Best for you if:
- • You want supply chain security
| At a Glance | Refuse | Socket |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free plan, paid from $5/mo, billed monthly Hosted Pro plan | Free plan, paid from $25/user/mo, billed monthly Team plan |
Category | Security Developer Tools | Security Developer Tools |
Rating | n/a | 4.7/5 G2 4.7 10 reviews |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Watch out for | Potential for overage fees if exceeding scan limits | Free tier limited to 3 members, adding a 4th developer forces an upgrade to Team at $25/dev/month minimum |
Choose Refuse or Socket?
Choose Refuse if
- You want significantly enhances software supply chain security by preventing vulnerable package installations
- You want supports a broad range of package managers and development environments
- Budget matters ($5/mo, billed monthly vs $25/user/mo, billed monthly)
Choose Socket if
- You want supply chain security
- You want dependency analysis
In-Depth Analysis
Refuse
Block vulnerable package installs across your dev and CI/CD
Refuse offers a very generous pricing model, with both a self-hosted and a hosted free tier at $0.
Watch out
Potential for overage fees if exceeding scan limits
Strengths
- Pro: Significantly enhances software supply chain security by preventing vulnerable package installations.
- Pro: Supports a broad range of package managers and development environments.
- Pro: Offers flexible deployment options including a free self-hosted solution and a generous free hosted tier.
- Pro: Provides specific safe version suggestions when blocking vulnerable packages.
- Pro: Easy to install and integrate into existing workflows (shell, CI/CD, agents).
Weaknesses
- Con: Requires an additional step in the package installation workflow, which might introduce a slight overhead.
- Con: The hosted Pro tier with higher scan limits is planned for future release.
Key features
Socket
Secure your dependencies and ship with confidence.
Socket uses proactive malware and supply-chain detection that goes beyond traditional CVE scanning, it catches intentionally malicious packages, not just known vulnerabilities.
Watch out
Free tier limited to 3 members, adding a 4th developer forces an upgrade to Team at $25/dev/month minimum
Strengths
- Pro: Supply chain security
- Pro: Dependency analysis
- Pro: Active development
- Pro: Good for npm
- Pro: Open source option
Weaknesses
- Con: Newer platform
- Con: npm focused
- Con: Learning curve
- Con: Enterprise features paid
- Con: Still maturing
Key features
Plans and prices: Refuse vs Socket
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Refuse |
| refuse.dev/pricing read Oct 19, 2026 |
| Socket |
| socket.dev read Oct 8, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on Refuse pricing and Socket pricing.
Key Takeaways
Refuse
- Lower entry price: $5/mo, billed monthly vs $25/user/mo, billed monthly
Socket
- Choose if you want secure your dependencies and ship with confidence
What the data shows
On the data below, Refuse leads on lower entry price. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- Only Socket has a published user rating (4.7/5 from 10 reviews); Refuse has none we can show.
- Refuse has the lower entry price: $5/mo, billed monthly (Hosted Pro) against $25/user/mo, billed monthly (Team) for Socket.
- Both have a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Refuse and Socket compare in 2026?
On the data below, Refuse leads on lower entry price. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. Only Socket has a published user rating (4.7/5 from 10 reviews); Refuse has none we can show. Refuse has the lower entry price: $5/mo, billed monthly (Hosted Pro) against $25/user/mo, billed monthly (Team) for Socket. Both have a free plan.
What are Refuse and Socket used for?
Refuse: Block vulnerable package installs across your dev and CI/CD. Socket: Secure your dependencies and ship with confidence.
What does Refuse cost vs Socket?
Refuse's cheapest paid plan is Hosted Pro at $5/mo, billed monthly; it also has a free plan. Socket's cheapest paid plan is Team at $25/user/mo, billed monthly; it also has a free plan. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 19, 2026.
What's the main difference between Refuse and Socket?
Refuse's main strength: significantly enhances software supply chain security by preventing vulnerable package installations. Socket's main strength: supply chain security.