Dependabot

Name: Dependabot
Brand: Dependabot

Unclaimed Editor reviewed

Automated dependency updates for GitHub

Developer Tools Automation Security CI/CD

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Tracked since2025

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The Bottom Line

Entry price

Free, no paid tier

Biggest pro

Free with GitHub

Biggest con

GitHub only

TL;DR - Dependabot

Dependabot is an automated dependency update tool that creates pull requests for outdated packages
It monitors your repositories and proposes updates with changelogs and compatibility scores
Completely free, built into GitHub

Pricing: Free forever

Best for: Individuals & startups

What is Dependabot?

Editorial review

Dependabot keeps dependencies updated automatically. It opens pull requests when new versions are available-security patches and updates without manual tracking. GitHub integration is native. Version constraints are respected. The automation reduces the boring maintenance work. Development teams on GitHub use Dependabot because dependency updates shouldn't require human attention to track.

Available on: Web

LCLouis CorneloupUpdated May 26, 2026 · how we evaluateSourcegithub.com ↗

Pros & Cons

Pros

Free with GitHub
Automatic PRs
Security alerts
Low maintenance
Good integration

Cons

GitHub only
Can create PR noise
Limited customization
No vulnerability prioritization
Basic compared to alternatives

Key Features

Dependency updatesSecurity alertsGitHub nativeAuto PRVersion updatesFree

Pricing Plans

Free

Included with GitHub

Automated dependency updates
Security vulnerability alerts
Pull request automation
Multi-language support
Grouping updates

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Dependabot FAQ

Is Dependabot free?

Yes, Dependabot is completely free for all GitHub repositories, including private ones. It's included as part of GitHub's core features.

What languages does Dependabot support?

Dependabot supports most popular package ecosystems including npm, pip, Maven, Gradle, Bundler, Cargo, Composer, Docker, Go modules, NuGet, and more.

How does Dependabot work?

Dependabot automatically scans your repository for outdated dependencies, creates pull requests with updates, and alerts you to security vulnerabilities in your dependencies.

Can I customize Dependabot's behavior?

Yes, you can configure Dependabot through a dependabot.yml file in your repository, setting update schedules, grouping rules, and ignored dependencies.

Does Dependabot work with private registries?

Yes, Dependabot can authenticate with private package registries using secrets configured in your repository settings.

Source: github.com

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