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Vulnerability scanner for container images

Free, no paid tier Visit Website
Tracked since 2025

The Bottom Line

Price
Free, no paid tier. Compare plans

Key facts

  • Grype is an open-source vulnerability scanner for container images and filesystems
  • It scans for known vulnerabilities using multiple databases with fast results
  • Completely free and open-source

Pros

  • Open source vulnerability scanner
  • Container scanning
  • Fast
  • CI/CD integration
  • Active development

Cons

  • CLI only
  • Learning curve
  • Database updates needed
  • False positives possible
  • Enterprise features limited

What is Grype?

Grype scans container images for vulnerabilities. Feed it an image, get back a list of known CVEs-container security scanning that fits into build pipelines. The scanning is fast. The database updates regularly. Integration with CI is straightforward. Container security starts with knowing what vulnerabilities exist. Grype provides that visibility in builds.

Available on: Web, macOS, Linux, Windows

Key Features

  • Vulnerability scanning
  • Container images
  • SBOM support
  • CI/CD integration
  • Open source
  • Anchore

Pricing Plans

Pricing checked Sep 28, 2026. Source: github.com/anchore/grype, read Sep 28, 2026

Grype plans and prices, checked September 2026
Plan Price Details
Open Source

Free

  • Full source code access
  • Apache License 2.0 license
  • Community support
+1 more
  • Self-hosted

Is Grype worth the price?

Great value

Grype's pricing is exceptionally generous, as it is entirely free and open-source.

This makes it an incredibly fair and accessible option compared to commercial vulnerability scanners. It's best for individual developers, small teams, and organizations prioritizing cost-effectiveness and transparency.

Full Grype pricing: every plan, hidden costs and alternatives

Grype by the numbers

Grype compared with 115 CI/CD tools on Toolradar, as of Oct 2026
Metric Grype Peer median Position (1 is best)
Free plan Yes 86% have one n/a
Listed as an alternative to 7 tools 1 #25 of 115 (joint)
Compare-page visits, last 30 days 21 visits 41 #23 of 26 tools with 20+ compare-page visits

Each position is counted among the tools that have data for that row, as noted under it. All CI/CD data · How we compute this. Advertising and placement fees are not inputs to any position. Visit counts include visits from every source.

Cite this: Toolradar, “Grype by the numbers”, Oct 2026.

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Grype FAQ

How does Grype help secure container images?

Grype scans container images to identify known Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs). It provides a list of these vulnerabilities, offering visibility into potential security risks within your container builds.

Which teams benefit most from using Grype?

Teams focused on Security, Testing & QA, and CI/CD will find Grype most beneficial. It helps integrate vulnerability scanning directly into development workflows to catch issues early.

How is Grype priced?

Grype is free to use, as it is an open-source vulnerability scanner. There is no paid plan required to access its features.

What kind of limitations should users be aware of when adopting Grype?

Grype is a CLI-only tool, which means it lacks a graphical user interface. Users should also anticipate a learning curve, the need for regular database updates, and the possibility of false positives in scan results.

Can Grype be integrated into existing build pipelines?

Yes, Grype is designed for straightforward integration with CI/CD pipelines. It allows for container security scanning to be incorporated directly into the build process.

How does Grype compare to Trivy for container scanning?

Grype, like Trivy, is an open-source vulnerability scanner focused on container images. Grype emphasizes fast scanning and CI/CD integration, providing a similar function for identifying CVEs within builds.

Why is regular database updating important for Grype?

Regular database updates are crucial for Grype because it relies on an updated database of known CVEs to accurately identify vulnerabilities. Keeping the database current ensures the scanner can detect the latest threats.

Source: github.com

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