Is Refuse worth the price?
Refuse offers a very generous pricing model, with both a self-hosted and a hosted free tier at $0.
The Hosted Pro tier at $5/month for 5 million scans is exceptionally affordable, making it accessible for a wide range of users. This pricing is best for individual developers, small teams, and open-source projects looking for robust vulnerability scanning without breaking the bank.
Pricing Plans
OSS / Self-host
$0 / forever
- Apache-2.0 CLI + server
- Unlimited scans
- All ecosystems
- REST API; MCP on roadmap
Hosted Free
$0 / forever
- 100,000 scans / 30 days
- Hosted MCP at mcp.refuse.dev
- All ecosystems
- 90-day request logs
Hosted Pro
$5 / month
- 5,000,000 scans / 30 days
- Everything in Hosted Free
- Email support
Hidden Costs & Gotchas
No annual discount mentioned for Hosted Pro
Potential for overage fees if exceeding scan limits
Self-hosting requires infrastructure management
Email support only in Pro tier
Which Plan Do You Need?
Developers needing free vulnerability scanning
Small teams on a tight budget
Open-source projects seeking security
How Refuse Compares to Competitors
Compared to commercial vulnerability scanners like Snyk or Mend, Refuse's pricing is significantly lower, especially with its free and $5/month tiers. Snyk's developer plan starts at $0 but quickly scales up for teams, while Mend often requires custom quotes, making Refuse a much more budget-friendly option for similar core functionality.
Refuse Pricing FAQ
How much does Refuse cost?
Refuse starts at $5/month on the Hosted Pro plan. A free plan is also available with limited features.
Does Refuse have a free plan?
Yes. Refuse offers a free plan called "OSS / Self-host". It includes: Apache-2.0 CLI + server, Unlimited scans, All ecosystems.
Is there a cheaper alternative to Refuse?
Yes. Popular alternatives to Refuse include Grype, Snyk, Socket, GitGuardian. Free alternatives include Grype, Snyk, Socket. Compare them side-by-side on Toolradar.
Cheaper alternatives to Refuse
6 of 6 direct competitors below offer a free plan. Per-seat pricing varies up to 60% across this set.

Review Refuse, get a free AI guide
Share your experience and we will send you Improve Your Thinking Patterns Using ChatGPT, free.