Head-to-head · SBOM Generation Tools
Trivy vs Syft
Trivy leads on 0 checks, Syft on 0, and 6 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 6 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.
Our verdict
- Highest scoreTrivy · 8.5/10
- Free planboth
- Most featuresSyft · 5 of 6
Trivy scores higher on our rubric for sbom generation tools: 8.5 against 7.9 out of 10; our editors rank them #3 and #5.
Trivy is the better fit for free SBOM generation plus security scanning. Syft is the better fit for broad SBOM generation across images and filesystems.
- Trivy fits best
Free SBOM generation plus security scanning
- Syft fits best
Broad SBOM generation across images and filesystems
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Side by side
| Feature | Trivy 8.5/10 Visit ↗ | Syft 7.9/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 8.5 | 7.9 |
| Ranking | #3 in SBOM Generation Tools | #5 in SBOM Generation Tools |
| Best for | Free SBOM generation plus security scanning | Broad SBOM generation across images and filesystems |
| Pricing model | Free | Free |
| Starting price | Free plan | Free plan |
| Free plan | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Deployment | Self-hosted | Self-hosted |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Linux, macOS, Windows |
| Support | Community, Docs | Community, Docs |
| Integrations | 6 integrations | 4 integrations |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise |
| Features Trivy 0/6 · Syft 5/6 | ||
| SPDX output | Not checked yet | ✓ (best) |
| CycloneDX output | Not checked yet | ✓ (best) |
| Source code input | Not checked yet | ✓ (best) |
| Container image input | Not checked yet | ✓ (best) |
| Binary input | Not checked yet | ✓ (best) |
| Build-pipeline support | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Our review | ||
| Pros |
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| Cons |
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| Our verdict | Trivy is an open-source security scanner maintained by Aqua Security, suited to teams that want SBOM generation alongside broader security checks. It runs as a command-line binary locally, in CI/CD pipelines, or in Kubernetes-based… Read the review → |
Syft is an open-source command-line tool and Go library from Anchore for generating software bills of materials. It suits teams that need to inventory software across container images, filesystems, directories, individual files, and… Read the review → |
Strengths and trade-offs
Trivy — where it wins
- Generates and scans SBOMs in CycloneDX and SPDX formats
- Scans containers, filesystems, repositories, Kubernetes, and AWS
- Covers misconfigurations, secrets, software licenses, and dependencies
Where it doesn't
- Self-hosted deployment requires managing the tool in your environment
- Support is through community resources and documentation
- Reachability analysis and pull-request scanning are not established capabilities
Syft — where it wins
- Creates CycloneDX and SPDX output and converts between supported formats
- Scans images from Docker, Podman, Containerd, OCI archives, and registries
- Generates signed SBOM attestations using the in-toto specification
Where it doesn't
- Command-line and Go library workflows may not suit teams seeking a graphical interface
- Self-hosted deployment places operation with the adopting team
- Support is through community channels and documentation
- Trivy8.5/10 · Free plan
A free, self-hosted SBOM generator that also scans code, containers, Kubernetes, and AWS.
Visit TrivyFull verdict → - Syft7.9/10 · Free plan
A free, open-source CLI and Go library for creating and converting CycloneDX and SPDX SBOMs.
Visit SyftFull verdict →
Trivy vs Syft: questions
Which is better for SBOM generation tools, Trivy or Syft?
Trivy scores higher on our rubric for sbom generation tools: 8.5 against 7.9 out of 10; our editors rank them #3 and #5.
How do Trivy and Syft compare?
All 6 checks we put side by side come out level: neither leads on any.
Do Trivy and Syft have a free plan?
Trivy: Yes. Syft: Yes.
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- Trivy vs BomLens
All SBOM generation tools comparisons → · Full ranking →
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Nov 2026
Last updated · How we research and update