cargo-deny
cargo-deny: A Rust-focused policy checker for Cargo dependency graphs, with CI and pre-commit support. Ranked #55 of 65 in Software Composition Analysis Software by our editors (5.3/10); pricing: Open source; best for rust teams enforcing Cargo dependency policies.
At a glance
- Editor score5.3 / 10
- PricingOpen source
- Best forRust teams enforcing Cargo dependency policies
- Paid fromFree
- Facts checked19 Sep 2026

Where it wins
- Checks crate licenses, security advisories, and unmaintained or yanked crates
- Controls banned crates, duplicate versions, and dependency sources
- Runs in GitHub Actions and pre-commit, with a Rust library API
Where it doesn't
- Focused on Rust and Cargo rather than multiple ecosystems
- Requires teams to define and maintain dependency policies
- No verified SBOM generation or reachability analysis
Our verdict on cargo-deny
Rust teams that need policy checks on Cargo dependency graphs can use cargo-deny as a command-line tool, a CI step, or a local pre-commit hook. It evaluates dependencies against project-defined rules, covering crate licenses, known security advisories, unmaintained or yanked crates, duplicate versions, banned crates, and dependency source locations. Its Rust library API also supports programmatic use. This makes it a focused option for teams that want dependency review to be part of their development workflow rather than a broader, cross-language SCA system.
The tool’s strongest fit is its range of Cargo-specific controls. License checks use SPDX expressions, while source policies can allow or restrict registries, Git sources, and paths. Teams can lint the dependency graph and apply those checks to pull requests through GitHub Actions, or catch issues locally with pre-commit. It supports Rust, Cargo, crates.io, Git registries, and Git repositories, and is self-hosted. That scope suits Rust projects with explicit rules for acceptable licenses, sources, and dependency versions; it is not a general dependency-policy layer for teams working across different ecosystems.
cargo-deny is open source, and the documented options include local installation from source or precompiled binaries. The listed integrations—GitHub Actions and pre-commit—cover CI and developer workflows, while the library API offers another route for embedding checks. Its narrow focus is also a boundary: teams seeking a broader SCA tool should compare alternatives if they need cross-ecosystem coverage, SBOM generation, or reachability analysis. Choose cargo-deny when Cargo policy enforcement is the priority; look elsewhere when those broader capabilities are central to the evaluation.
Your product? Our editors can test cargo-deny in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →
cargo-deny pricing
cargo-deny fact sheet
| Free plan | Not verified |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| Supported ecosystems | Rust; Cargo; crates.io; Git registries; Git repositories |
| SBOM generation | Not verified |
| Reachability analysis | Not verified |
| Pull request scanning | Yes |
| Monitored projects | Not verified |
| Deployment options | Self_hosted |
| Deployment | Desktop |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Integrations | 2 integrations: GitHub Actions, pre-commit |
| Pricing | Open source |
| Website | embarkstudios.github.io |
| Facts checked | 19 Sep 2026 |
cargo-deny integrations
cargo-deny lists 2 integrations on its own site.
- GitHub Actions
- pre-commit
Alternatives to cargo-deny
- Snyk Open SourceBroad SCA coverage with reachability, SBOMs, pull-request scanning, and monitoring.9.4
- FOSSAA mature SCA platform covering dependencies, SBOMs, containers, licenses, and policy controls.9.3
- Safeguard SCAA budget-conscious SCA platform with reachability analysis, SBOMs, and remediation workflows.9.1
See all cargo-deny alternatives →
Used cargo-deny? Be the first to review it
The editor score above is our own research. What this page doesn't have yet is a reader's view — what you used cargo-deny for, what worked and what didn't. No stars are seeded and no review is paid for; an editor reads every one before it appears.
Write a reviewTwo minutes · verified accounts only · read by an editor before it appears
Featured on iTechGuides
cargo-deny is listed in our Software Composition Analysis Software directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.
<a href="https://www.itechguides.com/products/cargo-deny/"><img src="https://www.itechguides.com/best/badge/cargo-deny.svg" alt="Featured on iTechGuides" width="230" height="46"></a>
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
Last updated · How we research and update



