Clair review
A focused self-hosted scanner for OCI and Docker image vulnerabilities.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Clair is an open-source container security project for teams that need static vulnerability analysis of OCI and Docker images. It indexes image manifests and layers, identifies operating-system packages and language-specific dependencies, and matches them against vulnerability data. Clair can run as a binary or container in monolithic or distributed modes, making it suitable for container registries, local environments, CI pipelines, and disconnected deployments. Its API and clairctl command-line tool support image submission and vulnerability reporting.
The product’s strongest fit is its focused scanning workflow. Continuous vulnerability database updates support image re-analysis, while modular indexer, matcher, notifier, and combo modes allow different deployment designs. Integrations include PostgreSQL, Docker, Podman, OCI Distribution, and Docker v2. Teams can use REST reporting or clairctl, with deployment options spanning self-hosted and API-based operation. This makes Clair a practical choice for organizations that want control over where analysis runs and how it connects to existing container workflows.
Clair is free and open source, so its value comes from its scanning scope and deployment flexibility rather than commercial plan tiers. Its boundaries are important: the published capabilities center on static image analysis, package and dependency detection, and reporting. Runtime protection, Kubernetes security, admission control, and SBOM generation are outside that focus. Choose Clair when a self-hosted image scanner is the priority; choose another product when container security requires runtime controls, Kubernetes policy enforcement, or SBOM generation alongside vulnerability analysis.
Clair pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Free and open source for static OCI and Docker image analysis
- Detects operating-system packages and language-specific dependencies
- Supports REST API, clairctl, CI, registry, and disconnected deployments
- Where it doesn't
- Focuses on static analysis rather than runtime protection
- Does not provide Kubernetes security or admission control
- Does not generate SBOMs
Clair fact sheet, pricing and score →
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