Nancy review
A focused, free command-line scanner for Go modules, with flexible output and Sonatype integrations.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Nancy is an open-source command-line tool for detecting known vulnerabilities in dependencies of Go projects that use go.mod. It is aimed at teams that want a focused dependency audit they can run locally or incorporate into CI, rather than a broad software composition analysis platform spanning multiple ecosystems. The Open source plan is Apache-2.0 licensed and free. Nancy runs on Linux, Windows, and macOS, and can be installed from source or release binaries, through Homebrew on macOS, or in a container.
The workflow centers on checking dependencies through Sonatype Guide, with the option to submit scans to Sonatype Lifecycle. Output can be text, JSON, JSON-pretty, or CSV, which gives teams choices for readable reports and downstream processing. Vulnerabilities can be excluded by CVE or Sonatype ID, and local response caching is available. These controls make Nancy a practical fit for teams that want to tailor scan output or avoid repeatedly fetching responses. Its Sonatype connections are relevant if those services already form part of a team's dependency review process; otherwise, its core value remains a local Go-focused scan.
The trade-off is scope: Nancy scans Go modules only, has no reachability analysis, and does not generate verified SBOMs. Teams that need broader language coverage, reachability context, or verified inventory generation should consider a different tool. The repository identifies Nancy as part of Sonatype Nexus Community and says it is not officially supported by Sonatype, so organizations needing vendor-backed support should weigh that carefully. For Go teams seeking a free, narrow audit utility with multiple output formats, Nancy is a straightforward option; it is not a substitute for a wider SCA program.
Nancy pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Scans go.mod dependencies for known vulnerabilities through Sonatype Guide
- Supports text, JSON, JSON-pretty, and CSV output
- Offers CVE or Sonatype ID exclusions and local response caching
- Where it doesn't
- Limited to Go module projects using go.mod
- Does not provide reachability analysis
- Does not generate verified SBOMs
Nancy fact sheet, pricing and score →
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