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OSSKB

Free#26 of 28 in Open Source License Compliance Software

OSSKB: A focused free service for identifying source-code snippets and enriching their metadata. Ranked #26 of 28 in Open Source License Compliance Software by our editors (6.5/10); pricing: Free plan; best for snippet identification and metadata enrichment.

6.5/10Editor score

Visit OSSKB

OSSKB6.5 Visit OSSKB

At a glance

Editor score
6.5 / 10
Pricing
Free plan
Best for
Snippet identification and metadata enrichment
Free plan
Yes
Paid from
Free
Facts checked
20 Sep 2026

Where it wins
- Identifies source-code snippets using fingerprints
- Adds license, copyright, quality and vulnerability metadata
- Offers a public API, Python scanner and desktop clients
Where it doesn't
- Does not verify policy enforcement or license obligations
- Does not provide SBOM or attribution reporting
- Results require human assessment and are not legal advice

Our verdict on OSSKB

OSSKB is a free service for identifying open-source software from source-code fingerprints, including individual snippets, against a public open-source knowledge base. It is intended for professional use by developers and open-source auditors who need identification hints and related metadata during code review or audit work. Access is available through the web and API, with a free Python scanner and audit workbench clients for macOS and Linux.

Its main strength is the depth of information attached to an identification result. OSSKB can enrich findings with license names, copyright statements, quality indicators and vulnerability metadata, while fingerprint comparison supports identification beyond complete package matches. The Free plan includes source-code fingerprint identification, license and related metadata, and public API access. The platform footprint covers web, macOS, Linux and API access, giving teams several ways to incorporate identification into developer or audit workflows.

OSSKB is deliberately narrower than a full license-compliance management system. It does not verify policy enforcement, license obligations, software bills of materials or attribution reporting, so teams needing those controls should choose a product focused on compliance governance and reporting instead. Its results are identification hints that require human assessment, and the service is not legal advice. Choose OSSKB when snippet-level detection and metadata enrichment are the priority; do not choose it as the sole system for proving compliance or managing downstream obligations.

Your product? Our editors can test OSSKB in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →

OSSKB pricing

Plans Free planFree Free to use — no paid tier required for the core job.

See plans on softwaretransparency.org

All 1 OSSKB plans and prices →

OSSKB fact sheet

Free plan	Yes
Paid from	Free
Policy enforcement	Not verified
Obligation tracking	Not verified
Attribution reports	Not verified
SBOM import formats	Not verified
Deployment options	Not verified
Source scan methods	Not verified
Deployment	Cloud, Desktop
Platforms	Web, macOS, Linux
Support	Email
Built for	Small business, Mid-market (editorial estimate)
Pricing	Free plan (source)
Website	softwaretransparency.org
Facts checked	20 Sep 2026

Alternatives to OSSKB

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Featured on iTechGuides

OSSKB is listed in our Open Source License Compliance Software directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.

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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 7 Oct 2026 · How we research and update