pip-audit

At a glance

• Editor score
  5.3 / 10
• Pricing
  Free plan
• Best for
  Python teams auditing dependencies for free
• Free plan
  Yes
• Paid from
  Free
• SBOM generation
  Yes
• Facts checked
  19 Sep 2026

• Where it wins

  • Free, open-source auditing for Python environments and dependency files
  • Generates CycloneDX JSON and XML SBOMs
  • Supports GitHub Actions and pre-commit workflows

• Where it doesn't

  • Limited to Python packages and pip-related dependency files
  • No reachability analysis is part of its focused scope
  • Not designed for broad pull-request-specific scanning

Our verdict on pip-audit

pip-audit is an open-source command-line tool for auditing Python environments, requirements files, local Python projects, and supported lock files. It is intended for Python developers and teams that need a focused way to check dependencies for known vulnerabilities without adopting a paid service. Audits use vulnerability services including PyPI and OSV, while supported inputs include requirements files, pyproject.toml, and pylock.*.toml files.

Its strongest capability is the combination of vulnerability checks, remediation, and reporting. pip-audit can automatically upgrade vulnerable dependencies with --fix when fixes are available. It also produces columnar, Markdown, JSON, and CycloneDX SBOM output in JSON and XML formats, giving teams options for terminal review, automation, and software inventory workflows. GitHub Actions and pre-commit support make it suitable for adding dependency checks to repository and development processes.

The trade-off is its deliberately narrow ecosystem focus. pip-audit is built around Python packages and pip-related files rather than multi-language dependency analysis, and its workflow support does not make it a full pull-request security platform. Teams that want Python-only auditing, SBOM generation, and self-hosted use should find the scope well aligned. Organizations needing reachability analysis, broader language coverage, or a more extensive pull-request scanning system should choose a different SCA product.

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

pip-audit pricing

pip-audit fact sheet

pip-audit integrations

pip-audit lists 4 integrations on its own site.

• GitHub Actions
• pre-commit
• PyPI JSON API
• OSV

Alternatives to pip-audit

• 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 pip-audit alternatives →

Featured on iTechGuides

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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

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Last updated 7 Oct 2026 · How we research and update