pip-audit review
A focused, free SCA tool for auditing Python dependencies and generating SBOMs.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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.
pip-audit pros and cons
- 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
pip-audit fact sheet, pricing and score →
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