Dependency-Track vs Grype
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted developer tools & git options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Dependency-Track | Grype |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 89 · Excellent | 94 · Excellent |
| Category | Developer Tools & Git | Developer Tools & Git |
| License | Apache-2.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | Java | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 4,096 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, kubernetes | binary, docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 4,232 | ★ 12,921 |
| First released | 2013 | 2020 |
| Replaces | Snyk | Snyk, Trivy |
What are Dependency-Track and Grype?
Dependency-Track
Dependency-Track is an open-source platform that monitors application dependencies for known vulnerabilities using software bills of materials. It helps organizations reduce supply chain risk.
- Consumes SBOM files
- Continuous vulnerability tracking
- Policy enforcement
- Component risk scoring
Grype
Grype is an open-source vulnerability scanner from Anchore for container images and filesystems. It integrates with self-hosted CI to detect known vulnerabilities in software dependencies.
- Image and filesystem scanning
- Multiple vulnerability databases
- SBOM support
- CI integration
Dependency-Track vs Grype: key differences
Dependency-Track is written in Java, while Grype is built with Go. Grype is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 4,096 MB for Dependency-Track. Dependency-Track is the more established project (first released 2013), while Grype arrived in 2020. Grype has the considerably larger community, at 12,921 GitHub stars versus 4,232.
Why pick each one
Choose Dependency-Track if…
- Released under the Apache-2.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Kubernetes-ready with Helm charts available
- Active community (4.2k GitHub stars)
Choose Grype if…
- Released under the Apache-2.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Mature project with 12.9k GitHub stars
Frequently asked questions
Is Dependency-Track or Grype better?
Grype is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Dependency-Track if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Dependency-Track and Grype free and open-source?
Yes. Dependency-Track is licensed under Apache-2.0 and Grype under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Dependency-Track and Grype with Docker?
Dependency-Track: yes. Grype: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Dependency-Track or Grype?
Grype has the smaller minimum footprint at 256 MB of RAM, compared to about 4,096 MB for Dependency-Track. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.