Dependency-Track vs OSV-Scanner
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 | OSV-Scanner |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 89 · Excellent | 93 · 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 | ★ 11,080 |
| First released | 2013 | 2022 |
| Replaces | Snyk | Snyk, Dependabot alerts |
What are Dependency-Track and OSV-Scanner?
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
OSV-Scanner
OSV-Scanner is an open-source tool from Google that scans project dependencies for known vulnerabilities using the Open Source Vulnerabilities database. It runs locally and in self-hosted CI pipelines.
- OSV database backed
- Lockfile scanning
- SBOM input support
- CI friendly
Dependency-Track vs OSV-Scanner: key differences
Dependency-Track is written in Java, while OSV-Scanner is built with Go. OSV-Scanner 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 OSV-Scanner arrived in 2022. OSV-Scanner has the considerably larger community, at 11,080 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 OSV-Scanner if…
- Released under the Apache-2.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Mature project with 11.1k GitHub stars
Frequently asked questions
Is Dependency-Track or OSV-Scanner better?
OSV-Scanner 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 OSV-Scanner free and open-source?
Yes. Dependency-Track is licensed under Apache-2.0 and OSV-Scanner under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Dependency-Track and OSV-Scanner with Docker?
Dependency-Track: yes. OSV-Scanner: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Dependency-Track or OSV-Scanner?
OSV-Scanner 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.