Dependency-Track vs Syft
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 | Syft |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | ★ 9,604 |
| First released | 2013 | 2020 |
| Replaces | Snyk | Snyk |
What are Dependency-Track and Syft?
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
Syft
Syft is an open-source tool from Anchore that generates a software bill of materials (SBOM) from container images and filesystems. It supports many SBOM formats for self-hosted supply chain workflows.
- SBOM generation
- SPDX and CycloneDX output
- Wide ecosystem support
- Pairs with Grype
Dependency-Track vs Syft: key differences
Dependency-Track is written in Java, while Syft is built with Go. Syft 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 Syft arrived in 2020. Syft has the considerably larger community, at 9,604 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 Syft if…
- Released under the Apache-2.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Mature project with 9.6k GitHub stars
Frequently asked questions
Is Dependency-Track or Syft better?
Syft 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 Syft free and open-source?
Yes. Dependency-Track is licensed under Apache-2.0 and Syft under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Dependency-Track and Syft with Docker?
Dependency-Track: yes. Syft: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Dependency-Track or Syft?
Syft 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.