Syft vs Dependency-Track
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted developer tools & git options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
Syft
Generate software bills of materials from images and code
VS
Dependency-Track
Intelligent software supply chain component analysis
| Feature | Syft | Dependency-Track |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Developer Tools & Git | Developer Tools & Git |
| License | Apache-2.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | Go | Java |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 4,096 MB |
| Deployment | binary, docker | docker, kubernetes |
| GitHub stars | ★ 9,367 | ★ 4,089 |
| First released | 2020 | 2013 |
| Replaces | Snyk | Snyk |
Why pick each one
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 9.4k GitHub stars
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 (4.1k GitHub stars)
Frequently asked questions
Is Syft or Dependency-Track 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 Syft and Dependency-Track free and open-source?
Yes. Syft is licensed under Apache-2.0 and Dependency-Track under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Syft and Dependency-Track with Docker?
Syft: yes. Dependency-Track: yes.