Best Container Image Scanning Tools in 2026
Updated
In short: Snyk Open Source is ranked #1 of 28 as of 5 October 2026, ahead of Docker Desktop and Mondoo CSPM. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Docker Desktop. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Uptycs Container Security at $3/mo.
Container image scanning tools help you inspect images for security issues as they move through build, registry and deployment workflows. Compared on CI pipeline scanning, registry scanning, Kubernetes admission and SBOM generation, the entries show where scanning and inventory capabilities may fit. Deployment model and fix recommendations add context for handling findings, while free-plan availability and paid starting prices can help you weigh access and cost. Snyk Open Source, Docker Desktop and Mondoo CSPM are among the tools to consider; Trivy is another option. Compare the listed coverage with the stages in your workflow and the remediation information you need.
28 container image scanning tools ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
8 of the 25 here have a free tier you can use, 0 have open-source code on record, and 0 have full bars: free, open, on most of your devices and documented.
| # | App | Signal | Free tier | Open code | Devices | From | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Snyk Open SourceWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · API | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | $25/mo | 6.7 | |
| 2 | Docker DesktopWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | $9/mo | 6.6 | |
| 3 | Mondoo CSPMWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · API | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | Free | 6.6 | |
| 4 | TrivyWindows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.6 | |
| 5 | GrypeWindows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 6 | Qualys External Attack Surface ManagementWeb · Linux · API | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | — | 6.5 | |
| 7 | RapidFortWeb · Linux · Self-hosted | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 8 | ClairLinux · Self-hosted · API | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | |
| 9 | Aqua Container SecurityWeb · Windows · Linux · Self-hosted | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.6 |
| 10 | Sysdig SecureWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Two bars | — | — | 4 of 6 | — | 5.6 |
| 11 | FortiCNAPPWeb · Windows · Linux | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.5 |
| 12 | SUSE Multi-Linux ManagerWeb · Linux · Self-hosted · API | One bar | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 5.5 |
| 13 | O3 Security Image ScannerWeb | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.4 |
| 14 | Wiz DefendWeb | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.4 |
| 15 | CrowdStrike Falcon SurfaceWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux | Two bars | — | — | 4 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 16 | DagdaLinux · Self-hosted · API | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 17 | Sonatype Container ScannerWindows · Linux | No signal | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 18 | Alibaba Cloud Container RegistryWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 19 | ZeroPathWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Two bars | — | — | 4 of 6 | $1,000/mo | 5.2 |
| 20 | Check Point CloudGuard Data SecurityWeb | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 21 | Google Artifact AnalysisWeb · Mac · Linux · API | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 22 | Uptycs Container SecurityWeb · Linux · Self-hosted · API | One bar | — | — | 2 of 6 | $3/mo | 5.1 |
| 23 | Amazon InspectorWeb · API | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.0 |
| 24 | Checkmarx API SecurityWeb · Self-hosted · API | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.0 |
| 25 | HarborWeb · Linux | No signal | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 5.0 |
Compare all 25 in a table
| # | App | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Deployment model | Registry scanning |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Snyk Open Source | 6.7 | Free plan | $25/mo | Yes | 25 /mo | hybrid | Yes |
| 2 | Docker Desktop | 6.6 | Free plan | $9/mo | Yes | — | saas | Yes |
| 3 | Mondoo CSPM | 6.6 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 4 | Trivy | 6.6 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 5 | Grype | 6.5 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 6 | Qualys External Attack Surface Management | 6.5 | No | — | Yes | — | hybrid | Yes |
| 7 | RapidFort | 6.5 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | hybrid | Yes |
| 8 | Clair | 6.4 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | self_hosted | Yes |
| 9 | Aqua Container Security | 5.6 | No | — | — | — | hybrid | Yes |
| 10 | Sysdig Secure | 5.6 | No | — | — | — | hybrid | Yes |
| 11 | FortiCNAPP | 5.5 | No | — | — | — | hybrid | — |
| 12 | SUSE Multi-Linux Manager | 5.5 | No | — | — | — | self_hosted | Yes |
| 13 | O3 Security Image Scanner | 5.4 | No | — | — | — | — | Yes |
| 14 | Wiz Defend | 5.4 | No | — | No | — | saas | Yes |
| 15 | CrowdStrike Falcon Surface | 5.3 | No | — | — | — | hybrid | — |
| 16 | Dagda | 5.3 | No | — | Yes | — | self_hosted | — |
| 17 | Sonatype Container Scanner | 5.3 | No | — | — | — | hybrid | Yes |
| 18 | Alibaba Cloud Container Registry | 5.2 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 19 | ZeroPath | 5.2 | No | $1,000/mo | No | — | — | — |
| 20 | Check Point CloudGuard Data Security | 5.1 | No | — | — | — | hybrid | Yes |
| 21 | Google Artifact Analysis | 5.1 | No | — | No | — | saas | Yes |
| 22 | Uptycs Container Security | 5.1 | No | $3/mo | No | 3 /mo | hybrid | Yes |
| 23 | Amazon Inspector | 5.0 | No | — | No | — | — | — |
| 24 | Checkmarx API Security | 5.0 | No | — | No | — | hybrid | Yes |
| 25 | Harbor | 5.0 | No | — | — | — | — | — |
Is your app on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored, and a sponsored row is labelled as paid.
Questions about this list
Which container image scanning tool is ranked first on Freedom251?
Snyk Open Source is ranked #1 of 28 with a score of 6.7. Docker Desktop is second and Mondoo CSPM third.
How many of these have a free plan?
7 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, Uptycs Container Security has the lowest first paid tier we found: $3/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked free-and-open first: a usable free tier and open-source code, then the platforms it runs on and its documentation.