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Cybersecurity · head to head

Chainguard vs Codacy

Chainguard logo

Chainguard

Cybersecurity

Secure-by-default open source software with hardened container images and libraries

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Codacy logo

Codacy

Software Development

Automated code review platform for code quality and security scanning.

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Chainguard containers Catalog at 19,000 USD/year expensive for teams under 10 people; Codacy team plan is capped at 30 developers before Business pricing is required.
  • They diverge on capability: Chainguard covers Hardened container images, Codacy covers Automated code review.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 29 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Chainguard and Codacy actually diverge.

Attributes where Chainguard and Codacy differ
AttributeChainguardCodacy
Pricing modelLicensing by artifact type and team sizefreemium
PlatformsCloud, Container, VMweb, api
CategoryCybersecuritySoftware Development

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Chainguard

  • Hardened container images
  • CVE remediation SLA
  • SLSA L2/L3 builds
  • Sigstore signatures
  • SBOM generation
  • Language libraries
  • VM images
  • Artifact scanning

Only in Codacy

  • Automated code review
  • Security scanning
  • IDE plugin
  • Merge gates
  • Coverage reports
  • Jira and Slack integration

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Chainguard

  • Deploying hardened container images with minimal attack surfacenot Codacy
  • Meeting supply chain security requirements for regulated industriesnot Codacy
  • Reducing CVE exposure with contractual remediation guaranteesnot Codacy
  • Building secure language packages with automatic backportsnot Codacy
  • Verifying artifact provenance with Sigstore signaturesnot Codacy

Codacy

  • Automating pull request code reviewnot Chainguard
  • Enforcing shared coding standards across teamsnot Chainguard
  • Scanning for secrets and vulnerable dependenciesnot Chainguard
  • Tracking test coverage over timenot Chainguard
  • Blocking merges that fail quality gatesnot Chainguard

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Chainguard

  • Containers Catalog at 19,000 USD/year expensive for teams under 10 people
  • Per-image pricing for containers requires custom quotes with no transparency
  • Free tier limited to 5 container images for testing
  • Libraries pricing by ecosystem and developer count lacks transparent per-developer cost
  • VM image catalog pricing opacity makes cost estimation difficult

Codacy

  • Team plan is capped at 30 developers before Business pricing is required.
  • Advanced security features like DAST and container scanning are Business-tier only.
  • Business plan pricing is not published and requires contacting sales.
  • Annual plans require 30 days' notice to modify or cancel before renewal.

Pricing, plan by plan

Chainguard

Free
  • Free TierFree
    • Five container images to test and deploy
  • Containers Per-Image$undefined/custom
    • Licensed by quantity and type
    • Base images, application images, AI/ML images, FIPS variants
    • Custom pricing per image
  • Containers Catalog$19000/year
    • For 10-person engineering teams
    • 2,000+ container images
    • Contractual CVE remediation SLAs
  • Libraries Licensing$undefined/custom
    • Licensed by ecosystem (Python, Java, JavaScript)
    • Licensed by developer count
    • Unlimited pulls with no metering

Codacy

Free
  • DeveloperFree
    • IDE plugin with real-time feedback
    • Security and quality scans
    • 38 languages supported
  • Team$18/month
    • Up to 30 developers
    • Up to 100 private repos, unlimited lines of code
    • AI Reviewer
  • Business$undefined/month
    • Unlimited private projects
    • Priority scan queue
    • DAST and container scanning

Which should you pick?

Choose Chainguard if

  • You need hardened container images.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Cloud, Container, VM.
  • You also want cve remediation sla.
Chainguard review

Choose Codacy if

  • You need automated code review.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on web, api.
  • You also want security scanning.
Codacy review

Questions people ask

Is Chainguard or Codacy better?
Neither clearly leads. Chainguard starts at Free and Codacy at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Chainguard or Codacy?
Chainguard starts at Free and Codacy at Free.
Does Chainguard or Codacy run on more platforms?
Chainguard runs on Cloud, Container, VM. Codacy runs on web, api.
Can I use Chainguard for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Chainguard best used for?
Chainguard is most often used for deploying hardened container images with minimal attack surface, meeting supply chain security requirements for regulated industries, reducing cve exposure with contractual remediation guarantees, building secure language packages with automatic backports. Of those, deploying hardened container images with minimal attack surface and meeting supply chain security requirements for regulated industries are not what Codacy is typically brought in for.
What can Chainguard do that Codacy cannot?
Chainguard covers Hardened container images, CVE remediation SLA, SLSA L2/L3 builds, Sigstore signatures. Codacy covers Automated code review, Security scanning, IDE plugin, Merge gates.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Chainguard: How much is the Chainguard Containers Catalog?

The Containers Catalog is 19,000 USD per year for 10-person engineering teams, providing access to 2,000+ hardened container images.

Source
Codacy: What does Codacy cost?

The Developer plan is free forever; Team starts at $18/dev/month billed yearly (or $21 monthly); Business is custom-priced for enterprise requirements.

Source
Chainguard: What SLAs does Chainguard offer?

Chainguard provides contractual CVE remediation SLAs: 7 days for critical vulnerabilities, 14 days for high/medium/low severity, all with priority support.

Source
Codacy: Is there a free plan, and what are its limits?

Yes, the Developer plan is free forever for individuals, including IDE feedback, scan-as-you-type, and security and quality scans across 38 languages.

Source
Chainguard: Can I try Chainguard before purchasing?

Yes. The free tier includes five container images for testing and deployment, allowing hands-on evaluation.

Source
Codacy: Can I try Codacy before paying?

Codacy offers a 14-day free trial with full platform access and no credit card required.

Source
Codacy: What does it integrate with?

Codacy integrates with GitHub, Bitbucket, and GitLab for cloud-hosted scans, plus Jira and Slack for team notifications.

Source
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