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Cybersecurity · head to head

Chainguard vs NetDocuments

Chainguard logo

Chainguard

Cybersecurity

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
NetDocuments logo

NetDocuments

Legal

Cloud document management for law firms

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Chainguard has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Chainguard containers Catalog at 19,000 USD/year expensive for teams under 10 people; NetDocuments quote-only pricing per user with no published rates
  • They diverge on capability: Chainguard covers Hardened container images, NetDocuments covers Matter-centric filing.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 29 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Chainguard and NetDocuments actually diverge.

Attributes where Chainguard and NetDocuments differ
AttributeChainguardNetDocuments
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelLicensing by artifact type and team sizequote
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsCloud, Container, VMWeb, Windows, iOS, Android, Cloud
CategoryCybersecurityLegal

Identical on both: 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 NetDocuments

  • Matter-centric filing
  • Ethical walls
  • Email management
  • Version control
  • Search
  • Retention

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 NetDocuments
  • Meeting supply chain security requirements for regulated industriesnot NetDocuments
  • Reducing CVE exposure with contractual remediation guaranteesnot NetDocuments
  • Building secure language packages with automatic backportsnot NetDocuments
  • Verifying artifact provenance with Sigstore signaturesnot NetDocuments

NetDocuments

  • Firms needing enforceable ethical walls rather than folder permissionsnot Chainguard
  • Capturing email into the matter record instead of individual inboxesnot Chainguard
  • Moving document management off on-premise serversnot 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

NetDocuments

  • Quote-only pricing per user with no published rates
  • Migrating an existing document store is a substantial project, and legacy metadata rarely survives cleanly
  • Aimed at mid-size and large firms; solo practices find it heavier than needed
  • Adoption depends on fee earners filing correctly, and habits are the hard part

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

NetDocuments

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the NetDocuments review.

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 NetDocuments if

  • You need matter-centric filing.
  • You work on Web, Windows, iOS, Android, Cloud.
  • You also want ethical walls.
NetDocuments review

Questions people ask

Is Chainguard or NetDocuments better?
Neither clearly leads. Chainguard starts at Free and NetDocuments at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Chainguard or NetDocuments?
Chainguard has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Chainguard and On request for NetDocuments.
Does Chainguard or NetDocuments run on more platforms?
Chainguard runs on Cloud, Container, VM. NetDocuments runs on Web, Windows, iOS, Android, Cloud.
Can I use Chainguard for free?
Yes. Chainguard has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. NetDocuments starts at On request.
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 NetDocuments is typically brought in for.
What can Chainguard do that NetDocuments cannot?
Chainguard covers Hardened container images, CVE remediation SLA, SLSA L2/L3 builds, Sigstore signatures. NetDocuments covers Matter-centric filing, Ethical walls, Email management, Version control.

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
NetDocuments: What does NetDocuments cost?

It quotes per user and does not publish rates.

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
NetDocuments: Why not just use SharePoint or Dropbox?

Neither expresses matter-centric security or ethical walls in an auditable way, which is a professional obligation rather than a preference in legal practice.

Chainguard: Can I try Chainguard before purchasing?

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

Source
NetDocuments: Does it handle email?

Yes, capturing correspondence into the matter record, which is where most legal email otherwise fails to land.

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