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Cybersecurity · head to head

Chainguard vs Veracode

Chainguard logo

Chainguard

Cybersecurity

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Veracode logo

Veracode

Cybersecurity

Application risk management platform for finding and fixing software vulnerabilities.

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; Veracode no public pricing; customers must request a demo and custom quote.
  • They diverge on capability: Chainguard covers Hardened container images, Veracode covers Static analysis (SAST).

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Chainguard and Veracode actually diverge.

Attributes where Chainguard and Veracode differ
AttributeChainguardVeracode
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelLicensing by artifact type and team sizequote
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsCloud, Container, VMweb, api

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Cybersecurity).

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 Veracode

  • Static analysis (SAST)
  • Dynamic analysis (DAST)
  • Software composition analysis
  • AI-driven code remediation
  • Container security
  • Risk Manager (ASPM)

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

Veracode

  • Scanning applications for vulnerabilities across the SDLCnot Chainguard
  • Automating remediation of flagged security flaws with AInot Chainguard
  • Securing containerized workloads before deploymentnot Chainguard
  • Running penetration tests as a managed servicenot Chainguard
  • Enforcing security policy governance across many applicationsnot 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

Veracode

  • No public pricing; customers must request a demo and custom quote.
  • Full platform capability spans many modules, which can require significant onboarding.
  • Package Firewall and PTaaS are separate add-ons rather than included by default.
  • Primarily built for enterprise scale, less suited to small individual projects.

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

Veracode

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Veracode 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 Veracode if

  • You need static analysis (sast).
  • You work on web, api.
  • You also want dynamic analysis (dast).
Veracode review

Questions people ask

Is Chainguard or Veracode better?
Neither clearly leads. Chainguard starts at Free and Veracode at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Chainguard or Veracode?
Chainguard has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Chainguard and On request for Veracode.
Does Chainguard or Veracode run on more platforms?
Chainguard runs on Cloud, Container, VM. Veracode runs on web, api.
Can I use Chainguard for free?
Yes. Chainguard has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Veracode 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 Veracode is typically brought in for.
What can Chainguard do that Veracode cannot?
Chainguard covers Hardened container images, CVE remediation SLA, SLSA L2/L3 builds, Sigstore signatures. Veracode covers Static analysis (SAST), Dynamic analysis (DAST), Software composition analysis, AI-driven code remediation.

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
Veracode: How does Veracode pricing work?

Veracode does not publish pricing on their website. Organizations must request a personalized demo or contact sales to receive quotes tailored to their specific needs and usage volume.

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
Veracode: Does Veracode offer a free trial or free version?

No information about free trials or free versions is provided on Veracode's public website. Organizations must contact sales to discuss trial options.

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
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