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Cybersecurity · head to head

Chainguard vs Vigilant Solutions

Chainguard logo

Chainguard

Cybersecurity

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

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Full reviewWebsite
Vigilant Solutions logo

Vigilant Solutions

Government

License Plate Recognition Analytics

From
$1000/month
Free plan
No
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; Vigilant Solutions vigilant Solutions' product line, as captured before its Motorola Solutions acquisition (Internet Archive capture, 8 January 2020), was named Vigilant PlateSearch, FaceSearch, BallisticSearch and CrimeSearch, sold to law enforcement with no published pricing
  • They diverge on capability: Chainguard covers Hardened container images, Vigilant Solutions covers License Plate Recognition.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Chainguard and Vigilant Solutions actually diverge.

Attributes where Chainguard and Vigilant Solutions differ
AttributeChainguardVigilant Solutions
Starting priceFree$1000/month
Pricing modelLicensing by artifact type and team sizesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsCloud, Container, VMWeb, Desktop, Mobile
CategoryCybersecurityGovernment
FoundedUnknown1928

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 Vigilant Solutions

  • License Plate Recognition
  • Vehicle Database
  • Real-time Alerts
  • Analytics
  • Mobile LPR
  • CAD Systems
  • RMS
  • Federal Databases

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

Vigilant Solutions

  • Citizen Servicesnot Chainguard
  • Records Managementnot Chainguard
  • Public Safetynot Chainguard
  • Civic Engagementnot 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

Vigilant Solutions

  • Vigilant Solutions' product line, as captured before its Motorola Solutions acquisition (Internet Archive capture, 8 January 2020), was named Vigilant PlateSearch, FaceSearch, BallisticSearch and CrimeSearch, sold to law enforcement with no published pricing

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

Vigilant Solutions

$1000/month
  • LPR Analytics$1000/month
    • LPR Cameras
    • Database Access
    • Analytics

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 Vigilant Solutions if

  • You need license plate recognition.
  • You work on Web, Desktop, Mobile.
  • You also want vehicle database.
Vigilant Solutions review

Questions people ask

Is Chainguard or Vigilant Solutions better?
Neither clearly leads. Chainguard starts at Free and Vigilant Solutions at $1000/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Chainguard or Vigilant Solutions?
Chainguard has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Chainguard and $1000/month for Vigilant Solutions.
Does Chainguard or Vigilant Solutions run on more platforms?
Chainguard runs on Cloud, Container, VM. Vigilant Solutions runs on Web, Desktop, Mobile.
Can I use Chainguard for free?
Yes. Chainguard has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Vigilant Solutions starts at $1000/month.
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 Vigilant Solutions is typically brought in for.
What can Chainguard do that Vigilant Solutions cannot?
Chainguard covers Hardened container images, CVE remediation SLA, SLSA L2/L3 builds, Sigstore signatures. Vigilant Solutions covers License Plate Recognition, Vehicle Database, Real-time Alerts, Analytics.

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
Vigilant Solutions: How do I get pricing information for Vigilant Solutions?

Vigilant Solutions does not publish pricing on their website. Customers must contact Motorola Solutions' sales team directly to request a pricing estimate or discuss their specific 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
Vigilant Solutions: Is there a free demo or trial available?

Yes, Motorola Solutions (which now owns Vigilant Solutions) offers a free customized demo conducted by security experts. Users can request a demo on the product page without obligation.

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
Vigilant Solutions: Can I get a pricing estimate without committing?

Yes, customers can provide details about their requirements through the website to receive a no-obligation pricing estimate from Motorola Solutions. This allows evaluation of potential costs before making any commitment.

Source
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