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Software Development · head to head

SonarQube Cloud vs Trivy

SonarQube Cloud logo

SonarQube Cloud

Software Development

Cloud-based static code analysis for detecting bugs, vulnerabilities, and code smells.

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Trivy logo

Trivy

Cybersecurity

Open-source vulnerability and misconfiguration scanner

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: SonarQube Cloud free tier limited to 50k lines of code for private projects.; Trivy reports what public advisory databases know, so coverage varies by ecosystem and unfixed CVEs create noise
  • They diverge on capability: SonarQube Cloud covers Static code analysis, Trivy covers Multi-target scanning.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 29 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which SonarQube Cloud and Trivy actually diverge.

Attributes where SonarQube Cloud and Trivy differ
AttributeSonarQube CloudTrivy
Pricing modelfreemiumOpen source, no licence fee
Platformsweb, apiLinux, macOS, Windows, Docker, Kubernetes
CategorySoftware DevelopmentCybersecurity

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 SonarQube Cloud

  • Static code analysis
  • Secrets detection
  • Pull request decoration
  • AI-driven code fixes
  • Compliance reporting
  • SCM integration

Only in Trivy

  • Multi-target scanning
  • Vulnerability detection
  • Misconfiguration checks
  • Secret detection

What people use each for

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

SonarQube Cloud

  • Enforcing code quality gates on pull requestsnot Trivy
  • Detecting security vulnerabilities in cloud-hosted repositoriesnot Trivy
  • Scanning for exposed secrets before mergenot Trivy
  • Meeting compliance standards like PCI DSSnot Trivy
  • Tracking code quality trends across teamsnot Trivy

Trivy

  • Failing a pull request when a container image introduces a known CVEnot SonarQube Cloud
  • Scanning Terraform and Kubernetes manifests for misconfiguration before applynot SonarQube Cloud
  • Catching committed secrets as part of an existing CI stepnot SonarQube Cloud

Where each one falls short

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

SonarQube Cloud

  • Free tier limited to 50k lines of code for private projects.
  • Base Team pricing only covers up to 100,000 lines of code before extra charges apply.
  • Enterprise-grade compliance features require a custom-quoted Enterprise plan.
  • Primarily analysis-focused; lacks the runtime and cloud-workload protection of full CNAPP platforms.

Trivy

  • Reports what public advisory databases know, so coverage varies by ecosystem and unfixed CVEs create noise
  • No built-in triage or exception workflow, so suppressing accepted risk is managed in config files
  • Findings are point-in-time from CI, with no continuous runtime monitoring unless you add the commercial platform

Pricing, plan by plan

SonarQube Cloud

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Private project up to 50k lines of code
    • Public/open-source projects free
  • Team$34/month
    • Up to 100,000 lines of code
    • 30+ languages
    • Bug and vulnerability detection
  • Enterprise$undefined/month
    • Advanced security reports
    • Audit logs
    • SSO/SCIM

Trivy

Free
  • TrivyFree
    • Full scanner
    • Unlimited scans
    • Community support

Which should you pick?

Choose SonarQube Cloud if

  • You need static code analysis.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on web, api.
  • You also want secrets detection.
SonarQube Cloud review

Choose Trivy if

  • You need multi-target scanning.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, macOS, Windows, Docker, Kubernetes.
  • You also want vulnerability detection.
Trivy review

Questions people ask

Is SonarQube Cloud or Trivy better?
Neither clearly leads. SonarQube Cloud starts at Free and Trivy at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, SonarQube Cloud or Trivy?
SonarQube Cloud starts at Free and Trivy at Free.
Does SonarQube Cloud or Trivy run on more platforms?
SonarQube Cloud runs on web, api. Trivy runs on Linux, macOS, Windows, Docker, Kubernetes.
Can I use SonarQube Cloud for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is SonarQube Cloud best used for?
SonarQube Cloud is most often used for enforcing code quality gates on pull requests, detecting security vulnerabilities in cloud-hosted repositories, scanning for exposed secrets before merge, meeting compliance standards like pci dss. Of those, enforcing code quality gates on pull requests and detecting security vulnerabilities in cloud-hosted repositories are not what Trivy is typically brought in for.
What can SonarQube Cloud do that Trivy cannot?
SonarQube Cloud covers Static code analysis, Secrets detection, Pull request decoration, AI-driven code fixes. Trivy covers Multi-target scanning, Vulnerability detection, Misconfiguration checks, Secret detection.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

SonarQube Cloud: What does SonarQube Cloud cost?

The Team plan starts at $34/month for up to 100,000 lines of code, while Enterprise pricing is custom and quoted annually with additional compliance and SSO features.

Source
Trivy: Is Trivy free?

Yes, open source from Aqua Security with no licence fee. Aqua sells a commercial platform around it.

SonarQube Cloud: Is there a free plan, and what are its limits?

Yes, the free tier lets you explore SonarQube Cloud on a private project up to a maximum of 50,000 lines of code; public projects are free.

Source
Trivy: What can Trivy scan?

Container images, filesystems, Git repositories, Kubernetes clusters and infrastructure-as-code, for vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, secrets and licences.

SonarQube Cloud: How is usage metered?

Billing is based on lines of code in the largest branch of a project; how often analysis runs does not affect the price.

Source
Trivy: Does Trivy need a server?

No. It is a single binary, which is a large part of why it became a default in CI.

SonarQube Cloud: Can I change or cancel my plan?

There is no commitment on the Team plan, and customers can downgrade to the free tier at any time.

Source
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