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Developer Tools · head to head

SonarQube vs Trivy

SonarQube logo

SonarQube

Developer Tools

Code quality and code security for clean code, at every step

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Full reviewWebsite
Trivy logo

Trivy

Cybersecurity

Open-source vulnerability and misconfiguration scanner

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: SonarQube advanced Security add-on uses custom pricing; Trivy reports what public advisory databases know, so coverage varies by ecosystem and unfixed CVEs create noise
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 29 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which SonarQube and Trivy actually diverge.

Attributes where SonarQube and Trivy differ
AttributeSonarQubeTrivy
Pricing modelsubscriptionOpen source, no licence fee
PlatformsWebLinux, macOS, Windows, Docker, Kubernetes
CategoryDeveloper ToolsCybersecurity

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

Nothing recorded that Trivy does not also cover.

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

  • Code quality analysisnot Trivy
  • Vulnerability detectionnot Trivy
  • Security scanningnot Trivy
  • Compliance reportingnot Trivy

Trivy

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

Where each one falls short

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

SonarQube

  • Advanced Security add-on uses custom pricing
  • Only private project lines of code count toward limits

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

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Supports up to 50000 lines of code in private projects
    • Never expires
    • Covers public projects
  • Team$34/month
    • 30+ languages
    • Code quality standards
    • Bug and vulnerability detection
  • Enterprise$null/custom
    • Advanced security reports
    • OWASP/CWE/PCI DSS compliance
    • Unlimited users and projects

Trivy

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

Which should you pick?

Choose SonarQube if

  • You want to start without paying.
SonarQube 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 or Trivy better?
Neither clearly leads. SonarQube 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 or Trivy?
SonarQube starts at Free and Trivy at Free.
Does SonarQube or Trivy run on more platforms?
SonarQube runs on Web. Trivy runs on Linux, macOS, Windows, Docker, Kubernetes.
Can I use SonarQube for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is SonarQube best used for?
SonarQube is most often used for code quality analysis, vulnerability detection, security scanning, compliance reporting. Of those, code quality analysis and vulnerability detection are not what Trivy is typically brought in for.
What can SonarQube do that Trivy cannot?
Trivy covers Multi-target scanning, Vulnerability detection, Misconfiguration checks, Secret detection.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

SonarQube: How much does SonarQube cost?

SonarQube offers a free tier supporting up to 50000 lines of code in private projects, a Team plan starting at $34/month, and custom Enterprise pricing. Team plan includes 14-day free trial.

Source
Trivy: Is Trivy free?

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

SonarQube: Is SonarQube free?

Yes, SonarQube offers a free tier that never expires and covers both public and private projects up to 50000 lines of code in private projects.

Source
Trivy: What can Trivy scan?

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

SonarQube: What languages does SonarQube support?

SonarQube Team plan supports 30+ languages including common programming languages. Enterprise plan adds support for 40+ languages including ABAP, COBOL, and Apex.

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.

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