Best Container Image Scanning Tools in 2026
17 container image scanning tools ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
#1 Aqua Container Security Top pick · 8.2 
#2 Sonatype Container Scanner Runner-up · 7.6 
#3 Trivy Also great · 7.6 Free plan · Free
- Free trial Linuxself-hostedWebWindows
- Deployment model
- hybrid
- Registry scanning
- Yes
- CI pipeline scanning
- Yes
- Kubernetes admission
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatformsFree trial - WindowsLinux
- Deployment model
- hybrid
- Registry scanning
- Yes
- CI pipeline scanning
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatformsFree trial - Free plan WindowsmacOSLinux
- Free plan
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatformsFree trial - Free plan Web
- Registry scanning
- Yes
- CI pipeline scanning
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatformsFree trial - Free plan Linuxself-hostedWeb
- Free plan
- Yes
- Deployment model
- hybrid
- Registry scanning
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatformsFree trial - Free plan WindowsmacOSLinux
- Free plan
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatformsFree trial - WebLinuxmacOS
- Free plan
- No
- Deployment model
- saas
- Registry scanning
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatformsFree trial - WebLinuxRecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatformsFree trial
- Free plan apiLinuxmacOSWebWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatformsFree trial - apiLinuxmacOSself-hostedWebWindows
- Deployment model
- hybrid
- Registry scanning
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatformsFree trial - WebLinux
- Free plan
- No
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatformsFree trial - Web
- Free plan
- No
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatformsFree trial - apiLinuxself-hostedWeb
- Free plan
- No
- Paid from
- 3 /mo
- Deployment model
- hybrid
- Registry scanning
- Yes
- CI pipeline scanning
- Yes
- Kubernetes admission
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatformsFree trial$0.25/mofirst paid tier About Uptycs Container SecurityVisit site - Free plan Linux
- Free plan
- Yes
- Deployment model
- self_hosted
- Registry scanning
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatformsFree trial - Free plan Linux
- Free plan
- Yes
- Deployment model
- self_hosted
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatformsFree trial - WebLinux
- Free plan
- No
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatformsFree trial - WebWindowsmacOSLinux
- Free plan
- No
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatformsFree trial
Is your platform on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which container image scanning tool is ranked first on The Geeks Club?
Aqua Container Security is ranked #1 of 17 with a score of 8.2. Sonatype Container Scanner is second and Trivy third.
How many of these have a free plan?
7 of the 17 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, Uptycs Container Security has the lowest first paid tier we found: $0.25/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Certifications are listed from the provider's own catalogue with level, role and exam. Platforms are ranked on what each publishes: a free tier or trial, price, certificates offered, the devices it runs on and the depth of its documentation. Paid placements never change a rank.