Snyk
Developer security platform for dependencies, containers, and code. Fix vulnerabilities before they reach production.
Overview
Snyk is a developer-first security platform that scans dependencies (open-source libraries), container images, infrastructure-as-code (Terraform, CloudFormation), and source code for vulnerabilities. Unlike traditional security tools that dump findings on security teams, Snyk integrates directly into developer workflows — IDE plugins, GitHub PR checks, and CI pipelines — enabling developers to fix issues as they code.
In 2026, Snyk is the leading tool for software composition analysis (SCA) and is increasingly used for static application security testing (SAST) and container security.
What it's used for
Snyk is ideal when:
- Dependency security is a concern: Automatically detect vulnerable open-source libraries.
- Container security needed: Scan Docker images for OS and application vulnerabilities.
- Infrastructure-as-code security: Find misconfigurations in Terraform, Kubernetes, and CloudFormation.
- Developer-friendly security: Fix issues in the IDE before committing code.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Excellent developer experience with IDE and PR integrations
- Comprehensive coverage: SCA, SAST, container, IaC
- Automated fix pull requests for dependency updates
- Large vulnerability database with detailed remediation advice
- Free tier for open source and small teams
Cons
- Pricing escalates quickly for large teams
- Some false positives in SAST
- Container scanning can be slow for large images
- Limited customisation for enterprise policies
- Snyk Code (SAST) is newer and less mature than competitors
Platforms & Integrations
Snyk is a cloud-based SaaS with CLI, IDE plugins, and CI integrations. It supports all major package managers, container registries, and cloud platforms.
Pricing
| Tier | Cost | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | 200 tests/mo, open source repos, 1 user |
| Team | $52/dev/mo | Unlimited tests, PR checks, reporting, up to 10 devs |
| Enterprise | Custom | SSO, custom policies, dedicated support, API access |
NZ Context
Snyk is popular in NZ SaaS startups and developer-first companies. Its free tier makes it accessible for open-source projects and small teams. Vend (by Lightspeed) and other NZ tech companies use Snyk for dependency scanning. For NZ developers, Snyk is often the first security tool they encounter due to its GitHub integration.
Alternatives
- SonarQube — Stronger on code quality and SAST. Free self-hosted option.
- Dependabot (GitHub) — Free dependency scanning built into GitHub.
- Veracode — Enterprise security platform with broader coverage.