head to head · open source
osv-scanner vs Nettacker
osv-scanner has 11,061 GitHub stars, 794 forks, 113 open issues and last shipped yesterday. Nettacker has 5,596 stars, 1,181 forks, 249 open issues and last shipped 2 days ago. osv-scanner leads on adoption by 98% (11,061 vs 5,596 stars). osv-scanner is written in Go under Apache-2.0; Nettacker is written in Python under Apache-2.0. osv-scanner has attracted 7% as many forks as stars, Nettacker 21%. osv-scanner was the more recently maintained of the two, and both are self-hostable with no licence fee.
Two open source projects, one decision. Both are free and self-hostable — the differences are community size, license terms, language stack and release pace.
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Side by side
| osv-scanner | Nettacker | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 11K | ★ 5.6K |
| License | Apache-2.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Written in | Go | Python |
| Last push | 2026-09-19 | 2026-09-18 |
| Forks | ⑂ 794 | ⑂ 1.2K |
| Self-hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Data ownership | Your server | Your server |
pick osv-scanner if
- You weight community size — 11K stars and counting
- You want the Apache-2.0 license terms
- Your stack matches Go
- You value the larger contributor base for long-term maintenance
pick Nettacker if
- You want the Nettacker feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the Apache-2.0 license terms
- Your stack matches Python
- You evaluated both and Nettacker fits your workflow better
About osv-scanner
OSV Scanner is an Apache 2.0 licensed vulnerability scanner written in Go that connects a project's list of dependencies with the vulnerabilities affecting them, using data from the open OSV.dev database, and it is aimed at developers, maintainers, and security teams who need to find known vulnerabilities in the dependencies they already ship.
read the full osv-scanner overview →
About Nettacker
OWASP Nettacker is an open source, Python based automated penetration testing and information gathering framework for cyber security professionals and ethical hackers who need to run reconnaissance, vulnerability assessment, and network security audits efficiently.
read the full Nettacker overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is osv-scanner or Nettacker more popular?
osv-scanner has 11,061 GitHub stars and Nettacker has 5,596. osv-scanner has the larger community by that measure.
Are osv-scanner and Nettacker free?
Both are open source. osv-scanner is licensed under Apache-2.0 and Nettacker under Apache-2.0. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between osv-scanner and Nettacker?
osv-scanner is written in Go and Nettacker in Python. The practical differences are community size, licence terms, language stack and release cadence — all compared in the table above.
Which should I choose, osv-scanner or Nettacker?
Choose osv-scanner if you want the larger community (11,061 stars) or its Apache-2.0 licence terms. Choose Nettacker if its feature set, stack or Apache-2.0 licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.