head to head · open source
osv-scanner vs Nettacker
osv-scanner has 11,387 GitHub stars, 834 forks, 113 open issues and last shipped yesterday. Nettacker has 5,704 stars, 1,231 forks, 249 open issues and last shipped yesterday. osv-scanner leads on adoption by 100% (11,387 vs 5,704 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 22%. 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 | ★ 5.7K |
| License | Apache-2.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Written in | Go | Python |
| Last push | 2026-11-04 | 2026-11-04 |
| Forks | ⑂ 834 | ⑂ 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
Use OSV Scanner to find existing vulnerabilities affecting your project's dependencies. OSV Scanner provides an officially supported frontend to the OSV database and CLI interface to OSV Scalibr that connects a project’s list of dependencies with the vulnerabilities that affect them. OSV Scanner supports a wide range of project types, package managers and features, including but not limited to: Languages: C/C++, Dart, Elixir, Go, Java, Javascript, PHP, Python, R, Ruby, Rust. Package Managers: npm, pip, yarn, maven, go modules, cargo, gem, composer, nuget and others. Operating Systems: Detects vulnerabilities in…
read the full osv-scanner overview →
About Nettacker
OWASP Nettacker ========= DISCLAIMER THIS SOFTWARE WAS CREATED FOR AUTOMATED PENETRATION TESTING AND INFORMATION GATHERING. YOU MUST USE THIS SOFTWARE IN A RESPONSIBLE AND ETHICAL MANNER. DO NOT TARGET SYSTEMS OR APPLICATIONS WITHOUT OBTAINING PERMISSIONS OR CONSENT FROM THE SYSTEM OWNERS OR ADMINISTRATORS. CONTRIBUTORS WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ILLEGAL USAGE. OWASP Nettacker is an open source, Python based automated penetration testing and information gathering framework designed to help cyber security professionals and ethical hackers perform reconnaissance, vulnerability assessments, and network…
read the full Nettacker overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is osv-scanner or Nettacker more popular?
osv-scanner has 11,387 GitHub stars and Nettacker has 5,704. 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 (11,387 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.