Dependabot

    Automatic dependency updates and security alerts, 100% free on GitHub.

    Free. Free with no catch: enable it on every GitHub repo with dependencies.

    ToolTrim Verdict

    Dependabot

    4.4/5
    Very goodEditorial score

    Free with no catch: enable it on every GitHub repo with dependencies.

    Free planYes
    ModelFree
    PriceFree
    Verified2026-03-29
    How this score is calculated
    Quick decision

    Dependabot: when it makes sense.

    Free with no catch: enable it on every GitHub repo with dependencies.

    Keep if

    You have a GitHub repo (public or private) with third-party dependencies: no reason not to enable it. You want automatic security alerts without paying for a third-party tool

    Challenge if

    You want static code scanning or secret detection: that's GitHub Advanced Security, a separate paid product

    Main limitation

    Limited to the GitHub ecosystem (not for GitLab or Bitbucket)

    Quick summary (condensed)

    Dependabot Summary

    Category
    productivity tool.
    Price from
    Free.
    Best for
    professionals.
    Avoid if
    You want static code scanning or secret detection: that's GitHub Advanced Security, a separate paid product.
    Alternatives
    GitHub.
    ToolTrim verdict
    Free with no catch: enable it on every GitHub repo with dependencies.
    Pricing

    How much does Dependabot cost?

    Dependabot offers a free plan. Here's the full breakdown of available plans for 2026.

    Free0 €

    100% free, on every GitHub repo (public or private), all plans.

    Price verified on 2026-03-29
    Comparison

    Best alternatives to Dependabot.

    1 alternatives to Dependabot, compared by price, features, and fit for freelancers and small teams.

    ToolPrice/moFree planTT ScoreReplaceableVerdict
    DependabotCurrent

    Automatic dependency updates and security alerts, 100% free on GitHub.

    		Free
    4.4
    		n/a
    GitHub

    The leading platform for versioning and code collaboration.

    		3€
    3.6
    		n/a

    ToolTrim Score · Independent editorial analysis · Not a user rating

    Which profile should pick what

    ProfileRecommendation
    Solo / freelanceGitHub is often enough
    TeamGitHub can be justified
    Audience

    Who is Dependabot for?

    Freelance Dev
    Strengths and limitations

    Dependabot, strengths and limitations.

    What it does well

    • 100% free, on every GitHub plan and every repo
    • Covers about thirty ecosystems (npm, pip, Maven, Docker, Go, Terraform...)
    • Automatically opens update pull requests
    • Real-time vulnerability alerts

    Where it falls short

    • Limited to the GitHub ecosystem (not for GitLab or Bitbucket)
    • Advanced code scanning requires the paid GitHub Advanced Security
    • Can generate a lot of pull requests on a repo with many dependencies
    Features

    What Dependabot covers.

    Security
    Use cases

    What is Dependabot used for?

    Get automatic alerts on known vulnerabilities
    Update dependencies via automatic pull requests
    Secure an open source or private repo without a paid third-party tool
    ToolTrim Analysis

    Our take on Dependabot.

    Dependabot is a native GitHub feature, completely free, on every plan (Free, Pro, Team, Enterprise) and on both public and private repos. It scans your dependencies (npm, pip, Maven, Gradle, Docker, Go, Terraform, GitHub Actions and about thirty other ecosystems), alerts on known vulnerabilities, and can automatically open pull requests to update affected versions.

    Don't confuse it with GitHub's paid Advanced Security suite (GitHub Code Security at $30/committer/month, GitHub Secret Protection at $19/committer/month): those are separate add-ons for more advanced features (static code scanning, secret detection). Dependabot's core feature has never required paying anything.

    Rating

    Our verdict on Dependabot.

    4.4/5

    Very good

    ToolTrim editorial score · Independent analysis

    Why this score

    Dependabot is hard to replace short-term, a free tier to test before paying, clearly documented use cases.

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    User reviews are coming soon. Share what works, what costs too much, what you'd change.

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    FAQ

    Questions about Dependabot.

    Pricing, plans, use cases and alternatives to Dependabot, key answers before adding this tool to your stack in 2026.

    Tool FAQ

    Frequently asked questions about Dependabot

    Pricing, usage, alternatives, and context: useful answers before adding one more tool to your stack.

    What is Dependabot used for?

    Automatic dependency updates and security alerts, 100% free on GitHub.

    How much does Dependabot cost?

    Dependabot costs €0 (free). Price verified on 2026-03-29.

    Is Dependabot suitable for beginners?

    Dependabot suits most professionals. See the "Who is it for" section for details.

    Is Dependabot worth the price?

    Free with no catch: enable it on every GitHub repo with dependencies.

    What are the best alternatives to Dependabot?

    The main alternatives to Dependabot are: GitHub.

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