# Juliet vs Trivy

> Canonical: https://juliet.sh/compare/juliet-vs-trivy
> Last reviewed: 2026-04-15

## Short answer

Trivy is an open-source CLI vulnerability scanner. It reads a container image (or filesystem) and lists CVEs. It is fast, easy, and widely embedded in CI. Juliet is a runtime Kubernetes security platform. It also scans, but scanning is the smaller part of what it does. The value on top is graph-based prioritization (which CVEs are actually reachable from the internet?), admission, runtime, and compliance. Many teams use both: Trivy in CI, Juliet in the cluster.

## What each product does

**Juliet.** Kubernetes-first runtime security platform. Graph-based attack paths, posture, admission, runtime, compliance. SBOM-driven vulnerability scanning with reachability-based prioritization.

**Trivy.** Open-source vulnerability scanner from Aqua Security (Apache 2.0, not a CNCF project). Scans images, filesystems, git repos, IaC. Fast, widely embedded in CI pipelines. Trivy was hit by a high-profile supply chain compromise in March 2026; the project has recovered.

## Feature comparison

| Capability | Juliet | Trivy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Container image CVE scanning | Yes | Yes |
| SBOM generation | Yes (Syft) | Yes |
| Graph-based CVE prioritization | Yes | No |
| Continuous cluster scanning | Yes | Requires trivy-operator |
| Kubernetes posture (KSPM) | Yes | Partial (misconfiguration scan) |
| Attack path analysis | Yes | No |
| Admission control | Yes | No |
| Runtime detection | Yes | No |
| Compliance frameworks | Yes | Partial (CIS, PSS) |
| CI / CLI integration | API-based | Native (Trivy's strength) |
| Open source | No | Yes (Apache 2.0) |

## Choose Juliet when

- You need to know which CVEs are *actually exploitable* in your running cluster, not just which ones are present.
- You need admission, runtime, and compliance alongside scanning.
- You want a managed dashboard across many clusters and tenants.
- You need SOC 2 compliance evidence alongside CIS and NSA/CISA hardening reports.

## Choose Trivy when

- You are scanning in CI/CD and want a lightweight, fast, scriptable CLI.
- You only need vulnerability scanning, not the broader KSPM or runtime bundle.
- You want a free, open-source tool with no licensing.
- You are building your own scanning pipeline and need a composable component.

## Frequently asked

### Does Juliet use Trivy internally?

No. Juliet uses [Syft](https://github.com/anchore/syft) to generate SBOMs and [Grype](https://github.com/anchore/grype) to match them against CVE databases. A different engine in the same category. Both Trivy and Grype are reliable, actively maintained options.

### Was Trivy affected by the 2026 supply chain compromise?

Yes. The Trivy project was hit by a multi-stage supply chain attack in March 2026. We covered it in detail: [The Trivy Compromise: What Kubernetes Security Teams Need to Know](/blog/trivy-supply-chain-compromise-what-kubernetes-teams-need-to-know). The open-source project recovered. Teams running affected versions needed to rotate credentials and rescan artifacts.

### Can I use Trivy in CI and Juliet at runtime?

Yes, and it is a common pattern. CI scanning with Trivy catches known CVEs before merge. Juliet re-scans what is running in production, re-prioritizes with graph context, and adds posture, admission, and runtime. The tools do not conflict.

### Does Trivy do admission control?

Not directly. You can script Trivy into a pipeline gate, but there is no in-cluster admission webhook in the core project. trivy-operator adds some cluster features, but admission is not its focus.