Alternatives to pip-audit
pip-audit is the PyPA's free, zero-config CLI for Python dependencies (created by Trail of Bits with Google support), checking the PyPI advisory service or OSV. Its output lists name, version, advisory ID and fix version, with no severity, EPSS or KEV signal. GeekWala adds EPSS and CISA KEV on the same open data, plus a dashboard and 7 more ecosystems.
Technical deep-dive: Read our full What pip-audit Misses: EPSS-Aware Prioritization article.
Just want to scan? Try the PyPI Vulnerability Scanner.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | pip-audit | GeekWala |
|---|---|---|
| Vulnerability data | PyPI (default) or OSV | OSV + EPSS + CISA KEV |
| Prioritization Key difference | None — no severity, EPSS or KEV in output | EPSS exploit probability + CISA KEV |
| CISA KEV flagging Key difference | Yes — labeled field on every finding | |
| Interface | CLI output only | Web dashboard + REST API |
| Ecosystems | Python (PyPI) only | 8 ecosystems: npm, PyPI, Maven, Go, Rust, RubyGems, NuGet, Packagist |
| CI integration | Official GitHub Action | Yes (Pro) — plus scheduled scans |
| Scheduled / recurring scans | Not built in — schedule via CI | Yes (Pro) |
| Maintainer | Python Packaging Authority (created by Trail of Bits, with Google support) | Independent |
| Privacy | Local CLI | Package names only, no source code |
| Price | Free and open source | Free tier + $12/mo or $99/yr Pro (flat-rate, unlimited projects) |
When to Use Each
When to use pip-audit
pip-audit is the right choice when:
- You work exclusively with Python/PyPI packages
- You want a zero-config CLI check inside an existing CI pipeline
- You're already using the official GitHub Action and don't need a dashboard
When to use GeekWala
GeekWala is the better fit when:
- You need findings ranked by CISA KEV status and real-world exploit probability, which pip-audit's output does not provide
- You want CISA KEV (confirmed active exploitation) flagged as its own field
- You manage projects across multiple ecosystems, not just Python
- You want a web dashboard to share results with your team, alongside pip-audit in CI
Detection vs Prioritization
EPSS Exploit Probability
pip-audit's output has no severity or exploitation column. GeekWala layers EPSS and CISA KEV on the same advisory data: on a five-package requirements file pip-audit 2.9.0 listed 79 advisories (October 2026), and the one on CISA KEV — a High-rated libwebp flaw in Pillow — ranks first instead of behind seven Criticals.
CISA KEV Alongside EPSS
pip-audit does not indicate CISA KEV status — a confirmed actively-exploited CVE looks identical to a theoretical one in its output. GeekWala flags KEV entries as a separate field on every finding, ranked first.
Built to Run Alongside pip-audit, Not Replace It
pip-audit in CI for fast, zero-config merge-time checks; GeekWala for cross-ecosystem, EPSS/KEV-enriched triage. Both read open PyPI and OSV advisory data.
Learn More
Frequently Asked Questions
Is GeekWala a pip-audit replacement?
Not necessarily — pip-audit is fast, PyPA-maintained, and has no false positives from CPE matching, so it stays useful in CI for immediate merge-time feedback. GeekWala adds EPSS exploit-probability and CISA KEV enrichment for triage decisions, and covers 7 ecosystems beyond Python. Many teams run both.
Does pip-audit have a latency gap versus NVD that GeekWala closes?
Measured across every CVE NVD published in 2025 joined against OSV's PyPI export, the median gap between NVD publication and the matching PyPI advisory is 0.00 days, and in 28.6% of cases the advisory landed before the CVE record. The real gap is coverage, not speed: about 5.6% of PyPI advisories carry no CVE alias at all and won't appear in either tool's CVE-keyed output.
How does GeekWala prioritization differ from pip-audit?
pip-audit's CLI output carries no severity, EPSS or KEV signal, so it doesn't tell you what to patch first. GeekWala ranks the same OSV-sourced findings by CISA KEV (confirmed active exploitation) first, then EPSS score above 10% (30-day exploit probability), then severity, with EPSS breaking ties.
Can I use both pip-audit and GeekWala?
Yes. Run pip-audit in CI for fast, zero-config checks on every build, and use GeekWala for cross-ecosystem visibility and EPSS/KEV-based triage of what to fix first.
Is GeekWala free like pip-audit?
GeekWala has a free tier with 5 projects and 50 scans per month. pip-audit is fully free and open source with no usage limits — for Python-only projects that never need multi-ecosystem coverage, pip-audit alone may be enough.
Try GeekWala free
No credit card required. Keep pip-audit in CI and add EPSS + CISA KEV prioritization on top.