“Should I use Snyk or VibeEval?”
This question assumes they’re interchangeable. They’re not. Choosing between them depends on your situation: team size, development process, security expertise, and what you’re actually trying to protect against.
Here’s an honest breakdown.
What Snyk Does
Snyk provides:
- Static Application Security Testing (SAST): Scans source code for vulnerabilities
- Software Composition Analysis (SCA): Identifies vulnerable dependencies
- Container scanning: Checks Docker images for issues
- Infrastructure as Code scanning: Reviews Terraform, CloudFormation, etc.
- CI/CD integration: Blocks merges with security issues
- Developer-focused remediation: Fix suggestions and auto-PRs
Snyk requires:
- Source code access
- CI/CD pipeline integration
- Developer time for setup
- Security knowledge to configure rules
- Budget (enterprise pricing)
What VibeEval Does
VibeEval provides:
- External vulnerability scanning: Checks your live application
- Configuration analysis: Security headers, CORS, cookies
- Continuous monitoring: Ongoing checks as you ship
- Plain-language findings: No security jargon required
- AI-code specific checks: Patterns common in vibe-coded apps
VibeEval requires:
- A deployed URL
- That’s it
The Real Comparison
| Factor | Snyk | VibeEval |
|---|---|---|
| Code access required | Yes | No |
| Setup time | Hours to days | Minutes |
| CI/CD integration | Required for full value | Optional |
| Security expertise needed | Moderate to high | Low |
| Team size fit | 5+ developers | 1-10 developers |
| Pricing | Enterprise ($$$) | Indie-friendly ($) |
| Finding depth | Deep code analysis | External behavior |
| False positive rate | Higher (code complexity) | Lower (behavior-based) |
| Remediation help | Auto-fix PRs | Fix guidance |
| Container/IaC | Yes | No |
| Continuous monitoring | Scheduled scans | Real-time |
When Snyk Makes Sense
Snyk is the right choice when:
You have a security team or dedicated security engineer Snyk generates findings that require security expertise to triage. Someone needs to decide which vulnerabilities matter, configure custom rules, and manage false positives.
Your CI/CD pipeline is mature Snyk’s value comes from integration. If you’re not running tests on every PR, Snyk’s blocking capabilities don’t help.
You need compliance reporting Snyk provides audit-ready reports for SOC 2, ISO 27001, and similar frameworks. If compliance drives your security decisions, Snyk speaks that language.
You’re scanning containers or infrastructure code VibeEval scans applications. Snyk scans your entire stack including Docker images and Terraform files.
You have budget for enterprise security tools Snyk’s pricing reflects enterprise value. If security tooling budget exists, Snyk delivers.
When VibeEval Makes Sense
VibeEval is the right choice when:
You’re a solo founder or small team No security expertise? VibeEval explains findings in plain language and tells you exactly what to fix. You don’t need to become a security expert.
You ship faster than you can review Vibe coding means daily deploys or faster. VibeEval monitors continuously so security keeps up with your velocity.
You don’t have CI/CD pipeline integration Deploying from Vercel, Netlify, or Replit? VibeEval scans your deployed application regardless of how it got there.
You need to start immediately Enter your URL. Get results. No integration, no configuration, no waiting.
You’re building with AI coding tools VibeEval specifically checks for patterns common in Cursor, Lovable, Replit, and similar tools. Generic security scanners miss AI-specific issues.
Budget is constrained Indie pricing means you can have security coverage without enterprise budget.
Can You Use Both?
Yes, and some organizations should.
Complementary Coverage
Snyk catches issues in your code before deployment:
- Vulnerable dependencies in package.json
- SQL injection in code that hasn’t shipped
- Secrets accidentally committed
- Container misconfigurations
VibeEval catches issues in your deployed application:
- Security header misconfigurations
- Exposed endpoints in production
- Configuration that drifted from code
- Runtime behavior issues
The coverage overlaps somewhat but isn’t identical.
When Both Make Sense
Organizations with:
- Growing teams transitioning from indie to startup
- Compliance requirements plus rapid shipping
- Budget for comprehensive coverage
- Different deployment targets (some with CI/CD, some without)
When One Is Enough
If you’re an indie hacker shipping a side project, Snyk is overkill. VibeEval covers what matters.
If you’re an enterprise with mature DevSecOps, you likely have tools beyond Snyk already. VibeEval might add marginal value.
Honest Trade-offs
Snyk’s Weaknesses
Setup friction Getting full value from Snyk requires integration work. Quick wins are hard to find.
False positive management Code scanning generates noise. Someone must triage findings, which takes time and expertise.
Configuration complexity Snyk has many settings. Misconfiguration means either too many alerts or missed vulnerabilities.
Cost Enterprise pricing is prohibitive for individuals and small teams.
VibeEval’s Weaknesses
No code analysis VibeEval can’t catch vulnerabilities that aren’t visible externally. A SQL injection in code that’s never reached won’t be found.
Post-deployment only You find issues after shipping, not before. Snyk’s CI/CD integration prevents issues from reaching production.
Limited to web applications No container scanning, no infrastructure code analysis, no mobile apps.
Smaller ecosystem Snyk has integrations with everything. VibeEval focuses on doing one thing well.
The Decision Framework
Ask yourself:
Do you have a security person?
- Yes: Snyk (they’ll know how to use it)
- No: VibeEval (you’ll understand the results)
Do you have CI/CD integration?
- Yes: Snyk adds value in the pipeline
- No: VibeEval works without it
What’s your team size?
- 1-5: VibeEval
- 5-20: Either, depending on security expertise
- 20+: Probably Snyk, possibly both
What’s your security budget?
- < $100/month: VibeEval
- $100-500/month: Either
- $500+/month: Snyk or both
How fast do you ship?
- Multiple times daily: VibeEval’s continuous monitoring
- Daily with PR review: Snyk in CI/CD
- Weekly or slower: Either works
FAQ
Can I switch from Snyk to VibeEval?
Is VibeEval a Snyk alternative?
Does Snyk catch AI-generated code issues?
Can I use the free tier of Snyk instead?
Which has fewer false positives?
Conclusion
Key Takeaways
- Snyk and VibeEval solve different problems for different audiences
- Snyk requires code access, CI/CD integration, and security expertise to configure effectively
- VibeEval requires only a URL and provides findings in plain language
- Snyk excels at deep code analysis, container scanning, and compliance reporting
- VibeEval excels at continuous monitoring, AI-code specific checks, and indie-friendly pricing
- Teams with security expertise and mature CI/CD get more value from Snyk
- Solo founders and small teams shipping fast get more value from VibeEval
- Using both provides complementary coverage: pre-deployment code analysis plus post-deployment monitoring
- The choice depends on team size, security expertise, development process, and budget
- Neither tool is universally “better”; they serve different needs
The security tool wars want you to pick a side. Reality is more nuanced.
Pick the tool that matches your situation today. A solo founder using Snyk will drown in configuration. An enterprise using only VibeEval will miss critical code-level issues.
The best security tool is the one you’ll actually use. For most vibe coders, that’s the one that works without a security degree.