# ActiveState Library vs npm-scan: side-by-side comparison (2026)

[ActiveState Library](https://cybersectools.com/tools/activestate-library) is a commercial [software composition analysis](https://cybersectools.com/categories/sca) solution by [ActiveState](https://cybersectools.com/companies/activestate). [npm-scan](https://cybersectools.com/tools/npm-scan) is a free [software composition analysis](https://cybersectools.com/categories/sca) solution. Features, integrations, deployment and the company behind each one, side by side.

## Side-by-side comparison

| | ActiveState Library | npm-scan |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Commercial | Free |
| Category | Software Composition Analysis | Software Composition Analysis |
| Verified | No | No |
| Deployment type | Cloud | On-Premises |
| Company size fit | Startup, SMB, Mid-Market, Enterprise | Startup, SMB, Mid-Market |
| GitHub stars | – | 50 |
| Last commit | – | Jul 2021 |
| Company | ActiveState | – |
| Headquarters | – | – |

### Use cases and capabilities

| | ActiveState Library | npm-scan |
|---|---|---|
| SCA | Yes | – |
| SBOM | Yes | – |
| Software Supply Chain | Yes | – |
| Dependency Scanning | Yes | – |
| License Compliance | Yes | – |
| Open Source | Yes | – |
| Package Security | Yes | – |
| CVE | Yes | – |
| Vulnerabilities | Yes | – |
| Secure Development | Yes | – |
| npm | – | Yes |
| Node.js | – | Yes |

### Core features

**ActiveState Library**

7 features listed. Sign in on the page to see them.

**npm-scan**

No features listed.

### Integrations

**ActiveState Library**

8 integrations listed. Sign in on the page to see them.

**npm-scan**

No integrations listed.

## Which one fits you

Based on what each listing shows: deployment, company size, price and open source.

- [ActiveState Library](https://cybersectools.com/tools/activestate-library) fits if you want a cloud product and you are an enterprise.
- [npm-scan](https://cybersectools.com/tools/npm-scan) fits if you need to run it on your own servers, you need a free product and you want an open-source product.

## ActiveState Library vs npm-scan FAQ

Common questions when comparing ActiveState Library vs npm-scan for software composition analysis.

### What is the difference between ActiveState Library and npm-scan?

**ActiveState Library**: Curated open-source package library with vuln tracking, SBOM, and license compliance, built by ActiveState.

**npm-scan**: An extensible, heuristic-based vulnerability scanning tool for installed npm packages.

The table above shows where their features, integrations, deployment and company size fit differ.

### Who makes ActiveState Library and npm-scan?

**ActiveState Library** is made by ActiveState. **npm-scan** is open-source with 50 GitHub stars. The vendor behind a product decides its roadmap, support, and longevity, so check each company's profile before you commit.

### Is ActiveState Library a good alternative to npm-scan?

Often, yes. ActiveState Library and npm-scan are both Software Composition Analysis products. Key differences: ActiveState Library is Commercial while npm-scan is Free, npm-scan is open-source. Use the table above to see where features, deployment and company size fit differ.

## Related comparisons

- [ActiveState Library vs HeroDevs](https://cybersectools.com/compare/activestate-library-vs-herodevs)
- [ActiveState Library vs ActiveState Vulnerability Management](https://cybersectools.com/compare/activestate-library-vs-activestate-vulnerability-management)
- [ActiveState Library vs Hopper Security](https://cybersectools.com/compare/activestate-library-vs-hopper-security)
- [npm-scan vs HeroDevs](https://cybersectools.com/compare/herodevs-vs-npm-scan)
- [npm-scan vs ActiveState Vulnerability Management](https://cybersectools.com/compare/activestate-vulnerability-management-vs-npm-scan)
- [npm-scan vs Hopper Security](https://cybersectools.com/compare/hopper-security-vs-npm-scan)

## Alternatives to each

- [See all ActiveState Library alternatives](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/activestate-library)
- [See all npm-scan alternatives](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/npm-scan)

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Source: https://cybersectools.com/compare/activestate-library-vs-npm-scan

For AI agents: each product above has its own Markdown page (add .md to its URL, for example https://cybersectools.com/tools/activestate-library.md). Every CybersecTools shortlist is listed at https://cybersectools.com/shortlists.md.

More on ActiveState Library and npm-scan: funding, momentum, hiring and news, plus the full product and company record, are available through the Mandos MCP Server (paid plans), which connects to AI assistants: https://mandos.io/mcp?utm_source=cybersectools.com&utm_medium=compare-md