# Cloudsmith vs Confused: side-by-side comparison (2026)

[Cloudsmith](https://cybersectools.com/tools/cloudsmith) is a commercial [software supply chain security](https://cybersectools.com/categories/software-supply-chain-security) solution by [Cloudsmith](https://cybersectools.com/companies/cloudsmith). [Confused](https://cybersectools.com/tools/confused) is a free [software supply chain security](https://cybersectools.com/categories/software-supply-chain-security) solution. Features, integrations, deployment and the company behind each one, side by side.

## Side-by-side comparison

| | Cloudsmith | Confused |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Commercial | Free |
| Category | Software Supply Chain Security | Software Supply Chain Security |
| Verified | No | No |
| Deployment type | Cloud | Cloud |
| Company size fit | Mid-Market, Enterprise | Startup, SMB, Mid-Market, Enterprise |
| GitHub stars | – | 754 |
| Last commit | – | Nov 2022 |
| Company | Cloudsmith | – |
| Headquarters | – | – |

### Use cases and capabilities

| | Cloudsmith | Confused |
|---|---|---|
| Software Supply Chain | Yes | – |
| Supply Chain Security | Yes | Yes |
| Package Security | Yes | – |
| CI/CD | Yes | – |
| RBAC | Yes | – |
| License Compliance | Yes | – |
| Dependency Scanning | Yes | Yes |
| SBOM | Yes | – |
| Observability | Yes | – |
| npm | – | Yes |
| PHP | – | Yes |

### Core features

**Cloudsmith**

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

**Confused**

No features listed.

### Integrations

**Cloudsmith**

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

**Confused**

No integrations listed.

## Which one fits you

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

- [Confused](https://cybersectools.com/tools/confused) fits if you are a startup or a small business, you need a free product and you want an open-source product.

## Cloudsmith vs Confused FAQ

Common questions when comparing Cloudsmith vs Confused for software supply chain security.

### What is the difference between Cloudsmith and Confused?

**Cloudsmith**: Cloud-native artifact mgmt & software supply chain security platform, built by Cloudsmith.

**Confused**: A dependency security scanner that identifies potential supply chain vulnerabilities by checking for available package namespace registrations across Python, JavaScript, PHP, and Maven repositories.

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

### Who makes Cloudsmith and Confused?

**Cloudsmith** is made by Cloudsmith. **Confused** is open-source with 754 GitHub stars. The vendor behind a product decides its roadmap, support, and longevity, so check each company's profile before you commit.

### Is Cloudsmith a good alternative to Confused?

Often, yes. Cloudsmith and Confused are both Software Supply Chain Security products, and both cover Supply Chain Security, Dependency Scanning. Key differences: Cloudsmith is Commercial while Confused is Free, Confused is open-source. Use the table above to see where features, deployment and company size fit differ.

## Related comparisons

- [Cloudsmith vs Veracode Secure Your Software Supply Chain](https://cybersectools.com/compare/cloudsmith-vs-veracode-secure-your-software-supply-chain)
- [Cloudsmith vs Kusari Software Supply Chain Security](https://cybersectools.com/compare/cloudsmith-vs-kusari-software-supply-chain-security)
- [Cloudsmith vs EdgeBit](https://cybersectools.com/compare/cloudsmith-vs-edgebit)
- [Confused vs Veracode Secure Your Software Supply Chain](https://cybersectools.com/compare/confused-vs-veracode-secure-your-software-supply-chain)
- [Confused vs Kusari Software Supply Chain Security](https://cybersectools.com/compare/confused-vs-kusari-software-supply-chain-security)
- [Confused vs EdgeBit](https://cybersectools.com/compare/confused-vs-edgebit)

## Alternatives to each

- [See all Cloudsmith alternatives](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/cloudsmith)
- [See all Confused alternatives](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/confused)

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Source: https://cybersectools.com/compare/cloudsmith-vs-confused

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

More on Cloudsmith and Confused: 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