# Cloudsmith vs npq: 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). [npq](https://cybersectools.com/tools/npq) 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 | npq |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Commercial | Free |
| Category | Software Supply Chain Security | Software Supply Chain Security |
| Verified | No | No |
| Deployment type | Cloud | On-Premises |
| Company size fit | Mid-Market, Enterprise | Startup, SMB, Mid-Market, Enterprise |
| GitHub stars | – | 1,555 |
| Last commit | – | Feb 2026 |
| Company | Cloudsmith | – |
| Headquarters | – | – |

### Use cases and capabilities

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

### Core features

**Cloudsmith**

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

**npq**

No features listed.

### Integrations

**Cloudsmith**

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

**npq**

No integrations listed.

## Which one fits you

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

- [Cloudsmith](https://cybersectools.com/tools/cloudsmith) fits if you want a cloud product.
- [npq](https://cybersectools.com/tools/npq) fits if you need to run it on your own servers, you are a startup or a small business, you need a free product and you want an open-source product.

## Cloudsmith vs npq FAQ

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

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

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

**npq**: A tool that safely installs packages with npm/yarn by auditing them as part of your install process.

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

### Who makes Cloudsmith and npq?

**Cloudsmith** is made by Cloudsmith. **npq** is open-source with 1,555 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 npq?

Often, yes. Cloudsmith and npq are both Software Supply Chain Security products, and both cover Supply Chain Security. Key differences: Cloudsmith is Commercial while npq is Free, npq 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 ActiveState Curated Catalog](https://cybersectools.com/compare/activestate-curated-catalog-vs-cloudsmith)
- [Cloudsmith vs Chainguard Libraries](https://cybersectools.com/compare/chainguard-libraries-vs-cloudsmith)
- [npq vs Veracode Secure Your Software Supply Chain](https://cybersectools.com/compare/npq-vs-veracode-secure-your-software-supply-chain)
- [npq vs ActiveState Curated Catalog](https://cybersectools.com/compare/activestate-curated-catalog-vs-npq)
- [npq vs Chainguard Libraries](https://cybersectools.com/compare/chainguard-libraries-vs-npq)

## Alternatives to each

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

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

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 npq: 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