TBV (Trust but Verify) vs GuardDog: 2026 Comparison
TBV (Trust but Verify) is a free software composition analysis tool. GuardDog is a free software composition analysis tool. Compare features, ratings, integrations, and community reviews side by side to find the best software composition analysis fit for your security stack.
CST VerdictBased on our analysis of available product data, here is our conclusion:
npm-first teams running lean on supply chain security will get real value from TBV's package verification and testing capabilities without paying for bloat. The tool is free and sits directly in the artifact inspection layer where most npm vulnerabilities actually enter your build, catching what you'd otherwise miss between dependency declaration and deployment. Skip this if you need broader SCA coverage across multiple languages or automated remediation workflows; TBV is deliberately narrow, which is exactly why it works well for teams that know what they're looking for.
Development teams shipping Python and Node.js packages should use GuardDog for pre-publication malware screening because its heuristics-based approach catches obfuscated and supply-chain attacks that signature-based tools miss. The CLI integrates directly into CI/CD pipelines at zero cost, catching malicious dependencies before they reach registries. Skip GuardDog if you need runtime monitoring of already-installed packages or deep visibility into legitimate but vulnerable code; it's built for prevention at the source, not forensics on deployed systems.
