GitGuardian
Paris secrets-detection platform that scans git history and CI logs for leaked credentials
Quick Overview
| Company | GitGuardian SAS |
|---|---|
| Category | Developer Tools |
| Headquarters | Paris, France |
| Founded | 2017 |
| EU Presence | EU (France) |
| Open Source | No |
| Pricing | Free plan for small teams / Business priced per active developer seat / Enterprise pricing on request |
| Free Option | Free plan available; paid tiers on request |
| Replaces | GitHub secret scanning, manual credential audits |
Detailed Review
GitGuardian scans git history, CI/CD logs and chat tools for secrets that should never have been committed — API keys, database passwords, private certificates — and flags them before or immediately after they leak into a repository.
It works alongside any forge in this category rather than replacing one, watching GitLab, Gitea, GitHub or Codeberg repositories for the mistake every development team eventually makes. Its newer Non-Human Identity governance extends the same idea to API keys and service-account tokens that outlive the person who created them, a gap most forges don't cover on their own.
The Paris company publishes a genuine free plan for small teams, prices its Business tier per active developer seat — defined as anyone who has committed in the last 90 days, so dormant accounts don't count — and quotes Enterprise separately. That seat-based model tracks actual contributors rather than every account ever created, a fairer basis than most per-user SaaS pricing in this space.
GitGuardian SAS is the EU entity handling this data, with a US affiliate, GitGuardian Inc., serving as joint controller for American customers — worth knowing if data residency is a hard requirement rather than a preference. It is a detection tool, not a secrets vault: it tells a team what has already leaked, it doesn't store or manage the working secrets themselves, so pairing it with a secrets manager remains the complete answer.
What GitGuardian does well
- Scans git history, CI logs and chat tools for secrets
- Free plan genuinely usable for small teams
- Seat pricing counts only active contributors, not every account
- Non-Human Identity governance covers long-lived API keys and tokens
- Works alongside any forge, not tied to one
Where GitGuardian falls short
- Detects leaked secrets; doesn't manage or store them itself
- Business tier price isn't published, only "per seat"
- US affiliate is joint controller for US customers
- Another subscription layered on top of the forge itself
Standout feature. The only tool here that watches for the mistake everyone eventually makes: a real secret committed straight into git history.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Scans git history, CI logs and chat tools for secrets
- Free plan genuinely usable for small teams
- Seat pricing counts only active contributors, not every account
- Non-Human Identity governance covers long-lived API keys and tokens
- Works alongside any forge, not tied to one
Cons
- Detects leaked secrets; doesn't manage or store them itself
- Business tier price isn't published, only "per seat"
- US affiliate is joint controller for US customers
- Another subscription layered on top of the forge itself
Alternatives to GitGuardian
Frequently Asked Questions
What is GitGuardian?
GitGuardian scans git history, CI/CD logs and chat tools for secrets that should never have been committed — API keys, database passwords, private certificates — and flags them before or immediately after they leak into a repository.
It works alongside any forge in this category rather than replacing one, watching GitLab, Gitea, GitHub or Codeberg repositories for the mistake every development team eventually makes. Its newer Non-Human Identity governance extends the same idea to API keys and service-account tokens that outlive the person who created them, a gap most forges don't cover on their own.
Where is GitGuardian based?
GitGuardian operates from Paris, France, which places it under EU (France).
What does GitGuardian cost?
Free plan for small teams / Business priced per active developer seat / Enterprise pricing on request. Free plan available; paid tiers on request.
Who is GitGuardian best for?
Teams that need leaked secrets caught early. The only tool here that watches for the mistake everyone eventually makes: a real secret committed straight into git history.
What are the drawbacks of GitGuardian?
Detects leaked secrets; doesn't manage or store them itself. Business tier price isn't published, only "per seat". US affiliate is joint controller for US customers. Another subscription layered on top of the forge itself.
Is GitGuardian a good alternative to GitHub secret scanning?
GitGuardian is built as a European alternative to GitHub secret scanning: Paris secrets-detection platform that scans git history and CI logs for leaked credentials. It will not be a like-for-like feature match in every respect, so check the review above for where the two genuinely differ before switching.
How does GitGuardian compare to other Developer Tools?
GitGuardian is one of several European Developer Tools we cover. It is most often compared with GitHub secret scanning, manual credential audits.