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Spellwarden and Snyk Agent Scan compared

Last updated 7 November 2026

Both tools scan agent content for security problems. They differ in what they look at, where the analysis runs, what they need before they start and what else comes with them. Statements about Snyk Agent Scan come from its public README, read on 7 November 2026, and each one links its source. Statements about Spellwarden cite this site or the scanner's repository. Neither tool is ranked.

What each tool is

Snyk Agent Scan is a security scanner for AI agents, MCP servers and agent skills. (Snyk Agent Scan README) It discovers agent components on the machine it runs on and scans them for prompt injections and vulnerabilities. (Snyk Agent Scan README)

The Spellwarden scanner is Apache-2.0, free and works without a Spellwarden account. (Spellwarden docs: open-source scanner) It checks skills, MCP servers, agent configuration and A2A agent cards with 65 rules, run on your machine or CI runner. (Spellwarden docs: open-source scanner)

What each does well

Snyk Agent Scan

  • Its README lists checks for prompt injection, tool poisoning, tool shadowing and toxic flows in MCP servers, and for prompt injection, malware payloads, untrusted content, credential handling and hardcoded secrets in skills. (Snyk Agent Scan README)
  • It supports Claude Code, Claude Desktop, Cursor, VS Code, GitHub Copilot, Windsurf and Gemini CLI, among others. (Snyk Agent Scan README)
  • It validates discovered components with local checks and the Agent Scan API. (Snyk Agent Scan README)
  • Secrets in configuration values and text are redacted before transmission. (Snyk Agent Scan README)
  • Scanning MCP configurations can execute commands or make outbound network requests, and interactive runs ask for consent by default. (Snyk Agent Scan README)

Spellwarden

Side by side

Snyk Agent Scan and the Spellwarden scanner, row by row
QuestionSnyk Agent ScanSpellwarden
What it scansIt discovers agent components on the machine it runs on and scans them for prompt injections and vulnerabilities. (Snyk Agent Scan README)It checks skills, MCP servers, agent configuration and A2A agent cards with 65 rules, run on your machine or CI runner. (Spellwarden docs: open-source scanner)
Where analysis runs and what is sentIt validates discovered components with local checks and the Agent Scan API. (Snyk Agent Scan README) Secrets in configuration values and text are redacted before transmission. (Snyk Agent Scan README)With its probe option it sends the protocol's own requests, without credentials, to each remote MCP server whose address is HTTPS, from your machine or runner. (Spellwarden docs: open-source scanner)
Account or key neededIt needs a Snyk account and an API token, set as SNYK_TOKEN. (Snyk Agent Scan README)The Spellwarden scanner is Apache-2.0, free and works without a Spellwarden account. (Spellwarden docs: open-source scanner)
LicenceIt is licensed Apache-2.0. (Snyk Agent Scan README)Its code is Apache-2.0 and public. (Spellwarden scanner repository)
How it runsScanning MCP configurations can execute commands or make outbound network requests, and interactive runs ask for consent by default. (Snyk Agent Scan README)It runs from the command line, in CI through a GitHub Action or a GitLab component, or from a container image. (Spellwarden docs: open-source scanner)
Other featuresIts background mode reports to a Snyk Evo instance, and setting that up requires contacting Snyk. (Snyk Agent Scan README)The hosted product turns findings into policy packs that export to Claude Code hooks, Kong or Zuplo MCP Gateway. (Spellwarden docs: rules, policy packs and exports) It also runs evals and exports them to AWS AgentCore, Microsoft Foundry or Claude Managed Agents. (Spellwarden docs: eval exports) Its private registry admits only the skills and MCP servers whose latest scan meets the organisation's policy. (Spellwarden docs: the private registry)

The Snyk README states no price, so this page states none.

Which fits

A team that already has a Snyk account and wants analysis through the Agent Scan API, with discovery of the agent components on each machine, has a reason to start with Snyk Agent Scan. A team that wants a scan that runs on its own machine or CI runner without an account, and a hosted product in the EU for policy, evals and a private registry, has a reason to start with Spellwarden. The scanner is documented in Open-source scanner, CI wrappers and Infra Pack.

Sources