Do both provide reproducible builds?

Yes. Reproducibility is a core part of both build models.

Do both provide SBOMs and provenance?

Yes. Both provide SBOMs and build provenance as part of their software supply chain evidence.

Does Chainguard use Sigstore?

Yes. Chainguard uses Sigstore-based signing and verification for its container artifacts.

How is CleanStart different from Chainguard?

Chainguard focuses heavily on providing secure, minimal and verifiable software artifacts. CleanStart combines verified container images with dependency governance through Clean Libraries and deployed-estate discovery and remediation through CleanSight.

Is CleanStart an alternative to Chainguard?

Yes. Both provide secure container foundations and supply chain verification capabilities. Organizations can evaluate them based on their required image ecosystem, verification requirements, compliance needs, and broader software supply chain strategy.

Chainguard vs CleanStart: Secure Container Images Compared

Compare Chainguard and CleanStart across container security, software foundations, build reproducibility, provenance, vulnerability management, and software supply chain verification.

Explore CleanStart Images Compare capabilities

Two Approaches to Building Secure Container Images

Chainguard

Minimal, secure-by-default container images built from source with reproducible builds and verifiable metadata.

Focus:

Wolfi and Chainguard OS foundations
Source-built software
Minimal and distroless images
Reproducible builds and provenance

CleanStart

Verified container images built through controlled software supply chain processes designed to establish artifact trust.

Focus:

CleanStart OS and minimal foundations
Source-based builds
Hermetic and reproducible builds
Provenance and cryptographic verification

Chainguard vs CleanStart

Chainguard and CleanStart give the same answer on 15 of 26 capabilities. This table is about the other 11.

Capability comparison between Chainguard and CleanStart, grouped by image and build, supply chain verification, security and compliance, and lifecycle and platform.
Capability	Chainguard	CleanStart
Image & Build
Base foundation	Wolfi / Chainguard OS	CleanStart OS
Minimal production images	Available	Available
Distroless images	Available	Available
Non-root runtime	Available	Available
Shell / package-manager free runtime	Available	Available
Multi-architecture	Available	Available
Source-based build	Available	Available
Hermetic build	Available, with conditions	Available
Reproducible builds	Available	Available
Supply Chain Verification
SBOM	Available	Available
SPDX / CycloneDX	Available, with conditions	Available
SLSA provenance	AvailableBuild Level 3	AvailableBuild Level 3
Build provenance & verification	Available	Available
Cryptographic signing	Available	Available
Sigstore / Cosign	Available	Available
VEX / exploitability context	Available, with conditions	Available
AI BOM	Not available	Available
Security & Compliance
Near-zero CVE posture	Available	Available
Continuous security updates	Available	Available
Malware / security testing	Available	Available
FIPS	Available	AvailableFIPS 140-3
STIG / CIS	Available, with conditions	Available
Lifecycle & Platform
Custom hardened images	Available, with conditions	Available
Software dependency governance	AvailableChainguard Libraries	AvailableClean Libraries
Software estate discovery	Not available	CleanSight
Verified remediation workflows	Not available	CleanSight

An asterisk marks a capability the source comparison records as qualified rather than unconditional. The source does not state the condition.

Comparison reflects each platform's published approach and CleanStart's documented capabilities as of September 2026. Specific behavior varies by image and variant.

AvailableAvailable: Available
Not available: Not available