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01__comparison__dependabot_and_renovatebot__perplexity-ai.md

comparison between dependabot and renovatebot | Perplexity.ai ( 2025-06-27 )

comparison between dependabot and renovatebot

Here is a detailed, objective comparison between Dependabot and RenovateBot, focusing on their key features, strengths, and ideal use cases.

Feature Comparison Table

Feature RenovateBot Dependabot
Ecosystem Support 30+ package managers, Docker, Kubernetes, etc. 1 2 14 package managers 1
Platform Support GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, Azure, Gitea, etc. 3 1 GitHub only 3 1
Update Grouping Advanced, out-of-the-box for common frameworks 3 4 5 Manual grouping required 3 4
Monorepo Support Excellent, handles complex structures 1 5 Limited 1 5
Customization Extensive, granular control via config 6 1 5 Limited, basic configuration 1 7
Dependency Dashboard Yes, visual management 3 1 No 3 1
Scheduling Flexible (cron, time windows) 1 5 Basic (daily, weekly, etc.) 3 1
Automated Merging Configurable auto-merging 1 Limited auto-merging 1
License GNU AGPL 3 MIT 3
Built-in to GitHub No, requires app/self-hosting 3 1 Yes 3 1
Learning Curve Steeper due to options 1 5 Gentle, simpler 1 5
Shareable Config Presets Yes 6 No 6

Strengths and Weaknesses

Dependabot

  • Strengths:

    • Native GitHub integration, easy to enable and use 3 1 7.
    • Good for straightforward projects with fewer dependencies.
    • Supports multiple package managers (though fewer than Renovate).
    • Provides compatibility score badges and security alerts 3 7.

  • Weaknesses:

    • Limited customization and grouping options 3 1 5.
    • Not well-suited for monorepos or complex dependency graphs 1 5.
    • Requires manual configuration for grouping updates 3 4.
    • Only works on GitHub 3 1.

RenovateBot

  • Strengths:

    • Highly customizable and flexible 6 1 5.
    • Supports a wide range of package managers and platforms 1 2.
    • Handles monorepos and complex dependency structures well 1 5.
    • Advanced grouping and scheduling options 3 4 5.
    • Dependency dashboard for visual management 3 1.
    • Shareable configuration presets for team consistency 6.

  • Weaknesses:

    • Requires installation (app or self-hosting) on GitHub 3 1.
    • Steeper learning curve due to complexity and configuration options 1 5.
    • May require more initial setup for optimal use 6 5.

Ideal Use Cases

  • Choose Dependabot if:

    • You use GitHub exclusively.
    • Your projects are simple or have few dependencies.
    • You want a built-in, low-maintenance solution 3 1 7.

  • Choose RenovateBot if:

    • You need support for multiple Git platforms or complex workflows 3 1 7.
    • Your project uses monorepos or has complex dependency structures 1 5.
    • You require advanced customization, grouping, or scheduling 6 1 5.
    • You want a dependency dashboard or shareable configuration presets 3 6.

Summary

RenovateBot offers more flexibility, customization, and platform support, making it ideal for complex or multi-platform projects. Dependabot is best suited for simple, GitHub-based projects where ease of use and integration are priorities. Both tools are free and widely used, but the choice depends on your specific needs and workflow 1 7 8.

⁂

Footnotes

  1. https://www.turbostarter.dev/blog/renovate-vs-dependabot-whats-the-best-tool-to-automate-your-dependency-updates ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10 ↩11 ↩12 ↩13 ↩14 ↩15 ↩16 ↩17 ↩18 ↩19 ↩20 ↩21 ↩22 ↩23 ↩24 ↩25 ↩26 ↩27 ↩28 ↩29 ↩30 ↩31 ↩32 ↩33

  2. https://blog.frankel.ch/renovate-alternative-dependabot/ ↩ ↩2

  3. https://docs.renovatebot.com/bot-comparison/ ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10 ↩11 ↩12 ↩13 ↩14 ↩15 ↩16 ↩17 ↩18 ↩19 ↩20 ↩21 ↩22

  4. https://www.reddit.com/r/golang/comments/14km58c/dependabot_vs_renovatebot/ ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  5. https://dev.to/alex_aslam/renovate-vs-dependabot-which-bot-will-rule-your-monorepo-4431 ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10 ↩11 ↩12 ↩13 ↩14 ↩15 ↩16

  6. https://www.jvt.me/posts/2024/04/12/use-renovate/ ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8

  7. https://toxigon.com/dependabot-vs-renovate ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6

  8. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vf2gg2ow8z0 ↩

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02__where_the_github_app_renovate_executes.md

where the github app renovate executes? | Perplexity.ai

where the github app renovate executes?

The Mend Renovate GitHub App executes on infrastructure managed by Mend (formerly WhiteSource), not on your own servers or GitHub Actions runners 1 2 3. When you install the Renovate app from the GitHub Marketplace, Mend takes care of authentication, token security, and running the bot, scanning your repositories for outdated dependencies and opening pull requests as needed 4 1 5.

Key points:

  • Hosted execution: The Renovate GitHub App runs on Mend’s own servers, acting as a managed service 1 2 3.

  • Self-hosted option: If you prefer control, you can run Renovate yourself as a self-hosted GitHub App or via the Renovate GitHub Action, which executes within your GitHub Actions workflows or on your own infrastructure 4 6 2.

  • No access to your codebase: The hosted app does not require direct access to your codebase; it interacts via GitHub’s API and only sees what its permissions allow 1 7.

Summary table:

Option Where it executes Who manages execution Example use case
Mend Renovate GitHub App Mend’s infrastructure Mend Easiest setup, no maintenance
Self-hosted Renovate (GitHub App) Your own infrastructure You Full control, advanced setups
Renovate GitHub Action 8 GitHub Actions runners You Custom workflows, CI pipelines

For most users on GitHub Cloud, the easiest and recommended way is to use the hosted Mend Renovate App 4 1 5.

⁂

Footnotes

  1. https://docs.mend.io/wsk/renovate-github-app ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5

  2. https://www.reddit.com/r/devops/comments/16mraqr/renovate_app_vs_github_action/ ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  3. https://dille.name/blog/2022/08/08/renovate-all-the-things/ ↩ ↩2

  4. https://docs.renovatebot.com/modules/platform/github/ ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  5. https://www.mend.io/blog/renovating-with-renovate/ ↩ ↩2

  6. https://github.com/renovatebot/github-action ↩

  7. https://docs.renovatebot.com/getting-started/installing-onboarding/ ↩

  8. https://github.com/marketplace/actions/renovate-bot-github-action ↩

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99_references.md

References

Comparison

Renovate

Projects using Renovate

Renovate Docs

Posts related to Renovate

Dependabot

Posts related to Dependabot

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