# Apache Subversion vs Mercurial

| Attribute | Apache Subversion | Mercurial |
|---|---|---|
| **vioscaleAI score** | 42 (59% (medium)) | 53.6 (10% (low)) |
| activity.commits_last_30d | 57 | - |
| adoption.dependent_repos | 121 | - |
| adoption.github_stars | 646 | - |
| adoption.package_downloads_weekly | - | 86,972 |
| content.faq | `[{"answer":"A centralized version control system that enables teams to track, manage, and collaborate on code changes. It provides atomic commits, merge tracking, and comprehensive repository history. It is indexed under Version Control.","source":"https://subversion.apache.org","question":"What is Apache Subversion?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"Apache Subversion is open source, so it can be self-hosted and used at no licence cost. It is released under the Apache-2.0 licence. Pricing changes often, so verify at source before relying on it.","source":"https://subversion.apache.org","question":"Is Apache Subversion free to use?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"Apache Subversion supports Windows, macOS, Linux and a command-line interface. Platforms we have not confirmed are simply not listed here rather than ruled out.","source":"https://subversion.apache.org","question":"What platforms does Apache Subversion support?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"Yes. Apache Subversion can be deployed on-premise and self-hosted, so it does not have to run on the vendor's infrastructure.","source":"https://subversion.apache.org","question":"Can Apache Subversion be self-hosted?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"Yes. Apache Subversion is published under the Apache-2.0 licence, a permissive licence that generally allows commercial use and modification. Licence terms can change between releases, so verify against the repository for the version you intend to use.","source":"https://github.com/apache/subversion","question":"Is Apache Subversion open source?","confidence":0.95}]` | `[{"answer":"Mercurial is a distributed source control management system designed to efficiently handle large repositories with fast performance across teams. It is indexed under Version Control.","source":"https://www.mercurial-scm.org","question":"What is Mercurial?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"Mercurial offers a free tier, so you can start without paying. Pricing changes often, so verify at source before relying on it.","source":"https://www.mercurial-scm.org","question":"Is Mercurial free?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"Mercurial supports Windows, macOS, Linux and a command-line interface. Platforms we have not confirmed are simply not listed here rather than ruled out.","source":"https://www.mercurial-scm.org","question":"What platforms does Mercurial support?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"Yes. Mercurial can be deployed self-hosted, so it does not have to run on the vendor's infrastructure.","source":"https://www.mercurial-scm.org","question":"Can Mercurial be self-hosted?","confidence":0.6}]` |
| deployment.options | `{"self_hosted":true}` | `{"self_hosted":true}` |
| description.long | An open-source version control system providing centralized code and file management with emphasis on reliability, ease of use, and scalability from individual developers to large enterprises. | Mercurial is a distributed source control management system designed to efficiently handle large repositories with fast performance across teams. |
| features.capabilities | `{"hosting":"self","vcs_model":"centralized","federation":false,"api_surface":"WebDAV/DeltaV protocol, svnserve protocol, command-line","built_in_ci":false,"code_review":"none","license_model":"free","sso_saml_scim":false,"access_control":"path_level","monorepo_scale":true,"signed_commits":false,"underlying_vcs":"Subversion","open_source_core":"open_source"}` | `{"hosting":"self","vcs_model":"distributed","api_surface":"CLI","built_in_ci":false,"code_review":"none","license_model":"free","sso_saml_scim":false,"underlying_vcs":"Mercurial","open_source_core":"open_source"}` |
| integrations.count | 4 | - |
| integrations.list | `[{"name":"TortoiseSVN","native":false,"category":"client"},{"name":"Eclipse","native":false,"category":"ide"},{"name":"NetBeans","native":false,"category":"ide"},{"name":"SVNKit","native":false,"category":"library"}]` | - |
| language.primary | C | Python |
| license.spdx | Apache-2.0 | - |
| market.availability | `{"primaryMarkets":[],"availabilityScope":"global","availableCountries":[],"notAvailableCountries":[]}` | `{"primaryMarkets":[],"availabilityScope":"global","availableCountries":[],"notAvailableCountries":[]}` |
| platform.support | `{"cli":true,"mac":true,"linux":true,"windows":true}` | `{"cli":true,"mac":true,"linux":true,"windows":true}` |
| pricing | `{"type":"open_source","summary":"Free and open source","freeTier":true,"sourceUrl":"https://subversion.apache.org","retrievedAt":"2026-08-14T21:37:11.291Z"}` | `{"type":"free","freeTier":true,"sourceUrl":"https://www.mercurial-scm.org","retrievedAt":"2026-08-14T21:35:30.923Z"}` |
| pricing.free_tier | yes | yes |
| pricing.model | open_source | free |
| pricing.price_level | free | free |
| security.disclosure_policy | yes | - |
| security.scorecard | 4.5 | - |
| security.vulnerabilities | `{"count":0,"source":"https://advisories.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/advisories?ecosystem=homebrew&package_name=subversion&per_page=100","last_12m":0,"max_severity":null}` | - |

## Capabilities (Version Control)

| Capability | Apache Subversion | Mercurial |
|---|:--:|:--:|
| **Model** |  |  |
| VCS model | Centralized | Distributed |
| Underlying VCS supported (Git / Mercurial / SVN / Perforce / multiple) | Subversion | Mercurial |
| **Deployment** |  |  |
| Hosting | Self-hosted only | Self-hosted only |
| **Review** |  |  |
| Code review | None (engine only) | None (engine only) |
| **Storage** |  |  |
| Large-file / binary handling | - | - |
| **Scale** |  |  |
| Monorepo scale (partial clone / sparse / VFS) | ✓ | - |
| **DevOps** |  |  |
| Built-in CI | ✗ | ✗ |
| **Access** |  |  |
| Access control granularity | Path-level | - |
| **Federation** |  |  |
| Federation / decentralisation (ActivityPub / email) | ✗ | - |
| **Licensing** |  |  |
| Open-source core | Open-source | Open-source |
| Self-managed license model | Free | Free |
| **Integration** |  |  |
| API surface (REST / GraphQL / webhooks) | WebDAV/DeltaV protocol, svnserve protocol, command-line | CLI |
| **Enterprise** |  |  |
| SSO / SAML / SCIM | ✗ | ✗ |
| **Security** |  |  |
| Signed commits / supply-chain (GPG / SSH / sigstore) | ✗ | - |

*Source: vioscaleAI. Generated 2026-10-16T19:15:33.770Z. "-" = undocumented, not absent.*