BFG Repo-Cleaner
A faster command-line tool for removing large files and bad data from Git repositories
- Also known as
- bfg-repo-cleaner
What is BFG Repo-Cleaner?
A Scala-based utility that removes large or problematic files from Git repository history more efficiently than the standard git-filter-branch command.
BFG Repo-Cleaner pricing
We don't have BFG Repo-Cleaner's full plan breakdown yet (its pricing page resisted automated reading). Here's what we could confirm. Always check live pricing for exact numbers.
What BFG Repo-Cleaner does
The capabilities that matter for secrets scanning, normalised so it lines up with every alternative. “-” means we haven't confirmed it, not that it's missing.
- Deployment model
- Local CLI only
- Git repository historical scanning
- ✓
- Pre commit developer hooks
- -
- Active token validation engine
- -
- High entropy regex detection
- -
- Slack teams jira scanning
- -
- Automated key revocation apis
- -
- Custom regex rules support
- -
- Ci cd pipeline build blocking
- -
- Compliance audit reporting
- -
- SOC2 type ii
- -
- ISO 27001
- -
- Pricing model
- Open source
Platform & deployment
Independently observed- CLI
- Self-hosted
Security & compliance
Known vulnerabilities: 0 (0 in the last 12 months) sourcea count reflects scale & disclosure, not quality
BFG Repo-Cleaner FAQ
Common questions about BFG Repo-Cleaner, answered from independent, dated evidence.
What is BFG Repo-Cleaner?
A command-line tool that removes large blobs and sensitive data from Git repositories. Distributed as free and open source software under the GNU General Public License. It is indexed under Secrets Scanning.
Is BFG Repo-Cleaner free to use?
BFG Repo-Cleaner is open source, so it can be self-hosted and used at no licence cost. It is released under the GPL-3.0 licence. Pricing changes often, so verify at source before relying on it.
What platforms does BFG Repo-Cleaner support?
BFG Repo-Cleaner supports a command-line interface. Platforms we have not confirmed are simply not listed here rather than ruled out.
Can BFG Repo-Cleaner be self-hosted?
Yes. BFG Repo-Cleaner can be deployed self-hosted, so it does not have to run on the vendor's infrastructure.
Is BFG Repo-Cleaner open source?
Yes. BFG Repo-Cleaner is published under the GPL-3.0 licence, a copyleft licence, so check its terms before embedding it in a closed-source product. Licence terms can change between releases, so verify against the repository for the version you intend to use.
BFG Repo-Cleaner alternatives
Other secrets scanning we track, ranked by the same independent score.
- Nightfall DLPAn AI-powered platform that detects and prevents sensitive data from leaving your organization across cloud apps, endpoints, and AI toolsmedium · 72%
- WhispersCommand-line tool that scans code and configuration files for exposed secrets and API keyslow · 28%
- NoseyparkerA CLI tool for discovering exposed secrets and sensitive data in source code and version control historymedium · 69%
- detect-secretsIdentify and block credential leaks before they reach version controlmedium · 66%
- GitleaksOpen-source tool that detects secrets and sensitive credentials in git repositories and fileslow · 43%
- TartufoScans git repositories to detect accidentally committed secrets and suspicious code patternshigh · 78%
Compare BFG Repo-Cleaner
Side by side against other secrets scanning, attribute by attribute, with a source on every value.
The vioscaleAI score: one lens on the evidence
Not user reviews and not a paid placement: a confidence-weighted blend of the independent signals below (adoption, activity, security posture, and more), which you can sort and re-weight yourself. Vendors can correct their listing but can never move their rank, and stars are weighted low as a vanity metric. It is one way to read the evidence for BFG Repo-Cleaner, not the verdict.
| Signal | Score | Weight | Contribution | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stars | 77 | 0.03 | 2.0 | ✓ |
| Dependent projects | 30 | 0.06 | 1.9 | ✓ |
| Capabilities | 29 | 0.06 | 1.8 | ✓ |
| Release cadence | 34 | 0.05 | 1.8 | ✓ |
| Security score | 28 | 0.04 | 1.2 | ✓ |
| Integrations | 0 | 0.06 | 0.0 | - |
| Development activity | 0 | 0.09 | 0.0 | ✓ |
| Security posture | 0 | 0.21 | 0.0 | - |
| Package downloads | 0 | 0.14 | 0.0 | - |
| Developer Q&A activity | 0 | 0.06 | 0.0 | - |
Computed . Re-weight it by intent, or see the full method.
All data & sourcesshow ↓
Every value we hold, with its source, retrieval date, and confidence. This is the evidence behind the score: don't trust it, verify it.
Activity
| Attribute | Value | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Commits last 30d | 0 | mediumsource · 2026-10-15 · 65% |
Adoption
Content
| Attribute | Value | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Faq | 5 items | mediumsource · 2026-09-10 · 67% |
Features
| Attribute | Value | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Capabilities | Pricing model: open_source · Deployment model: local_cli_only · Git repository historical scanning: Yes | mediumsource · 2026-10-15 · 60% |
Language
| Attribute | Value | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Primary | Scala | highsource · 2026-10-15 · 90% |
License
| Attribute | Value | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Spdx | GPL-3.0 | highsource · 2026-10-15 · 95% |
Pricing
Release
Security
Is BFG Repo-Cleaner the right choice for you?
Tell us the job, the constraints and what you weigh most, and we will rank BFG Repo-Cleaner against the rest of the secrets scanning we index, using the same dated evidence weighted your way.
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