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HOL Guard review

Local-first guard that reviews coding agents' shell commands, package installs, plugins, skills and MCP tool calls, then allows, asks or blocks before they run.

Agent securityFree & open source (Apache-2.0); optional paid Guard Cloud
Try HOL Guard ↗Official site: hol.orgLast updated · Added Oct 23, 2026

Verdict: HOL Guard is a security guard for AI coding agents, rated 7.5/10 by VibeFinch and best for developers who want risky agent commands, installs and MCP changes checked before they run. Pricing: Free & open source (Apache-2.0); optional paid Guard Cloud.

VibeFinch rating: 7.5/10 · Based on official docs and pricing pages · Checked · How we rate

7.5/ 10

VibeFinch rating

7.5/10 · Based on official docs and pricing pages · Checked Oct 23, 2026

Capability
8.0
Ease of use
7.0
Value
9.0
Docs & maturity
7.0

How we rated this: we researched HOL Guard from 4 official sources (listed below) and scored it on capability, ease of use, value, and docs & maturity. It's a research-based rating, not a hands-on test, and scores are never paid. How we rate · About · Independence & disclosure

HOL Guard pros

  • Hooks into Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, OpenCode and other agents; runs locally with no account
  • Covers secret access, destructive commands, package installs and MCP changes, with a local approval history

HOL Guard cons

  • Protection depends on the hooks each agent exposes; its own docs say coverage varies by integration
  • Young (repo created Mar 2026) and fast-moving; needs Python 3.10+ and pipx

Is HOL Guard free?

Yes, HOL Guard has a free option. Per its official pages: Free & open source (Apache-2.0); optional paid Guard Cloud.

Who is HOL Guard best for?

HOL Guard is best for developers who want risky agent commands, installs and MCP changes checked before they run. Its top strength in our research: Hooks into Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, OpenCode and other agents; runs locally with no account.

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HOL Guard FAQ

What is HOL Guard?

HOL Guard is a security guard for AI coding agents. Local-first guard that reviews coding agents' shell commands, package installs, plugins, skills and MCP tool calls, then allows, asks or blocks before they run.

How does VibeFinch rate HOL Guard?

VibeFinch rates HOL Guard 7.5/10 (Capability 8.0, Ease of use 7.0, Value 9.0, Docs & maturity 7.0). Based on official docs and pricing pages, checked Oct 23, 2026. Scores are never paid.

What are the downsides of HOL Guard?

Protection depends on the hooks each agent exposes; its own docs say coverage varies by integration. Young (repo created Mar 2026) and fast-moving; needs Python 3.10+ and pipx.

Sources

Every fact on this page comes from these official pages, checked Oct 23, 2026.