Semgrep

Lightweight, open-source static analysis with intuitive pattern-matching rules and fast scan performance

Static AnalysisFree (open-source CLI) / Team from $40/developer/month / Enterprise customOpen Source
How we work:This listing is aggregated from Semgrep's official documentation, public pricing pages, community discussions (Reddit, HN, forums), and real user feedback. We do not do hands-on testing. We aggregate and organize what's already out there. Last verified February 2026.

What is Semgrep?

Semgrep is a fast, open-source static analysis engine that enables developers and security teams to write custom rules for finding bugs, enforcing coding standards, and detecting security vulnerabilities. Its pattern-matching syntax is designed to be intuitive for developers, reading like the code it matches. Semgrep's commercial platform (Semgrep AppSec Platform) adds managed rules, a web dashboard, SCA capabilities, and secrets detection, making it a comprehensive alternative for teams that value rule customizability and fast scan performance.

Best for: Security-conscious development teams that want fast, customizable static analysis with the ability to write organization-specific security rules
Pros
  • Open-source core engine with no licensing costs for CLI usage
  • Custom rule authoring is significantly easier than any competing tool
  • Extremely fast scan performance suitable for every PR and commit
  • Developer-friendly syntax makes rules readable and maintainable
  • Growing community-contributed rule library covering common vulnerabilities
Cons
  • SCA capabilities are less mature than Snyk's established dependency scanning
  • No container image or IaC scanning capabilities
  • Commercial platform pricing approaches Snyk's per-developer costs
  • Inter-procedural and cross-file analysis is less deep than traditional SAST tools
  • Smaller vulnerability database compared to Snyk's proprietary research

Key Features

Open-source static analysis engine with custom rule authoring
Intuitive pattern-matching syntax that reads like code
Pre-built security rule packs (OWASP, CWE coverage)
Software composition analysis (Semgrep Supply Chain)
Secrets detection in code and configuration
Fast incremental scanning for CI/CD integration
Web dashboard for finding management and triage
Support for 30+ programming languages

What People Are Saying

Real discussions and resources from the community.