Snyk vs GitHub Advanced Security -- Application Security Compared

Snyk vs GitHub Advanced Security

GitHub Advanced Security provides the most seamless security experience for GitHub-native teams with zero-friction PR integration and powerful CodeQL analysis, while Snyk offers platform-agnostic security across any SCM, stronger SCA, container scanning, and IaC security. GHAS is the natural choice for GitHub-only shops that want native integration, while Snyk is better for multi-platform environments and teams that need broader security coverage.

The Verdict

Choose GitHub Advanced Security if your development is entirely on GitHub and you want the most seamless, native security experience with CodeQL's deep analysis and push-level secret protection. Choose Snyk if you need multi-SCM support, stronger SCA, container scanning, IaC security, and a dedicated application security platform with automated remediation.

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

FeatureGitHub Advanced SecuritySnyk
SCM IntegrationNative GitHub-only (deepest integration)GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, Azure DevOps
SASTCodeQL with deep semantic analysisSnyk Code with real-time IDE feedback
SCADependabot alerts and automated PRsComprehensive SCA with proprietary vulnerability database
Secret ScanningBuilt-in with push protectionLimited secret detection capabilities
Container ScanningBasic Dependabot container alertsFull container image vulnerability scanning
IaC SecurityNot available nativelyTerraform, CloudFormation, Kubernetes scanning
Custom RulesCodeQL custom queries (powerful but steep curve)Limited custom rule capabilities
PricingFree for public repos / $49/committer/monthFree tier / $25/developer/month

When to Choose Each Tool

Choose GitHub Advanced Security when:

  • +Your entire development workflow is on GitHub and you want native integration
  • +Secret scanning with push protection is a priority to prevent credential leaks
  • +You want CodeQL's deep semantic analysis with custom query authoring
  • +You maintain public repositories and want free SAST and dependency scanning
  • +Minimizing tool sprawl by consolidating security into GitHub is important

Choose Snyk when:

  • +You use multiple SCM platforms (GitLab, Bitbucket, Azure DevOps) alongside GitHub
  • +Container image scanning and IaC security are core requirements
  • +You need a deeper SCA solution with a larger proprietary vulnerability database
  • +Automated fix PRs with patch-level remediation guidance are essential
  • +You want a dedicated application security platform with specialized security dashboards

Pros & Cons Comparison

GitHub Advanced Security

Pros

  • +Zero-friction integration for GitHub-native development teams
  • +Free for all public repositories including SAST and secret scanning
  • +CodeQL provides deep semantic analysis with custom query capabilities
  • +Secret scanning with push protection prevents credential leaks proactively
  • +Dependabot automates dependency updates with minimal configuration

Cons

  • –Only available for GitHub repositories, creating platform lock-in
  • –No container image scanning beyond basic Dependabot alerts
  • –No IaC security scanning capabilities
  • –Per-committer pricing can be expensive for organizations with many contributors
  • –SCA capabilities are less comprehensive than Snyk's purpose-built analysis

Snyk

Pros

  • +Best-in-class developer experience with seamless IDE and Git integration
  • +Automated fix PRs reduce mean time to remediation significantly
  • +Comprehensive platform covering SAST, SCA, containers, and IaC
  • +Free tier enables adoption without procurement approval
  • +Large proprietary vulnerability database with fast disclosure coverage

Cons

  • –Per-developer pricing becomes expensive at scale for large engineering orgs
  • –SAST capabilities are newer and less mature than dedicated SAST vendors
  • –Enterprise features like custom policies require higher-tier plans
  • –Dependency scanning depth can vary across less common language ecosystems
  • –Alert fatigue from high volume of findings without effective prioritization tuning

Snyk vs GitHub Advanced Security FAQ

Common questions about choosing between Snyk and GitHub Advanced Security.

What is the main difference between Snyk and GitHub Advanced Security?

GitHub Advanced Security provides the most seamless security experience for GitHub-native teams with zero-friction PR integration and powerful CodeQL analysis, while Snyk offers platform-agnostic security across any SCM, stronger SCA, container scanning, and IaC security. GHAS is the natural choice for GitHub-only shops that want native integration, while Snyk is better for multi-platform environments and teams that need broader security coverage.

Is GitHub Advanced Security better than Snyk?

Choose GitHub Advanced Security if your development is entirely on GitHub and you want the most seamless, native security experience with CodeQL's deep analysis and push-level secret protection. Choose Snyk if you need multi-SCM support, stronger SCA, container scanning, IaC security, and a dedicated application security platform with automated remediation.

How much does GitHub Advanced Security cost compared to Snyk?

GitHub Advanced Security pricing: Free for public repos / $49/committer/month for GitHub Enterprise. Snyk pricing: Free (limited scans) / Team from $25/developer/month / Enterprise custom pricing. GitHub Advanced Security's pricing model is per-active-committer (monthly), while Snyk uses per-developer (monthly) pricing.

Can I migrate from Snyk to GitHub Advanced Security?

Yes, you can migrate from Snyk to GitHub Advanced Security. The migration process depends on your specific setup and the features you use. Both platforms offer APIs that can facilitate automated migration. Consider running both tools in parallel during the transition to ensure zero downtime.

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