Snyk vs Semgrep -- Application Security Compared

Snyk vs Semgrep

Semgrep offers unmatched rule customizability and scan speed with an open-source foundation, while Snyk provides broader security coverage across SCA, containers, and IaC with automated remediation. Semgrep is the better choice for teams that need custom security rules and lightning-fast scans, while Snyk wins on breadth of security coverage, remediation automation, and out-of-the-box vulnerability intelligence.

The Verdict

Choose Semgrep if you need the most customizable static analysis with blazing-fast scans and open-source flexibility. Choose Snyk if you need a unified application security platform covering SCA, containers, and IaC with automated remediation and the broadest out-of-the-box vulnerability intelligence.

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

FeatureSemgrepSnyk
Custom Rule AuthoringIndustry-leading with intuitive pattern syntaxLimited custom rule capabilities
Scan SpeedExtremely fast incremental scanningFast, but heavier scans for full analysis
SCANewer Semgrep Supply Chain offeringMature, industry-leading SCA with proprietary database
Container ScanningNot availableFull container image vulnerability scanning
IaC SecurityNot availableTerraform, CloudFormation, Kubernetes scanning
Automated RemediationFix suggestions in findingsAutomated fix PRs with upgrade and patch suggestions
Open SourceCore engine is open sourceProprietary platform
Secrets DetectionBuilt-in secrets scanningLimited secrets detection

When to Choose Each Tool

Choose Semgrep when:

  • +Custom security rule authoring for organization-specific patterns is a must-have
  • +You want an open-source analysis engine with no vendor lock-in for core scanning
  • +Scan speed is critical and you need analysis on every commit and PR
  • +Your team has the expertise to write and maintain custom detection rules
  • +You value a lightweight tool that integrates without heavy infrastructure

Choose Snyk when:

  • +You need comprehensive SCA with a large proprietary vulnerability database
  • +Container image and IaC scanning are core requirements
  • +Automated fix pull requests and remediation guidance are important
  • +You want the broadest out-of-the-box vulnerability coverage without writing rules
  • +You need a unified platform for SAST, SCA, container, and IaC security

Pros & Cons Comparison

Semgrep

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

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 Semgrep FAQ

Common questions about choosing between Snyk and Semgrep.

What is the main difference between Snyk and Semgrep?

Semgrep offers unmatched rule customizability and scan speed with an open-source foundation, while Snyk provides broader security coverage across SCA, containers, and IaC with automated remediation. Semgrep is the better choice for teams that need custom security rules and lightning-fast scans, while Snyk wins on breadth of security coverage, remediation automation, and out-of-the-box vulnerability intelligence.

Is Semgrep better than Snyk?

Choose Semgrep if you need the most customizable static analysis with blazing-fast scans and open-source flexibility. Choose Snyk if you need a unified application security platform covering SCA, containers, and IaC with automated remediation and the broadest out-of-the-box vulnerability intelligence.

How much does Semgrep cost compared to Snyk?

Semgrep pricing: Free (open-source CLI) / Team from $40/developer/month / Enterprise custom. Snyk pricing: Free (limited scans) / Team from $25/developer/month / Enterprise custom pricing. Semgrep's pricing model is per-developer (monthly), while Snyk uses per-developer (monthly) pricing.

Can I migrate from Snyk to Semgrep?

Yes, you can migrate from Snyk to Semgrep. 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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