Checkmarx vs Semgrep

Checkmarx and Semgrep are both enterprise application security solutions. Checkmarx enterprise application security platform with deep SAST, SCA, DAST, and supply chain security, while Semgrep lightweight, open-source static analysis with intuitive pattern-matching rules and fast scan performance. The best choice depends on your organization's size, technical requirements, and budget.

Choose Checkmarx if industry-leading SAST depth and accuracy from two decades of development is your priority and large enterprises that need comprehensive, compliance-driven application security testing with deep SAST accuracy and centralized security governance. Choose Semgrep if open-source core engine with no licensing costs for CLI usage matters most and security-conscious development teams that want fast, customizable static analysis with the ability to write organization-specific security rules.

Semgrep starts at Free (open-source CLI) / Team from $40/developer/month / Enterprise custom (per-developer (monthly)). Checkmarx starts at Custom enterprise pricing (typically $50K+ annually) (enterprise license (project/user-based)). As always, the sticker price only tells part of the story. Factor in add-ons, implementation costs, and what's actually included at each tier.

It depends on how deeply Checkmarx is embedded in your stack. Most teams run both in parallel for a few weeks before cutting over. Check whether Semgrep supports importing your existing configs or policies. That's usually the biggest time sink.