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Semgrep alternatives: 3 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Nov 1, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Semgrep: cross-file analysis and Pro rules need the commercial engine, and free edition is capped at 10 contributors. We ranked 3 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Semgrep, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. CodeQL currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1SonarQube logoSonarQubeFree plan + paidYesWeb, Self-hosted4 of 462.6
  1. SonarQube logo

    1. SonarQubeTop pick

    Best for: Teams that want quality gates for code quality and security on every pull request

    Free plan + paidOpen sourceSelf-hostableWeb, Self-hosted

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Semgrep

    Adds code quality metrics and quality gates alongside security findings.

    Pros

    • Combines code quality and security in one report
    • Choice of cloud service or self-hosted server
    • Free IDE extension for instant feedback
    • Free for public open-source projects

    Cons

    • Pricing scales with lines of code, which gets costly for large codebases
    • Free private tier is limited to 50k lines of code
    • Advanced security features are kept for higher tiers
    Visit SonarQube Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is SonarQube a good Semgrep alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Free plan
    Private projects up to 50k LOC
    Checked Oct 30, 2026sonarsource.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Starting price
    $34/month
    Checked Oct 30, 2026sonarsource.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free trial
    14 days
    Checked Oct 30, 2026sonarsource.com(opens source in a new tab)
    License
    LGPL-3.0
    Checked Oct 30, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best Semgrep alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

CodeQL logo

Best Semgrep alternative for most people

CodeQL

Deeper data-flow analysis and free on public GitHub repositories.

SonarQube logo

Best Semgrep alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

SonarQube

Adds code quality metrics and quality gates alongside security findings.

SonarQube logo

Best Semgrep alternative for open source

SonarQube

Adds code quality metrics and quality gates alongside security findings.

SonarQube logo

Best Semgrep alternative for self-hosting

SonarQube

Adds code quality metrics and quality gates alongside security findings.

Snyk logo

Best Semgrep alternative for Mac

Snyk

Strong dependency and container scanning with a free tier for individuals.

CodeQL logo

Best Semgrep alternative for Windows

CodeQL

Deeper data-flow analysis and free on public GitHub repositories.

CodeQL logo

Best Semgrep alternative for Linux

CodeQL

Deeper data-flow analysis and free on public GitHub repositories.

SonarQube logo

Best Semgrep alternative for working in the browser

SonarQube

Adds code quality metrics and quality gates alongside security findings.

Semgrep alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Semgrep?

CodeQL ranks first right now. Deeper data-flow analysis and free on public GitHub repositories. SonarQube and Snyk follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Semgrep?

Yes. CodeQL (free plan + paid), SonarQube (free plan + paid) and Snyk (free plan + paid) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Semgrep?

Yes: SonarQube. SonarQube can also be self-hosted.

Which Semgrep alternatives work on Linux?

CodeQL and Snyk run on Linux.

Why do people switch from Semgrep?

The complaints we hear most: cross-file analysis and Pro rules need the commercial engine; free edition is capped at 10 contributors; paid products are billed separately per contributor.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Semgrep, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.