Semgrep

What Semgrep is

Semgrep is a static analysis platform for finding and fixing security and code-quality issues, built around lightweight, rule-based pattern matching. Its name is short for semantic grep: rules look like the code they target, so a pattern such as a dangerous function call is written in near-source syntax rather than as a dense regular expression or abstract syntax tree query. That design makes rules readable, fast to run, and easy for developers to author and customize. The open-source Semgrep CLI (Community Edition, LGPL-2.1) scans locally or in CI using thousands of free community rules and analyzes files individually.

The commercial AppSec Platform adds the Pro engine, which performs cross-file and cross-function dataflow analysis to trace tainted input across a codebase, a large library of Semgrep-authored Pro rules, and a central dashboard. The product line spans Semgrep Code for SAST, Semgrep Supply Chain for software composition analysis with reachability, and Semgrep Secrets for semantic secret detection. A shared rule registry hosts both community and vendor rules, and an AI layer called Semgrep Assistant helps triage findings, suppress noise, and suggest fixes inside pull requests. What makes Semgrep distinct is the combination of a genuinely useful free OSS scanner, a transparent and writable rule format, and an enterprise platform that layers deeper analysis on the same engine.

Where Semgrep is the strongest pick

Semgrep is strongest where engineering teams want security scanning embedded directly in developer workflows and CI rather than run by a separate security team. The readable rule syntax makes writing and tuning custom rules far easier than most SAST tools, which suits organizations with internal security standards to enforce. It also shines for fast feedback in pull requests, polyglot codebases spanning many languages, and teams that want to start free with the OSS CLI and scale into the platform. Supply Chain reachability is a strong point for cutting dependency-alert noise.

Pricing

Free tier: two free options. The open-source Semgrep CLI (Community Edition, LGPL-2.1) runs locally or in CI with thousands of community rules and no login. Separately, the hosted AppSec Platform has a free tier for up to 10 contributors and 10 repositories, which adds cross-file analysis with Pro rules, AI-powered triage, and a limited pool of AI credits

• Free / Community: Free (up to 10 contributors and 10 repositories). open-source CLI plus hosted Code and Supply Chain at no cost, cross-file Pro rules, AI triage, 60 AI credits.
• Teams: Semgrep Code: $30/contributor/mo (SAST). cross-file Pro rules, AI detection and remediation, SSO, up to 500 private repos.
• Teams: Supply Chain: $30/contributor/mo (SCA). reachability analysis on open-source dependencies, autofix upgrade PRs, malware detection.
• Teams: Secrets: $15/contributor/mo (secrets detection). semantic secrets detection beyond regex and entropy, with validation.
• Enterprise: Custom (contact sales). on-prem SCM support, custom CI/CD, unlimited repos and contributors, dedicated account manager.

Pricing verified June 2026 from the official site. Confirm current pricing before purchase.

Best for

Developer-led and DevSecOps teams that want fast, low-noise SAST, dependency, and secrets scanning wired into CI and pull requests, plus the freedom to write custom rules. It is a good fit for engineering organizations that prefer an open-source-first tool they can adopt incrementally and self-host or run in the cloud.

Key features

• Rule-based SAST with a readable, near-source pattern syntax for custom rules
• Cross-file and cross-function dataflow (taint) analysis via the Pro engine
• Public rule registry with thousands of community rules plus Pro rules
• Supply Chain (SCA) with reachability analysis to filter unreachable dependency CVEs
• Secrets detection beyond regex and entropy, with validation
• Semgrep Assistant AI for triage, noise reduction, and autofix suggestions
• Support for 35+ languages for SAST and 14 for dependency scanning
• CI/CD and SCM integrations with PR comments, plus open-source CLI

Pros

• Genuinely capable free and open-source CLI plus a free platform tier for small teams
• Custom rule authoring is unusually approachable thanks to the semantic syntax
• Fast scans that fit well into CI and pull-request workflows
• Broad language coverage across one engine for SAST, SCA, and secrets
• Reachability analysis meaningfully reduces dependency false positives

Cons

• The free OSS CLI only does single-file analysis; cross-file detection needs the paid platform
• Per-contributor pricing across separate Code, Supply Chain, and Secrets products can add up
• Deep, accurate custom rules still require security expertise and tuning
• Advanced enterprise features such as on-prem SCM are Enterprise-only with custom pricing

Best-fit use cases

• Embedding SAST checks into CI pipelines and blocking insecure code in pull requests
• Writing and enforcing organization-specific secure-coding and best-practice rules
• Scanning open-source dependencies for reachable, exploitable vulnerabilities
• Detecting hardcoded secrets and credentials before they reach production

FAQ

Is Semgrep free?

Yes, there are two free paths. The open-source Semgrep CLI (Community Edition, licensed LGPL-2.1) runs locally or in CI with thousands of community rules and no login. Separately, the hosted Semgrep AppSec Platform has a free tier for up to 10 contributors and 10 repositories, which adds cross-file analysis with Pro rules, AI-powered triage, and a limited pool of AI credits. The free CLI performs single-file analysis only; cross-file dataflow detection and the full Pro rule set come with the platform.

How much does Semgrep cost?

On the paid Teams plan, Semgrep is priced per contributor per month, per product. As verified on the official pricing page in June 2026, Semgrep Code (SAST) and Semgrep Supply Chain (SCA) are each $30 per contributor per month, and Semgrep Secrets is $15 per contributor per month. The Enterprise plan uses custom pricing and adds on-premises source-control support, custom integrations, unlimited repositories and contributors, and a dedicated account manager. Volume pricing is available on Enterprise.

What is the difference between Semgrep SAST and SCA?

Semgrep Code is the SAST product: it analyzes your own source code with rules to find vulnerabilities such as injection and cross-site scripting. Semgrep Supply Chain is the SCA product: it inspects third-party open-source dependencies for known vulnerabilities. Its key feature is reachability analysis, which checks whether your code actually calls the vulnerable part of a dependency, so teams can prioritize genuinely exploitable issues instead of every flagged package. Many teams run both together, alongside Semgrep Secrets.

What programming languages does Semgrep support?

Semgrep Code supports 35+ languages for SAST. Generally available languages include Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, Java, C#, Go, Ruby, PHP, C and C++, Kotlin, Scala, Swift, Rust, and Terraform, with more in beta. Cross-file (interfile) dataflow analysis is available for major languages including C#, Go, Java, JavaScript, TypeScript, Python, and C and C++. Semgrep Supply Chain supports 14 languages for dependency scanning.

How does Semgrep handle false positives?

Semgrep reduces noise in several ways. The Pro engine adds cross-file and cross-function dataflow analysis, so findings are better supported by how data actually moves through the code. Semgrep Supply Chain uses reachability analysis to drop dependency alerts that your code never executes, which removes a large share of irrelevant findings. The AI-powered Semgrep Assistant triages results, explains findings, and can suggest fixes, helping teams cut the volume of issues that need manual review. Custom rules can also be tuned to fit a codebase.

Is Semgrep open source?

Yes. The core Semgrep CLI engine is open source, released as Semgrep Community Edition under the LGPL-2.1 license, and you can run it for free locally or in CI with a large catalog of community rules. The rule format is designed to be readable and writable, so teams can author and share custom rules. The commercial AppSec Platform builds on the same engine and adds proprietary Pro rules, cross-file analysis, software composition analysis, secrets detection, AI triage, and a central management dashboard, which are not part of the open-source distribution.