Semgrep

Semgrep is a fast, open-source static analysis tool with AI-assisted rule writing for finding bugs and enforcing code standards.

Overview

Semgrep analyzes code with lightweight static analysis rules that are easy to write and understand, covering security vulnerabilities, correctness bugs, and team conventions. Rules look like simplified source code, so developers can craft custom checks without deep program-analysis expertise. The Pro platform adds cross-file dataflow analysis and AI features that reduce false positives and suggest rules from natural-language policies. It runs locally in CI with high speed across large monorepos.

Semgrep’s rule language reads like the code it inspects, which means developers can write and review custom checks without static-analysis expertise. Teams use it to enforce everything from security policies to coding conventions, and rules are versioned alongside the code they govern.

Speed is the other advantage: scans run locally in seconds, so checks can gate every commit in CI without slowing pipelines. The Pro tier adds cross-file dataflow analysis and AI-assisted triage for teams that need deeper security coverage without noise.

Common policies include forbidding dangerous API usage, enforcing encryption standards, and catching insecure defaults before they reach production. Rule packs maintained by Semgrep’s research team cover OWASP categories out of the box.

Key Features

• Fast static analysis supporting 30+ languages
• Human-readable rules written in a pattern syntax close to code
• Deep cross-file dataflow analysis in Semgrep Pro
• AI-assisted rule writing and false-positive triage
• Supply chain scanning and secrets detection alongside SAST
• Local, open-source core that runs offline in CI pipelines

Pricing

Semgrep’s open-source engine is free. Semgrep Pro and team plans are billed per developer per month, adding advanced analysis, cloud dashboards, and enterprise features.

Who Is It For

Developer and security teams that want customizable, fast static analysis, including organizations enforcing house-style rules across many repositories.

Rule packs maintained by Semgrep’s research team cover OWASP categories out of the box, and custom rules version with your code.

FAQ

Is Semgrep free to use?

Yes, the open-source engine is free; Pro features and cloud management are paid per developer.

Does Semgrep offer an API?

Yes, Semgrep provides CLI, CI integrations, and APIs for managing findings and policies programmatically.

How does Semgrep compare to alternatives?

Semgrep is far faster and more customizable than heavyweight SAST suites, with a rule language developers actually enjoy writing. Its open core means evaluation costs nothing beyond the time to run scans against real repositories.