SAST Tools
Application Security
Amartya Jha
• 21 May 2025
1. CodeAnt.ai
A lot of static application security testing (SAST) tools feel like they were built to impress auditors, not developers. You run a scan, wait forever, and get a PDF full of warnings that no one really wants to deal with.
CodeAnt AI takes a different path. It’s built for engineers who care about clean, secure code, and don’t have time to babysit security tools.
If you’ve ever had a SAST tool slow down your CI or throw 200 unhelpful alerts into your backlog, CodeAnt will feel like a breath of fresh air.
So What Is It?
At its core, CodeAnt AI is an AI-powered code reviewer that fits into your workflow without friction. You don’t need to “run a scan” or open a dashboard, it works right inside your pull requests and IDE. It flags security issues, logic bugs, and even bad patterns, and can often suggest or auto-apply fixes. That means less back-and-forth during code reviews and faster merges without sacrificing quality.
Teams using it report shaving 50% or more off their review time.
Here’s what makes CodeAnt stand out for actual dev teams:
Deployment Options
Cloud: For teams who just want to get going fast.
Self-hosted / On-Prem: If you’re in a heavily regulated industry or just really care about where your code runs, there’s an enterprise version that keeps everything inside your own network.
Integrations
It plugs into pretty much everything you already use:
GitHub, GitLab (cloud + self-hosted), Bitbucket, Azure DevOps
JetBrains IDEs (IntelliJ, PyCharm, etc.)
CI/CD tools like Jenkins and CircleCI
Slack and email for notifications
Jira for ticketing (you can even auto-create enriched security issues)
Language + Framework Coverage
This is where some tools quietly fall short — but not this one. CodeAnt supports over 30 programming languages and 80+ frameworks, from Java, Python, Go, to older enterprise stacks. So whether you’re building microservices, legacy internal apps, or cross-platform tools, it’s likely covered.
What it’s actually good at?
Here’s what you’ll notice if you try it out:
Real-time feedback as you push code (no waiting for builds)
One-click fixes for thousands of common security and code quality issues
AI explanations that make you understand the problem, not just report it
Custom rules in plain English, so you can enforce your own standards (e.g. “no new usage of deprecated libraries”)
Compliance ready, SOC 2, HIPAA, OWASP, CWE, etc.
Codeant AI Pricing:
For SAST: $15/user/month
AI Code Review: Starts from $12/user/month
Code Quality platform: Starts from $15/user/month
Has enterprise plans + On prem solutions.
2. GitHub CodeQL
CodeQL lets you query your codebase as if it were a database, giving teams the ability to search for security vulnerabilities using logic rather than string matches. If your team already lives in GitHub, this is GitHub’s native SAST tool, and it shines when you're hunting for specific bug classes across massive monorepos.
Critical Evaluation:
The query-as-code model gives unmatched flexibility and depth
Strong OSS community with reusable CodeQL queries
Tight GitHub Actions integration for automated scans
Steeper learning curve, writing queries requires some investment
Performance can lag on larger repos without fine-tuning
No official support for SBOM or dependency scanning
If You’re Choosing This, You Should Know:
CodeQL is powerful, if you’re willing to learn it. Think of it like SQL for your source code: brilliant if you’re surgical, overkill if you just want fast feedback.
Pricing:
Free for public repos
Private repo scanning included in GitHub Advanced Security (starts ~$30/user/month)
30-day free trial available.
3. Snyk Code
Snyk Code was designed around a core realization: developers hate clunky security tools that stall their flow. What made this SAST vendor rise fast is its “developer-first” pitch, embedding scans in your IDE, CI, and repo with real-time feedback, minimal false positives, and even auto-remediation using AI. It tackles a common issue with traditional tools like Veracode or Checkmarx.
If you’re a fast-moving product team trying to catch issues without disrupting velocity, Snyk’s integration depth and low-friction UX are why it enters the shortlist.
Critical Evaluation:
Seamless IDE plugins (VS Code, IntelliJ) with real-time issue detection
DeepCode AI engine provides solid signal-to-noise and suggested auto-fixes
Covers SAST, SCA, container scanning, and IaC, rare for one tool
PR-based workflows are tight, but advanced policy control is limited
Pricing scales quickly and can push out early-stage teams
Works great for JS/TS/Java ecosystems, some gaps for legacy or lower-level codebases
Pricing:
Free plan: Limited scans/month
Team: Starts at $25/user/month (min 5 users)
Enterprise: Custom quote with bundle discounts for SCA, SAST, and container scanning
4. SonarQube
SonarQube is often seen as the default choice when organizations want to improve code quality alongside security.
It doesn’t position itself as a hardcore security tool, but as a continuous code inspection platform, making it an easy win for teams already focused on maintainability, tech debt, and CI/CD hygiene. Where tools like Snyk focus on fast scans and AI fixes, SonarQube focuses on deep analysis, quality gates, and team discipline.
Critical Evaluation:
Broad language support and deep CI/CD integration (especially with SonarLint in IDEs)
Customizable quality gates let teams set enforceable rules across repos
Strong focus on code smells, maintainability, and vulnerabilities
AI-powered detection for generated code (in newer commercial editions)
Reports can be overwhelming and require tuning for the signal
Community Edition lacks cross-project/enterprise features
If You’re Choosing This, You Should Know:
SonarQube is ideal if you want to align engineering around quality metrics. But if you're looking for vulnerability remediation or SAST depth, this isn't a standalone security solution.
Pricing:
Free Community Edition
Team plan: starts at ~$32/month
Self-managed: starts at $500/year (Dev)
Data Center and Enterprise plans are available.
5. Semgrep
Semgrep is what happens when a modern dev team builds a static analysis tool from scratch. It’s lightweight, insanely fast, and deeply customizable. Unlike legacy tools, it treats security like a workflow, not a report. That’s why startups and speed-obsessed teams love it.
Critical Evaluation:
Rules look like code, easy to write, read, and modify
Real-time IDE/CI feedback, excellent GitHub PR integration
Semgrep Pro Engine unlocks cross-file/dataflow analysis
Semgrep Assistant (AI) auto-triages alerts and offers fixes
Free version limited to intra-file analysis
$40/mo per product per contributor can add up quickly
If You’re Choosing This, You Should Know:
Semgrep is built for speed and control. But to unlock its full value, especially for larger teams, you’ll likely need to move to the paid Pro Engine early.
Pricing:
Free for up to 10 contributors
Paid: $40/contributor/month (per product: SAST, SCA, Secrets)
Startup and security consultant discounts are available
6. Veracode
Veracode is the enterprise classic, built for companies that need coverage across SAST, DAST, SCA, and strict compliance needs. It’s trusted by banks, insurers, and Fortune 500s who care as much about audit trails as they do about catching bugs.
Critical Evaluation:
Broad AST coverage: SAST, DAST, IAST, SCA, Pen Testing
Veracode Fix offers AI-driven remediation suggestions
Deep reporting, policy enforcement, and audit compliance
Geared more for AppSec and GRC teams than developers
Complex setup; not as fluid in dev workflows
Expensive, especially for SMBs
If You’re Choosing This, You Should Know:
Veracode is not a tool you “try and see.” It’s a platform you invest in, often chosen by security teams, not engineering. Great for compliance, but expect friction with fast-moving devs.
Pricing:
Starts ~$15,000/year (no official pricing available). A full suite (SAST + DAST + SCA) can exceed ~$40K/year+
Annual licensing model; volume discounts available
7. Codacy
Codacy attracts teams that want automation without the friction. It’s not just a SAST tool, it’s more of a code quality & security workflow platform that blends static analysis, SCA, DAST, and even optional pen testing support into one view. Developers like it because it's quick to set up, and security teams like it because it gives compliance control without killing velocity.
Critical Evaluation:
40+ language support, plug-and-play with GitHub, Bitbucket, GitLab
AI-powered auto-fix suggestions and PR-ready code snippets
Full suite: SAST, SCA, DAST, plus optional pen-test tie-in
PR status checks and merge blockers support GitOps-style enforcement
Customizable quality gates + flexible ruleset engine
May still generate some false positives, tuning required
Less mature enterprise policy tooling vs legacy vendors
If You’re Choosing This, You Should Know:
Codacy is ideal for fast-growing teams who want one tool to rule multiple fronts, but you’ll still need process discipline to get the most out of it. Not a compliance audit tool, more of a DevOps boost.
Pricing:
Free plan for OSS
Pro: $21/dev/month (annually billed)
Business: Custom pricing for large orgs
8. DeepSource
DeepSource takes automation seriously. It’s not just a SAST tool, it positions itself as a DevSecOps productivity layer, powered by AI agents and Autofix™. For teams tired of CI bloat or security tools that feel bolted-on, DeepSource’s zero-CI config, real-time PR feedback, and one-click fixes are the reason it’s getting attention.
Critical Evaluation:
Unified platform covering SAST, SCA, secrets, code coverage, and IaC security
Autofix™ creates pull requests with auto-generated code fixes
AI agents help triage issues, prioritize CVEs, and resolve alerts
Zero-CI setup: works without modifying your pipeline
Reports align with OWASP Top 10, CWE/SANS 25, dev + audit friendly
Best for Python, Go, Ruby, JS, limited support for legacy languages
Not open source; adoption is limited in some infosec circles
If You’re Choosing This, You Should Know:
DeepSource trades configurability for simplicity. It works best when you don’t want to babysit tooling and prefer devs to get feedback where they already work. But if your stack is C++, Swift, or deeply regulated, it may not be enough.
Pricing:
Free plan: Up to 3 team members
Starter: $8/user/month
Business: $24/user/month
Enterprise: Custom quote
SCA pricing: $8/target/month for unlimited user
9. AppScan (HCL)
AppScan is the toolkit you reach for when your org doesn’t just want to “shift left”, it needs to test everything, everywhere. It supports SAST, DAST, IAST, SCA, and even API security, making it one of the most complete AST platforms. For regulated industries or large enterprises, it’s a one-stop shop for code-to-runtime coverage, baked with AI-assisted triage to reduce noise.
Critical Evaluation:
Supports 30+ languages and all major AST testing types
Features like IFA 2.0 and ICA use AI to cut false positives
Strong DevOps and CI/CD integrations
Compliance-ready reporting (PCI, HIPAA, etc.)
Excellent customer support and onboarding for large orgs
Initial setup is smooth, but integrating into complex SDLCs can take effort
False positives still exist in edge cases, and require tuning
Licensing structure isn’t transparent, and often needs a sales call
If You’re Choosing This, You Should Know:
AppScan is like an enterprise Swiss Army knife, powerful, but not cheap or plug-and-play. It’s best suited for organizations that need full-stack AST coverage with serious compliance needs.
Pricing:
No public pricing. Multiple models based on deployment type (cloud, on-prem, hybrid) and AST coverage.
10. Klocwork
Klocwork thrives where compliance meets complexity. Used in aerospace, defense, automotive, and embedded systems, it’s laser-focused on precision, safety, and reliability. This isn’t just a code scanner, it’s a standards enforcer, offering deep support for MISRA, AUTOSAR, CERT, OWASP, CWE, and more.
Critical Evaluation:
Extremely accurate SAST with low false positives (great for C/C++ heavy stacks)
Tight IDE integrations (VS Code, IntelliJ, Eclipse) for early feedback
Supports custom rules via Checker Studio
Strong in branching/versioned codebases (via Project Streams)
Centralized validation reports for team-wide compliance visibility
Setup can be intense, and often needs compiler integration
Ruleset creation has a steep learning curve
Coverage is still evolving for newer languages like Kotlin or Swift
If You’re Choosing This, You Should Know:
Klocwork shines in environments where code quality isn’t just a goal, it’s audited. But for fast-moving web apps or early-stage startups, it’s likely overkill.
Pricing:
Custom quote only. Generally suited to orgs with budget for dedicated security infra. Free trial available.
11. Contrast Security
Contrast doesn’t just scan your code, it instruments your app at runtime. That means it catches vulnerabilities while your tests run, giving real-time, high-context feedback. This "shift smart" strategy (vs blindly shifting left) is ideal for teams that want accurate, low-noise findings without sifting through massive static output.
Critical Evaluation:
Offers IAST, RASP, and SCA, runtime analysis for maximum signal
Exceptionally low false positive rates due to runtime instrumentation
“Shift smart” approach aligns with strategic testing stages
Strong DevOps toolchain integration (CI, Slack, Teams)
Great for microservices and dynamic apps
IAST setup adds overhead, requires runtime agents
Not ideal for scanning offline or static-only codebases
Limited support for fully air-gapped or legacy environments
If You’re Choosing This, You Should Know:
Contrast works best in active environments where tests are already in place. It’s not a SAST replacement, but it adds a serious runtime signal, think of it as your app’s immune system.
Pricing:
Custom quote only. Based on host count and product usage (e.g., RASP, Assess, SCA). Typically priced for mid-to-large teams running distributed services.
12. Checkmarx
Checkmarx is built for enterprises that want security embedded in the entire SDLC, not bolted on after release. While it’s not known for startup friendliness, its power lies in breadth: it offers full-spectrum testing (SAST, SCA, IaC, secrets, containers) inside a unified platform. It appeals to teams who have dedicated AppSec roles and want fine control over everything from query building to compliance enforcement.
Critical Evaluation:
Unified platform: SAST, API security, container/IaC scans, and open-source dependency analysis
Strong developer enablement tools (IDE integrations, Codebashing for secure coding training)
High accuracy and reduced false positives, especially in complex repos
Smart CI/CD and SCM integration across major ecosystems
Offers AI-powered query building and contextual security fixes
Setup and policy management can be complex, the learning curve is steep.
Expensive compared to modern lightweight tools
If You’re Choosing This, You Should Know:
Checkmarx is a heavyweight. If you’re not already mature in AppSec practices, the overhead might slow you down more than help. But for regulated industries or teams needing enterprise governance, it delivers.
Pricing:
Custom quote only. Typical enterprise deployment ranges from $50K–$250K/year, based on feature bundles and repo volume.
13. Spectral (Check Point CloudGuard)
Secrets leakage is still one of the most preventable and most overlooked security threats. Spectral, now part of Check Point CloudGuard, focuses on solving this exact problem by scanning for exposed secrets and IaC misconfigurations across modern, cloud-native environments.
It’s purpose-built for fast-moving teams who want real-time, inline alerts before something lands in GitHub and goes public.
Critical Evaluation:
Strong at secrets detection and IaC scanning with AI-assisted accuracy
Integrates with AWS, Azure, GitHub, GitLab, and CI/CD pipelines
Offers a hybrid AI engine with low false positives and auto-remediation
Multi-cloud support, developer-friendly UX
Limited public user reviews
The scope of deeper vulnerability coverage isn’t well-documented
If You’re Choosing This, You Should Know:
Spectral is ideal if secrets sprawl and IaC drift are your top concerns. But if you need classic SAST depth (e.g., taint analysis, business logic bugs), you’ll want to pair it with another tool.
Pricing:
Free tier for up to 10 contributors
Paid plans include Business and Enterprise, with unlimited scans and asset mapping
Business plan for 25 Developers, starting from $475/mo
14. Aikido Security
Most AppSec tools overwhelm you with alerts. Aikido takes the opposite approach, a developer-first ASPM platform that filters, groups, and prioritizes what matters. It’s designed for busy dev teams that don’t have a full-time AppSec engineer and need something lightweight, integrated, and automated, including compliance coverage for things like SOC 2 and ISO 27001.
Critical Evaluation:
Offers one-click AI Autofix for SAST, SCA, IaC, secrets, and container issues
Integrates well with CI/CD, IDEs, cloud providers, Vanta, and Slack
Strong alert triage with deduplication, grouping, and auto-ignore
Excellent UI/UX, praised for setup speed and support
Some complaints around pricing for startups and unclear open-source usage
Managing many projects can get chaotic without naming conventions
If You’re Choosing This, You Should Know:
Aikido works great for small to mid-size teams, but you may outgrow it if you need advanced tuning or deeper policy-level control.
Pricing:
Free tier available
Paid tiers:
Basic: ~$314–$350/month/10 users
Pro: ~$629–$700/month
Scale: Custom pricing
Pricing depends on users, repos, and cloud accounts
15. Cycode SAST
Security threats are no longer just about your code — they’re buried across your pipeline, dependencies, and build process. Cycode’s SAST engine is just one piece of its broader ASPM platform that maps and protects your entire software supply chain, with a big emphasis on AI remediation and real-time PR feedback.
Critical Evaluation:
Includes SAST, SCA, secrets scanning, container, and IaC security
Offers real-time PR scanning + AI-suggested fixes
Risk Intelligence Graph (RIG) prioritizes vulnerabilities by context
Broad language and SCM support
Some instability reported (especially on Azure), unresponsive UI, and limited logging.
Lacks AWS service integration breadth, based on some reviews
If You’re Choosing This, You Should Know:
Cycode brings a strong modern stack, but it’s still evolving. Great if you want SAST + CI/CD protection in one place, just expect a few rough edges.
Pricing:
Custom pricing; AWS Marketplace lists pricing per monitored developer - $360/dev/year
16. OpenText Fortify (Core Application Security)
Fortify, this SAST vendor is for orgs that treat AppSec as a full-blown engineering function, not just a dev tool. Its “AppSec as a Service” model makes it easy to scale across teams, pipelines, and tech stacks while supporting SAST, DAST, MAST, and more, with strong FedRAMP credentials for public sector use.
Critical Evaluation:
Full AST suite: SAST, DAST, MAST, secrets, training, remediation
AI assistant (“Aviator”) suggests fixes based on live analysis
Supports 33+ languages and vulnerability types
Great DevOps integration, strong compliance support (PCI, HIPAA, FedRAMP)
Some users report a complex setup and occasional false positives
Email alerting can get noisy; documentation gaps are mentioned
If You’re Choosing This, You Should Know:
Fortify is powerful but heavy. You’ll want security process maturity in place to extract full value.
Pricing:
No public pricing - On-demand pricing
Typically, enterprise-level quotes only
17. Synopsys Coverity
If you’ve got a massive codebase, legacy stack, or regulated product, Coverity is probably already on your radar. It’s built to scale across millions of LOC and thousands of devs, and is used to meet compliance needs (MISRA, CERT, CWE, OWASP) in aerospace, finance, and healthcare.
Critical Evaluation:
SAST tool with deep support for 22+ languages and 200+ frameworks
Covers compliance out of the box, OWASP, MISRA, CERT C/C++
IDE plugin (Code Sight) provides fast incremental analysis
Highly accurate, low false positives, strong support ecosystem
High cost is a recurring complaint
Web UI is limited in customization; the docs could improve; no free trial
If You’re Choosing This, You Should Know:
Coverity isn’t built for small teams or early-stage startups. But for large orgs with hard compliance requirements, it’s rock solid.
Pricing:
Custom quotes only
Free for OSS.
Final Thoughts
Thanks for reading.
There are a lot of SAST vendors in US, and the list keeps growing. But more features doesn’t always mean better outcomes. What matters is choosing a tool that fits your workflow, not someone else’s checklist.
Some teams just need clean inline alerts and smart triaging. Others need compliance-grade coverage across SAST, SCA, and SBOM. The key is knowing what your team needs, and not paying for bloat you'll never use.
At the end of the day, security tools should make your team more productive, not add another layer of process debt.
If you’re exploring SAST vendors and want to see what a dev-first, AI-powered review experience feels like, book a demo with the CodeAnt.ai team. You’ll meet the founder, walk through real workflows, and see how CodeAnt compares to the rest, without the sales fluff.
Try it. Your PRs will feel different.
