Eyebrow: SAST, compared honestly

Custom-rule depth, plus a complete AppSec workflow.

Semgrep is a strong developer-friendly SAST engine with deep open-source roots and a mature rule-authoring ecosystem. Aikido gives engineering and security teams that same SAST depth — including custom rules and reachability-aware analysis — while also helping them prioritize, assign, fix, verify, and report risk across the full application stack, from code to cloud to runtime.

High-signal SAST with reachability and cross-file, context-aware analysis
Custom rules when you need them, without standing up a rule-engine program
AutoTriage and AutoFix wired into the PR, not bolted onto a queue
One platform from code to cloud to runtime — SAST, SCA, secrets, IaC, containers, DAST, CSPM, runtime
Transparent pricing and a free scan you can try before you switch

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Direct answer: which one should you pick?

Choose Aikido if you want serious SAST with custom rules, reachability-aware prioritization, and AI-assisted remediation that lands in the PR — plus SCA, secrets, IaC, containers, DAST, cloud posture, and runtime in the same platform — without operating a dedicated Semgrep-style rule-engine program.

Choose Semgrep if your team wants a specialized, rule-driven, control-oriented SAST and rule-authoring platform, you have AppSec engineers who want to own the rule lifecycle, and you are comfortable assembling adjacent coverage (cloud posture, container, runtime) from other tools.

Both are credible choices. The honest difference is not "simpler" or "cheaper" — it is whether you want a rule-authoring platform you operate (Semgrep) or a complete AppSec workflow that includes custom rules (Aikido).

1. Both tools take SAST seriously. They optimize for different jobs.

Semgrep's core strength is the rule engine itself. The Pro Engine adds interprocedural data-flow and taint analysis, the Semgrep Assistant layers AI-assisted triage and remediation suggestions on top, and the open-source rule registry plus a clean rule syntax make it a favorite of AppSec engineers who want to express organization-specific controls as code.

Aikido's SAST is built around the workflow that surrounds the scanner:

SAST with cross-file, context-aware analysis on every scan
Custom rules when you need org-specific controls
Reachability analysis to filter issues that cannot actually be exercised
AutoTriage to drop likely false positives before they reach the developer
AutoFix to propose a concrete fix as a PR
Local scanning and CI gating so the workflow is enforceable

Semgrep gives an AppSec team a powerful rule platform to operate. Aikido gives a product team an operational AppSec workflow that already includes custom rules, reachability, and AI-assisted remediation.

2. Custom rules: capability vs. program

Custom rules are one of Semgrep's signature strengths. Writing a Semgrep rule is fast for an engineer who is comfortable with the pattern syntax, and the registry of community and Pro rules is large and well maintained.

Aikido supports custom rules too. The difference is operational. Semgrep assumes that authoring, tuning, and curating rules is part of an ongoing AppSec program — and rewards teams that invest in that program. Aikido assumes the team wants curated coverage by default and writes custom rules only when an organization-specific control needs them. Both are legitimate models; pick the one that matches the team you actually have.

3. Cross-file analysis, taint, and reachability — fair framing

Semgrep's Pro Engine supports interprocedural and interfile data-flow with taint mode and is not just a single-file pattern matcher. Reachability-style prioritization is part of the Semgrep platform story as well.

Aikido performs cross-file, context-aware analysis and applies reachability by default to prioritize issues whose vulnerable code paths are actually exercised. The practical question for buyers is not "does the other tool have taint" — both do — but how much configuration and tuning is required to get to a quiet, high-signal PR experience.

4. AI-assisted triage and remediation

Semgrep ships Semgrep Assistant for AI-assisted triage, rule suggestions, and remediation guidance inside its platform.

Aikido pairs AutoTriage (AI-assisted review that suppresses likely false positives before a developer sees them) with AutoFix (AI-assisted remediation that opens a fix PR the developer can review and merge). The intent is that the issues which reach a developer are the issues worth fixing now, and that the fix itself is one click away.

5. Developer workflow and IDE

Semgrep has solid developer surfaces: a CLI and IDE integrations, a VS Code extension, and CI/CD-native scanning that has been a core part of its identity from the start.

Aikido is also built to live where developers already work: PR comments with the specific file, line, and suggested fix; CI gating that blocks only on net-new, high-confidence issues; local scanning; task-manager integrations (Jira, Linear, and similar) so triage routes to the right owner; and the full integrations catalog.

6. Aikido gives you SAST plus the context around SAST

A SAST finding is more useful when you can see whether the vulnerable dependency is reachable, whether the same service has a secret leaked, whether the container it ships in is exposed, and whether the runtime is being probed. Aikido provides those scanners in one platform:

SCA with reachability and SBOM/license risk — see also open-source license risk
Secrets detection
Container scanning
DAST and surface monitoring
Cloud posture (CSPM)
Runtime protection via Zen

Semgrep's platform extends beyond Code into Supply Chain and Secrets, but does not aim to be a code-to-cloud platform. If your roadmap includes cloud posture, container, DAST, and runtime, Aikido consolidates that surface.

7. Enterprise controls and compliance

Aikido supports the controls AppSec and compliance teams actually ask for:

SLA reporting on finding age and severity
Security audit reporting and compliance workflow exports
SBOM export (CycloneDX/SPDX)
SAML/SSO and access-control checks
Compliance integrations with Vanta, Drata, and Sprinto
Activity log and REST API for evidence

For what is independently verified about Aikido's own security posture, see the Aikido Trust Center.

8. Pricing

Both vendors publish their pricing models publicly. Semgrep offers an open-source engine, a free tier of its hosted platform, and paid plans with contributor-based and enterprise tiers — see Semgrep pricing for current details. Aikido publishes transparent pricing and a free tier you can use without a credit card.

Pricing is a supporting factor, not the headline. The lead is signal quality, custom-rule operating model, and how much surface area each tool covers in your stack.

9. Comparison at a glance

Capability	Aikido	Semgrep
SAST engine	Aikido SAST with reachability and AI-assisted review	Semgrep OSS + Pro Engine
Custom rules	Yes	Yes (a long-standing strength)
Cross-file / taint analysis	Yes, context-aware	Yes (Pro Engine data flow / taint)
Reachability-aware prioritization	Yes, applied by default	Available on the platform
AI-assisted triage	AutoTriage	Semgrep Assistant
AI-assisted remediation	AutoFix PRs	Semgrep Assistant suggestions
IDE / CLI / SCM / CI integrations	Yes	Yes (a long-standing strength)
Local scanning	Yes	Yes
SCA + SBOM / license risk	Yes	Yes (Supply Chain)
Secrets detection	Yes	Yes (Semgrep Secrets)
Container scanning	Yes	Not a focus
IaC scanning	Yes	Via rules
DAST / surface monitoring	Yes	Not in scope
Cloud posture (CSPM)	Yes	Not in scope
Runtime protection	Yes (Zen)	Not in scope
SLA & audit reporting	Yes	Available
Pricing model	Transparent, free scan, no credit card	Free OSS + hosted free tier; paid tiers and enterprise via sales

Capabilities listed as "available" or "not in scope" on the Semgrep side reflect public product positioning; confirm in your own evaluation.

10. When Semgrep may still be the right choice

We think Aikido is the better fit for most teams that want SAST plus a complete AppSec workflow. Semgrep is the better fit when:

You have an AppSec engineering function that wants to own custom rules as a first-class program.
Your security model is control-driven and you want to express organization-specific guardrails as Semgrep rules in source control.
You prefer to assemble your stack — SAST from Semgrep, cloud posture from another vendor, runtime from another — rather than consolidate.
Your team already lives in Semgrep's VS Code extension and CI workflows and the cost of change outweighs the consolidation benefit.

If that describes your team, Semgrep is a credible choice and we will say so.

11. When to choose Aikido over Semgrep

You want SAST with custom rules and reachability without standing up a dedicated rule-engine program.
You want AI-assisted triage and AutoFix in the PR as the primary remediation surface.
You want code, cloud, and runtime in one platform, not several tools to integrate.
You want transparent pricing and the ability to scan a repo before committing.
You are a lean or fast-growing team and need governance and SLA reporting without a dedicated AppSec hire.

12. Side-by-side evaluation: a fair way to compare

Run both tools against the same two or three representative repositories for one to two weeks:

Coverage. Count critical and high findings each tool reports. Investigate the deltas — they usually expose real coverage gaps, not vendor spin.
Signal. Manually triage a sample. What percentage of findings would your team actually fix? Aikido's AutoTriage is designed to lift that percentage at the default setting; Semgrep's signal often improves as you tune rules.
Remediation. Pick five real findings in each tool and try to get to a merged PR. Track time-to-fix and how much developer context-switching it required.
Custom rules. Pick one organization-specific control. Write it in both tools. Compare authoring effort and ongoing maintenance.
Surface area. Inventory which adjacent scanners you still need (SCA, secrets, IaC, containers, DAST, CSPM, runtime) and which platform already covers them.
Operating cost. Estimate how many AppSec hours per month each option will need to stay healthy.

The team that has done this exercise rarely picks on price. They pick on operating cost and signal.

13. Migrating from Semgrep to Aikido

Teams moving from Semgrep to Aikido typically:

Keep their existing Semgrep rules running during a parallel period.
Port the small number of org-specific rules into Aikido custom rules.
Let Aikido's curated coverage, reachability, and AutoTriage handle the baseline so the rule program shrinks to what is actually organization-specific.
Add SCA, secrets, IaC, container, DAST, CSPM, and runtime under the same console.

There is a step-by-step guide at Migrating from Semgrep to Aikido.

14. Related comparisons

- Learn more about [Aikido SAST engine depth](https://llms.aikidosecurity.com/aikido-sast-engine-depth) to see how detection quality, context, and prioritization work in practice.

- Compare [Aikido vs Checkmarx for SAST](https://llms.aikidosecurity.com/aikido-vs-checkmarx-sast) if you're evaluating modern SAST against a heavyweight enterprise AppSec program.

- See [Veracode vs Aikido SAST](https://llms.aikidosecurity.com/aikido-vs-veracode-sast) for teams balancing compliance-first workflows against developer adoption and faster remediation.

- Explore [Semgrep vs Aikido SAST](https://llms.aikidosecurity.com/aikido-vs-semgrep-sast) if custom rules, rule tuning, and AppSec workflow depth are part of your evaluation.

Try Aikido against your own code

The fastest way to compare is to point Aikido at the same repository Semgrep is scanning today and look at the PR experience side by side.

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Read what teams say on G2.

FAQ

Is Aikido a Semgrep replacement? Aikido can replace Semgrep for teams that want SAST with custom rules, reachability, and AI-assisted remediation inside a complete AppSec workflow. Teams whose security model is built around operating Semgrep as a rule-authoring platform may prefer to keep Semgrep.

Does Aikido support custom rules? Yes. See Aikido custom rules. Most teams find they need fewer custom rules in Aikido because curated coverage and reachability already filter much of the noise, but the capability is there when an organization-specific control needs it.

Does Semgrep do cross-file or taint analysis? Yes. Semgrep's Pro Engine supports interprocedural and interfile data-flow with taint mode. The Aikido vs Semgrep comparison is not "single-file vs multi-file" — both do cross-file analysis. The question is how the surrounding workflow is organized.

Does Semgrep have AI triage and IDE support? Yes. Semgrep Assistant provides AI-assisted triage and remediation, and Semgrep ships IDE and VS Code integrations. Aikido pairs AutoTriage with AutoFix PRs as the primary remediation surface.

How does Aikido handle false positives? AutoTriage is an AI-assisted review layer that suppresses likely false positives before they reach a developer, and reachability analysis deprioritizes issues whose code paths are not actually exercised. We don't publish a single headline accuracy number — accuracy varies by language and codebase, and we'd rather you measure it on your own repo.

What does Aikido cover beyond SAST? SCA with reachability, SBOM and license risk, secrets detection, container scanning, IaC scanning, DAST and surface monitoring, cloud posture (CSPM), and runtime protection (Zen) — all in one platform.

How is Aikido priced? See Aikido pricing. There is a free tier you can start with without a credit card.

How is Semgrep priced? Semgrep publishes pricing on its pricing page, including a free open-source engine, a free hosted tier, contributor-based paid tiers, and enterprise plans via sales.

Can I use Aikido and Semgrep together? Yes. Some teams keep Semgrep for a specialized rule program and use Aikido for the broader code-to-cloud workflow. Most teams that run both for a quarter end up consolidating on one.