Catalog comparison
Semgrep CodeZAP (Zed Attack Proxy)
Side-by-side facts from the TestGuild Tool Matcher catalog. Empty cells mean the catalog does not list that attribute — not that the product lacks it.
A SAST solution where developers actually fix the majority of issues they see. Scan 30+ languages with high-confidence rules that make remediation easy. Powered by Pro Engine for cross-file analysis.
The world's most widely used web app scanner. Free and open source DAST tool by Checkmarx. A community based GitHub Top 1000 project that anyone can contribute to.
At a glance
Primary testing surface
Semgrep Code
Security
ZAP (Zed Attack Proxy)
Security
Primary capability
Semgrep Code
Security
ZAP (Zed Attack Proxy)
Security
License and pricing
Semgrep Code
freemium · open source
ZAP (Zed Attack Proxy)
free · open source
Free trial
Semgrep Code
No
ZAP (Zed Attack Proxy)
No
Free-tier limit
Semgrep Code
Up to 10 contributors and 10 repositories
ZAP (Zed Attack Proxy)
Not listed in catalog
Complexity
Semgrep Code
intermediate
ZAP (Zed Attack Proxy)
intermediate
Team fit
Semgrep Code
enterprise, large, medium, small
ZAP (Zed Attack Proxy)
enterprise, large, medium, small
Test authoring languages
Semgrep Code
C, C#, C++, Clojure, CSS, Dart, Elixir, Erlang, F#, Go, Haskell, HTML, Java, JavaScript, JSON, Julia, Kotlin, Lua, Objective-C, OCaml, Perl, PHP, Python, R, Ruby, Rust, Scala, Shell, Swift, TypeScript, XML, YAML
ZAP (Zed Attack Proxy)
Java, JavaScript, Python, REST API
Supported platforms
Semgrep Code
Bitbucket, CLI, GitHub, GitLab, Jira, Slack, Web
ZAP (Zed Attack Proxy)
CLI, Docker, Linux, macOS, Web, Windows
MCP server
Semgrep Code
No
ZAP (Zed Attack Proxy)
No
Key features (catalog)
Semgrep Code
900+ Pro rules for high-confidence findings, 95% of code scans complete in under 5 minutes, API for custom integrations, Auto-fix code recommendations, Auto-triage findings with AI-powered Assistant, Cross-file and cross-function analysis, Custom rule creation with intuitive syntax, Fix-rate tracking as north star metric, Integration with PR comments and Jira tickets, OWASP Top 10 prevention +6 more
ZAP (Zed Attack Proxy)
Active scanning capabilities, API security testing, Authentication support, Automated security scanning, CI/CD integration, Community-driven development, Comprehensive reporting, Cross-platform support (Windows, Mac, Linux), Docker container support, Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST) +9 more
Limitations (catalog)
Semgrep Code
Free tier has limited features, Limited to static code analysis (no runtime testing), May generate false positives requiring manual review, No mobile app security testing capabilities, Requires developer adoption and workflow integration, Requires security expertise to write custom rules
ZAP (Zed Attack Proxy)
Limited enterprise support options, Limited to web application testing, May generate false positives requiring manual review, No built-in SAST capabilities, No mobile app security testing, Requires manual configuration for complex applications, Requires security expertise to use effectively, Steep learning curve for advanced features
| Attribute | Semgrep Code | ZAP (Zed Attack Proxy) |
|---|---|---|
| Primary testing surface | Security | Security |
| Primary capability | Security | Security |
| License and pricing | freemium · open source | free · open source |
| Free trial | No | No |
| Free-tier limit | Up to 10 contributors and 10 repositories | Not listed in catalog |
| Complexity | intermediate | intermediate |
| Team fit | enterprise, large, medium, small | enterprise, large, medium, small |
| Test authoring languages | C, C#, C++, Clojure, CSS, Dart, Elixir, Erlang, F#, Go, Haskell, HTML, Java, JavaScript, JSON, Julia, Kotlin, Lua, Objective-C, OCaml, Perl, PHP, Python, R, Ruby, Rust, Scala, Shell, Swift, TypeScript, XML, YAML | Java, JavaScript, Python, REST API |
| Supported platforms | Bitbucket, CLI, GitHub, GitLab, Jira, Slack, Web | CLI, Docker, Linux, macOS, Web, Windows |
| MCP server | No | No |
| Key features (catalog) | 900+ Pro rules for high-confidence findings, 95% of code scans complete in under 5 minutes, API for custom integrations, Auto-fix code recommendations, Auto-triage findings with AI-powered Assistant, Cross-file and cross-function analysis, Custom rule creation with intuitive syntax, Fix-rate tracking as north star metric, Integration with PR comments and Jira tickets, OWASP Top 10 prevention +6 more | Active scanning capabilities, API security testing, Authentication support, Automated security scanning, CI/CD integration, Community-driven development, Comprehensive reporting, Cross-platform support (Windows, Mac, Linux), Docker container support, Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST) +9 more |
| Limitations (catalog) | Free tier has limited features, Limited to static code analysis (no runtime testing), May generate false positives requiring manual review, No mobile app security testing capabilities, Requires developer adoption and workflow integration, Requires security expertise to write custom rules | Limited enterprise support options, Limited to web application testing, May generate false positives requiring manual review, No built-in SAST capabilities, No mobile app security testing, Requires manual configuration for complex applications, Requires security expertise to use effectively, Steep learning curve for advanced features |
How the trade-offs apply to your team
Guidance below is inferred only from catalog differences. It is not a winner pick.
Consider Semgrep Code if…
- you need coverage for Bitbucket, GitHub, GitLab, Jira
- your team writes tests in C, C#, C++, Clojure
- you care about 900+ Pro rules for high-confidence findings and 95% of code scans complete in under 5 minutes
Consider ZAP (Zed Attack Proxy) if…
- you need coverage for Docker, Linux, macOS, Windows
- your team writes tests in REST API
- you care about Active scanning capabilities and API security testing
Questions to verify before choosing
- Confirm current pricing and packaging on the Semgrep Code and ZAP (Zed Attack Proxy) websites.
- Trial both tools against a real slice of your application, not a demo site.
- Verify the exact browser, device, or OS matrix you must support.