Semgrep review: AI code security with Semgrep Guardian
Best for per-contributor pricing and agent hooks · Rank 7 of 10 · 3.5 / 5
Editorial assessment · Compiled from vendor product, docs, pricing and marketplace pages · Rated October 2026
ANSWER FIRST
Semgrep ranks seventh at 3.5 out of 5. It combines published per-contributor pricing and a free tier with Semgrep Guardian, which scans inside Claude Code, Cursor and Windsurf on every file write. It scores lower on governance because no central inventory of agents or MCP servers is described.
diff --verdict semgrep · reviewed 2026-09
@@ strengths @@
- Strength:Free for up to 10 contributors and 10 private repositories. [source]
- Strength:Teams priced at $30 per contributor per month (Code or Supply Chain) and $15 for Secrets. [source]
- Strength:Semgrep Guardian runs an MCP server and hooks that fire on every file write in Claude Code, Cursor and Windsurf. [source]
- Strength:Guardian blocks malicious dependencies and hardcoded credentials at generation time. [source]
@@ limitations @@
How does Semgrep score?
| Criterion | Weight | Score | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coverage of AI-generated code and AI coding assistants | 25% | 3.5 / 5 | Semgrep Guardian scans inside Claude Code, Cursor and Windsurf as code is written; org-wide discovery of assistants or MCP servers is not described and Copilot is not listed. |
| Endpoint deployment and tamper resistance | 20% | 3.0 / 5 | Guardian runs on the developer machine as an MCP server, hooks on every file write and skills; tamper resistance is not described. |
| Governance and policy control for the CISO | 20% | 2.5 / 5 | Guardian enforces checks per agent, but the pages reviewed show no central inventory or policy over which agents and MCP servers may run. |
| Developer experience and low friction | 15% | 4.5 / 5 | Free for up to 10 contributors and 10 private repos, with VS Code and JetBrains support. |
| Pricing and buying clarity | 10% | 4.0 / 5 | Teams is $30 a month per contributor for Code or Supply Chain and $15 for Secrets; Guardian pricing is not stated. |
| Remediation and ASPM depth | 10% | 4.0 / 5 | Semgrep Assistant auto-triages findings, and remediation guidance appears in pull requests and IDEs. |
Weighted total 3.45 (displayed 3.5)
What does Semgrep do for AI-generated code?
Semgrep scans first-party code, dependencies and secrets. Semgrep Multimodal combines AI reasoning with rule-based analysis for detection, triage and remediation, and Semgrep Assistant auto-triages findings. For AI-written code, Semgrep Guardian is a plugin for coding agents made of an MCP server, hooks that fire on every file write, and skills. It blocks malicious dependencies before install, stops hardcoded credentials and flags vulnerable patterns as they are written.
Facts
Guardian is available in the Claude Code and Cursor marketplaces and documented for Windsurf; GitHub Copilot is not listed.
Source: Semgrep Guardian page · Reviewed Sep 2026
Semgrep supports VS Code and JetBrains IDEs and integrates with AI tools through MCP.
Source: Semgrep homepage · Reviewed Sep 2026
Every plan includes AI-powered detection, triage and remediation; Teams includes 20 AI credits per developer per month.
Source: Semgrep pricing page · Reviewed Sep 2026
How is Semgrep priced?
Free: up to 10 contributors and 10 private repositories, 60 AI credits. Teams: $30 a month per contributor for Code or Supply Chain, $15 for Secrets, up to 500 private repositories. Enterprise: custom. Guardian pricing is not stated on its product page.
Source: Semgrep pricing page · Reviewed Sep 2026
Where does Semgrep trail other tools?
- Coverage of AI-generated code and AI coding assistants: Semgrep 3.5, leader Legit Security, Snyk, Endor Labs 5.0
- Endpoint deployment and tamper resistance: Semgrep 3.0, leader Legit Security 5.0
- Governance and policy control for the CISO: Semgrep 2.5, leader Backslash Security 5.0
- Pricing and buying clarity: Semgrep 4.0, leader Aikido Security 5.0
- Remediation and ASPM depth: Semgrep 4.0, leader Legit Security, Cycode, Apiiro 5.0
Who should choose Semgrep?
Teams that want predictable per-seat pricing and scanning that runs inside Claude Code or Cursor as the agent writes. Organizations that need a single view of every assistant and MCP server in use should compare Legit Security, Endor Labs or Cycode.
What are the alternatives to Semgrep?
- Legit Security vs Semgrep
- Semgrep vs Snyk
- Backslash Security vs Semgrep
- Endor Labs vs Semgrep
- OX Security vs Semgrep
- Cycode vs Semgrep
- Apiiro vs Semgrep
- Semgrep vs Wiz Code
- GitHub Advanced Security vs Semgrep
- Aikido Security vs Semgrep
All Semgrep alternatives, ranked
Frequently asked questions
What is Semgrep Guardian?
Semgrep Guardian is a security plugin for AI coding agents. It combines an MCP server, hooks that run on every file write and skills, so the agent's output is scanned as it is written. It blocks malicious dependencies and hardcoded credentials and flags vulnerable code patterns.
How much does Semgrep cost?
Semgrep is free for up to 10 contributors. Teams costs $30 a month per contributor for Code or Supply Chain and $15 for Secrets. Enterprise pricing is custom.
Sources reviewed
Last reviewed October 2026. Editorial assessment from public vendor material; no hands-on testing.