All comparisons →

Zennoxa Shield vs Semgrep

Zennoxa Shield and Semgrep both run fast, pattern-based static analysis and both aim to surface security findings developers can act on. They differ in breadth versus depth: Shield bundles many scan types into a single pass and prioritizes findings by real-world risk, while Semgrep offers a mature, deeply tuned SAST engine with an established platform and ecosystem. This page compares them factually using publicly available information as of July 2026; verify current details on each vendor's site.

Semgrep: An AppSec platform built on fast, pattern-based static analysis, offered as free open-source CLI (Community Edition) and a paid cloud/enterprise platform.

Feature comparison

CapabilityZennoxa ShieldSemgrep
Scan coverage (SAST / SCA / secrets / IaC / container / DAST)All in one pass: SAST, secret detection, dependency/SCA (OSV.dev), IaC, container image, DAST, license/SBOM, reachability, code grade.SAST (Code), SCA (Supply Chain), Secrets (paid module); IaC/containers only via SAST rules (Terraform GA, Dockerfile experimental); no DAST — static-analysis only.
Languages (SAST)14 languages GA: C, C++, C#, Dart, Go, Java, JavaScript, Kotlin, PHP, Python, Ruby, Rust, Swift, TypeScript.18 GA (incl. C/C++, C#, Go, Java, JS/TS, Kotlin, Python, Ruby, Scala, Swift, Rust, PHP, Terraform); Apex beta; many more experimental (marketing cites 30+).
SAST engine approachRule-based (regex/line-based), comparable to Semgrep's pattern model; no full AST/inter-procedural dataflow yet.Deterministic code-like pattern matching; paid Pro Engine adds cross-file (interfile) and interprocedural taint/dataflow. Free CE is single-file only.
Prioritization / reachabilityCore differentiator: real-world risk = CVSS + EPSS + CISA KEV + reachability, so the few findings that matter float up.Reachability analysis in Supply Chain (SCA) to suppress non-exploitable dependency noise; paid platform adds AI-assisted triage/prioritization.
IntegrationsGitHub/GitLab/Bitbucket (public+private), CLI + web dashboard, SARIF 2.1, gate-reports; Jira, Slack, Teams, email, webhooks, Azure DevOps.GitHub/GitLab/Bitbucket (inline PR/MR comments); CI: GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, Bitbucket, Jenkins, CircleCI, Azure Pipelines, Buildkite; Slack, email, webhooks.
IDE pluginNone yet.VS Code and IntelliJ plugins available.
Enterprise (SSO / SAML / OIDC / RBAC)No enterprise SAML/OIDC SSO yet.SSO via SAML 2.0, OIDC and Azure AD; RBAC on Enterprise tier.
Self-hosted optionYes — fully self-hostable, plus a cloud option.Free CE engine runs on your own infra (SAST-only, single-file); self-hosting the full platform is Enterprise-only (custom priced). Default is cloud.
Pricing / free tierFree during beta (all scanners). CLI is MIT; hosted engine + dashboard proprietary.Free $0 (≤10 contributors, 10 private repos, Code+SCA, no Secrets/RBAC); Teams from $30/contributor/mo per module; Enterprise custom. CE open-source free forever (single-file).
Maturity / ecosystemNewer and less mature; smaller ecosystem and community; DAST is basic.Mature, established platform; 3,000+ community rules (Pro rules more); large community; strong G2 track record (~4.6–4.7/5).

Which should you choose?

Choose Zennoxa Shield if…

  • You want one tool covering SAST, secrets, SCA, IaC, container, DAST, license/SBOM and reachability in a single pass, instead of assembling several products.
  • You need native IaC, container image and (basic) DAST coverage that Semgrep does not offer as first-class products.
  • Risk-based triage matters to you: Shield ranks findings by CVSS + EPSS + CISA KEV + reachability so the few that matter surface first.
  • You want secret detection included at no cost — Shield bundles it, whereas Semgrep Secrets is a paid module not in the free tier.
  • You want everything free during beta and a straightforward self-hostable deployment without an enterprise contract.
  • You value AI that explains findings and suggests human-reviewed fixes on top of a deterministic, rule-based engine that never invents findings.

Choose Semgrep if…

  • You need a mature SAST engine with cross-file (interfile) and interprocedural taint/dataflow analysis (Semgrep Pro Engine) — deeper than Shield's current rule-based approach.
  • Writing custom, org-specific rules is a priority: Semgrep's code-like rule syntax and large registry (3,000+ community rules) are its defining strength.
  • You require enterprise identity and governance today — SAML/OIDC SSO, Azure AD and RBAC — which Shield does not yet offer.
  • Your developers want IDE feedback in VS Code or IntelliJ, which Semgrep provides and Shield currently lacks.
  • You want a fully free, account-free, open-source CLI engine (Semgrep CE) you can run entirely on your own infrastructure.
  • You need the broadest language coverage at GA maturity with real dataflow analysis, and value an established vendor with a long G2/Gartner track record.
  • You need broad CI coverage across Jenkins, CircleCI and Buildkite, which Semgrep integrates with directly.

FAQ

Is Zennoxa Shield an AI code scanner?

No. Shield's detection engine is rule-based and deterministic — it never invents findings. It adds an AI assist that explains findings and suggests fixes for a human to review. Semgrep similarly uses deterministic pattern matching, with AI-assisted triage layered on its paid platform.

Does Semgrep do IaC, container or DAST scanning?

Not as dedicated products. Semgrep can pattern-scan Terraform (GA) and Dockerfiles (experimental) via SAST rules, but has no first-class IaC or container/image CVE product and does not offer DAST. Shield includes IaC, container image and basic DAST scanning in one pass.

How do the free tiers compare?

Shield is free during beta with all scanners included and is self-hostable. Semgrep's free tier ($0) covers up to 10 contributors and 10 private repos with Code (SAST) and Supply Chain (SCA), but excludes Secrets and RBAC; its open-source CE engine is free forever but SAST-only and single-file.

Which has the deeper SAST analysis?

Semgrep, currently. Its paid Pro Engine performs cross-file and interprocedural taint/dataflow analysis, whereas Shield's SAST is rule-based (regex/line-based) and does not yet have full AST or inter-procedural dataflow.

What is Shield's main differentiator?

Prioritization by real-world risk. Shield combines CVSS, EPSS, CISA KEV and reachability to rank findings, so the small number that are actually exploitable rise to the top, alongside broad all-in-one scan coverage.

Does either support enterprise SSO?

Semgrep does — SAML 2.0, OIDC and Azure AD, with RBAC on its Enterprise tier. Shield does not yet offer enterprise SAML/OIDC SSO.

Try Zennoxa Shield freeBrowse the rules

Comparison based on publicly available information as of July 2026. Semgrep features, tiers and pricing change over time — verify current details on semgrep.dev. Shield figures reflect its beta capabilities and may evolve. Semgrep's own marketing claims (e.g. Pro-rule counts and AI agreement rates) are cited as vendor claims and were not independently verified.

All comparisons
Zennoxa Shield vs Semgrep — honest 2026 comparison — Zennoxa Shield