Introduction
Checkmarx is a well-known application security testing platform specializing in static code analysis (SAST). It’s praised for broad language support and integration into development pipelines, helping organizations catch vulnerabilities in source code early. However, teams from developers up to CISOs have voiced frustrations that drive them to seek alternatives. Common pain points include high volumes of false positives, complex tuning requirements, slow scan performance, and steep pricing.
For example, one G2 reviewer notes “High number of false positives unless you carefully tailor it to each project”.
A Reddit user complained “We should be paid for using this product and finding our false positives. The 1% valid finding is ... buried in 99% of the trash info.”
Another user review bluntly states that “Checkmarx is comparatively expensive, and there is no free edition to try out first”.
These issues – noise, complexity, and cost – have many teams exploring modern alternatives in 2025.
Below, we introduce five top Checkmarx alternatives that address these shortcomings. Each offers a unique approach to application security, from developer-first platforms that minimize false positives to privacy-focused code scanners and integrated DevSecOps suites. Use the following list to jump to detailed comparisons of each tool:
Jump to Alternatives:
• Aikido Security
• Bearer
• DeepSource
• GitLab Ultimate
• HCL AppScan
Curious how Checkmarx compares to modern scanners? Check out our Top 10 AI-powered SAST tools in 2025 for the latest in static code analysis.
What Is Checkmarx?
- Application Security Platform (SAST-first): Checkmarx is a security tool primarily known for Static Application Security Testing, scanning source code for vulnerabilities (like SQL injection, XSS, etc.) before deployment. It’s aimed at development and security teams to integrate automated code scanning into the SDLC.
- Comprehensive AST Suite: The newer Checkmarx One platform includes not just SAST but also Software Composition Analysis (SCA), Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST), API security, IaC scanning and more. This breadth appeals to enterprises seeking an all-in-one solution.
- Developer Integrations: Checkmarx offers CI/CD pipeline integration and IDE plugins (VS Code, IntelliJ, etc.) so developers can scan code before merging. Results surface in dashboards and can map to standards (OWASP Top 10, PCI DSS, etc.) for compliance.
- Enterprise-focused: It is used by large organizations that require scalability and policy enforcement. Checkmarx supports 100+ languages/frameworks and provides governance features like centralized reporting and vulnerability management.
Why Look for Alternatives?
- Excessive False Positives: A common gripe is that Checkmarx flags too many non-issues, creating alert fatigue. Teams report spending significant time triaging “noise” instead of real flaws, which hurts developer trust in the tool.
- Steep Learning Curve: Tuning Checkmarx to reduce noise or adapt to a project’s context can be challenging. Rules customization and managing scans require expertise, and the UI/UX isn’t as dev-friendly as newer tools. This complexity can slow down adoption for dev teams.
- High Pricing: Checkmarx is one of the more expensive AST products. It typically requires a substantial license investment (there’s no free tier), which is hard to justify for small teams or startups. Costs also scale up with number of users and codebases.
- Performance Issues: Users have noted slow scan times on large codebases and heavy resource usage. Long scan queues or sluggish analysis can impede rapid CI/CD cycles.
- Coverage Gaps: While broad, Checkmarx doesn’t cover everything. Notably it lacks built-in code quality checks, so teams need separate linting/quality tools. Its SCA might not be as developer-centric or real-time as some dedicated dependency scanners. These gaps mean security and dev teams juggle multiple tools.
(Considering these factors, many organizations are evaluating alternatives that provide a better developer experience, more accuracy, and a fuller security coverage out of the box.)
Key Criteria for Choosing an Alternative
When looking for a Checkmarx replacement, prioritize tools that balance security depth with developer usability:
- Comprehensive Coverage: Favor platforms that go beyond just SAST. Top alternatives bundle multiple scanners – static code analysis, open-source risk detection (SCA), secret detection, infrastructure-as-code checks, even cloud posture security – into one solution for end-to-end coverage.
- Accuracy (Low False Positives): The best tools minimize noise with intelligent analysis (e.g. taint tracking, AI triage). Fewer bogus alerts mean developers trust the results. Look for claims of low false positive rates and features like vulnerability reachability analysis or machine learning to auto-dismiss likely false alarms.
- Developer-Friendly UX: A modern AppSec tool should meet developers where they work. This means IDE integration for real-time feedback, CLI tools, and pull request comments that make fixing issues convenient. Also, CI/CD integration to enforce security gates without excessive friction.
- Actionable Remediation: Simply finding issues isn’t enough – how easily can the team fix them? Good alternatives provide clear guidance or even one-click autofixes. Some offer AI-assisted fixes or code examples to accelerate remediation and reduce the manual effort on developers.
- Scalability & Cost-Effectiveness: Ensure the pricing model fits your organization. Many Checkmarx competitors have flat-rate pricing or free tiers, making them more accessible to small teams. Evaluate if you can start for free or a low cost and expand usage without breaking the budget. Cloud-based offerings can also scale analysis on demand without heavy on-premise setup.
- Integration & Workflow: The tool should integrate with your repositories (GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, etc.), issue trackers, and messaging apps. Smooth integration means security findings can be routed into the team’s normal workflow (e.g. creating Jira tickets, posting Slack alerts) so that addressing them is part of normal development, not an isolated process.
Top Alternatives to Checkmarx in 2025
(In no particular order, here are five excellent Checkmarx alternatives and what makes each stand out:)
- Aikido Security – Developer-first, all-in-one AppSec platform
- Bearer – Privacy-aware static analysis tool
- DeepSource – Lightweight SAST with autofixes
- GitLab Ultimate – Built-in code security with DevOps
- HCL AppScan – Enterprise-grade DAST and SAST
Aikido Security
Overview:
Aikido Security is a developer-first application security platform that aims to remove the traditional friction of security tools. It provides everything needed to secure your code, cloud, and runtime in one central system. This all-in-one approach means Aikido covers static code analysis, open-source risk detection, secret scanning, cloud configuration auditing, container security, and even in-app protection. The platform is designed for engineering teams who want security built into their workflow without the “bullsh*t.” Pricing is accessible, with a free-forever tier for 2 users and flat-rate team plans (e.g. Basic at $300/month for 10 users), which includes all scanners.
Key Features:
- Full-Stack Security Scanning:
Aikido includes SAST, secret detection, SCA, container image scanning, IaC scanning, virtual machine scanning, and surface monitoring (DAST). This eliminates the need to bolt together multiple tools. - Developer-Centric Workflow:
Aikido integrates with GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, and supports PR comment reporting and policy gating. It also supports SBOM generation and compliance workflows for regulated industries. - AI Auto-Fix:
Aikido offers AI-generated autofixes for issues across SAST, IaC, and cloud configs—creating PRs with suggested code changes and full auditability.
Why Choose It:
Good for teams who want an all-in-one security platform that delivers real coverage and high signal with minimal noise. Ideal for modern dev teams that want to ship fast and secure, without security theater or tool sprawl.
Bearer
Overview:
Bearer is a privacy-focused SAST tool that detects sensitive data flows and common security vulnerabilities in code. It’s a CLI-first tool available as open source (Bearer CLI) with a commercial tier for deeper enterprise features. Its unique value lies in helping dev teams understand how personal or sensitive data is handled across their codebase—useful for GDPR or HIPAA compliance.
Key Features:
- Sensitive Data Tracing:
Bearer tracks how data flows through your application, flagging if PII is stored or transmitted insecurely. Think of it as SAST + privacy risk mapping. - Security Scanning:
Detects OWASP Top 10 and CWE Top 25 issues across major languages. Covers injection flaws, insecure crypto, hardcoded secrets, etc. - Lightweight Dev Integration:
Installs via CLI or Docker, runs locally or in CI, and offers immediate scan results. Easy to pair with other tools like SCA or IaC scanners in your pipeline.
Why Choose It:
Good for teams focused on data protection and privacy risks, especially in regulated industries. Also ideal for developers who want a simple, quick-to-use SAST engine that surfaces both code and data-handling concerns.
DeepSource
Overview:
DeepSource is a developer-first code analysis platform that combines static security analysis with code quality checks, style enforcement, and performance bug detection. Its sweet spot is helping dev teams catch and fix vulnerabilities alongside code smells and logic flaws, all through one Git-integrated workflow. Unlike Checkmarx, DeepSource is super lightweight and offers one-click autofix PRs for many issues.
Key Features:
- Multi-Category Static Analysis:
Supports security, performance, and quality checks across languages like Python, JavaScript, Go, and Java—all within one engine. It also helps with legacy software modernization. - Autofix + PR Suggestions:
DeepSource automatically generates fixes for common issues and submits pull requests. Ideal for busy teams that want to reduce remediation time and tech debt. - CI/CD & IDE Integrations:
Runs on commit or pull request, with IDE plugins and GitHub/GitLab support. Merge gate policies are available.
Why Choose It:
Great for small-to-medium teams that want to enforce security and quality standards with minimal friction. It’s not just a scanner—it’s a productivity tool that improves codebase health while catching bugs.
GitLab Ultimate
Overview:
GitLab Ultimate brings DevSecOps tooling directly into your GitLab repos, offering built-in SAST, DAST, dependency scanning, and more. If you’re already on GitLab, Ultimate is the top tier that gives you CI-integrated security coverage with minimal setup.
Key Features:
- SAST + DAST + SCA:
Covers static analysis, dynamic scanning, open source dependencies, and container images. Findings are displayed in the same merge requests and dashboards your team already uses. - Security Dashboard:
Teams can triage vulnerabilities from a unified dashboard, auto-create issues, and generate compliance reports. - Pipeline Integration:
All security checks run directly in.gitlab-ci.yml, allowing full control over scan timing, thresholds, and gating rules.
Why Choose It:
Ideal for teams who want security built into their dev workflow without adopting a separate tool. Best for orgs already invested in GitLab and looking to consolidate tooling under one umbrella.
HCL AppScan
Overview:
HCL AppScan is a heavyweight enterprise-grade AST suite that includes SAST, DAST, IAST, and SCA. It’s the successor to IBM AppScan and built for large orgs with deep compliance requirements and internal AppSec teams.
Key Features:
- Enterprise-Level SAST:
Advanced static analysis with data flow tracking, taint analysis, and customizable rule sets. Supports older languages and complex enterprise systems. - DAST and IAST Integration:
Offers combined static + dynamic scanning to confirm exploitability of issues in staging or live environments. - On-Prem + Cloud Deployment:
Flexible hosting models and multi-project dashboards make it suitable for regulated environments with strict data handling policies.
Why Choose It:
Ideal for security teams who need centralized management of AST workflows, extensive policy enforcement, and legacy language support. Best suited for enterprises with dedicated AppSec staff and high compliance overhead.
Comparison Table
Conclusion
Checkmarx is powerful—but for many teams, it’s noisy, expensive, and slow. The good news? You’ve got options. Tools like Aikido Security deliver broader coverage and a better developer experience. Others like Bearer and DeepSource are lighter, faster, and easier to adopt. Whether you're prioritizing privacy, automation, or seamless CI/CD integration, there's a better fit out there for your team.
Ready to simplify your AppSec? Try Aikido Security for free or book a demo to see it in action.
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