Looking for a Semgrep alternative?
Semgrep is an excellent, flexible general-purpose static analyzer across 30+ languages with custom rule authoring. On our benchmarks, its community rulesets miss many of the patterns AI tools ship by default. XploitScan is the lighter alternative: a focused scanner tuned for the vulnerabilities that Cursor, Lovable, Bolt, Replit, and Claude Code introduce, in JavaScript, TypeScript, and Python, run in one command. Here is the honest comparison.
XploitScan is a good Semgrep alternative for one specific job: catching the security bugs AI coding tools ship by default in JavaScript, TypeScript, and Python. On a benchmark we built from third-party code it now catches 16/16 (it caught 8/16 when each case was first added, and we then fixed the rules behind each miss), versus Semgrep 1.86.0's 8/16. But it is not a full Semgrep replacement — Semgrep wins on custom rule authoring, 30+ languages, and enterprise integrations.
We publish the benchmark — reproduce it yourself
On a test set we built from third-party code (OWASP NodeGoat, OWASP Juice Shop, DVNA, and a lodash prototype-pollution example repo, with hint comments stripped so no scanner can pattern-match on them), XploitScan missed 8 of the 16 issues when each case was first added. We then fixed the rules behind every miss, and it now catches 16 of 16, but that is no longer a blind score, because we tuned against those cases. Semgrep 1.86.0 with its community rulesets catches 8 of 16, and Bearer 1.50.0 catches 9 of 16 on the same set. The code itself is external; the case selection and labels are ours.
We also keep a self-authored corpus of 615 labeled fixtures. Checked daily and rerun when rules or fixtures change (at least weekly); updates go live with the next deploy. Currently 97.0% recall. The Semgrep config is pinned to official community rulesets (p/security-audit, p/owasp-top-ten, p/javascript, p/typescript, p/react) so the comparison is reproducible. Both are public at xploitscan.com/benchmark. Detection here is regex plus Babel AST plus a light local taint pass, not CodeQL-grade semantic analysis, and we would rather say that plainly than oversell it.
When each one fits
Semgrep is the right choice when
- → You want to write and maintain custom rules for your own codebase conventions
- → You are running a polyglot monorepo with Go, Java, Ruby, C#, and more alongside JS/TS
- → You have a security engineer to tune signal-to-noise across rulesets
- → You are on Semgrep Teams or Enterprise, or running an enterprise SAST program with existing dashboards and SOC integrations
XploitScan is the right choice when
- → You are shipping code written mostly with Cursor, Lovable, Bolt, Replit, or Claude Code and want the failure modes those tools introduce caught
- → Your stack is JavaScript, TypeScript, or Python and you want depth there over breadth everywhere
- → You want one command — npx xploitscan@latest scan . — with no signup and a local scan (code leaves your machine only if ANTHROPIC_API_KEY is set, for AI analysis via Anthropic, or you sign in to sync findings)
- → You want a plain-English explanation and a copy-paste fix tuned to AI-generated code on each finding
- → Flat, self-serve pricing (Free $0 / Pro $19/mo / Team $99/mo) fits better than per-committer tiering
Side-by-side
| Dimension | Semgrep | XploitScan |
|---|---|---|
| Primary focus | General-purpose SAST across 30+ languages | App-security bugs in AI-generated code (Cursor, Lovable, Bolt, Replit, Claude Code) |
| Detection approach | AST + dataflow; CE does single-function taint, and Semgrep Code adds cross-file/cross-function taint (free for up to 10 contributors) | Regex + Babel AST + a light local taint pass (honestly: not CodeQL-grade semantic analysis) |
| Languages | 30+ languages | JavaScript, TypeScript, Python + config formats |
| Rules | Community rulesets + powerful custom rule authoring | 223 rules (30 free), tuned for AI-generated code patterns |
| Benchmark built from third-party code | 8 / 16 with Semgrep 1.86.0 community rulesets (NodeGoat, Juice Shop, DVNA, a lodash pollution example; hints stripped) | 16/16 after we fixed the rules behind each miss (8/16 when each case was first added), live at xploitscan.com/benchmark |
| Fix guidance | Rule message explaining the issue; autofix where a rule defines one; AI remediation guidance on all plans, including Free | Plain-English explanation + copy-paste-ready fix |
| CLI | semgrep --config ... (configurable, powerful) | npx xploitscan@latest scan . — no signup, runs locally. Code leaves your machine only if ANTHROPIC_API_KEY is set (AI analysis via Anthropic) or you sign in to sync findings; dependency names and versions are checked against OSV.dev. |
| Pricing | Free for up to 10 contributors (includes Pro rules and cross-file analysis); Teams from $30/contributor/mo; Enterprise by quote (as of October 2026) | Flat, self-serve: Free $0 / Pro $19/mo / Team $99/mo |
Where Semgrep legitimately wins
- Custom rule authoring. Semgrep rule syntax is powerful and well-documented. If you need a rule specific to your codebase conventions, Semgrep is the better authoring platform — we do not match it.
- Language breadth. Semgrep covers 30+ languages with active rule development. XploitScan is deliberately limited to JavaScript, TypeScript, Python, and common config formats, so a polyglot codebase outside those is better served by Semgrep.
- Enterprise integration. Large teams already running Semgrep with dashboards, triage workflows, and SOC integrations should stay on Semgrep — that established program is a real advantage.
Frequently asked questions
Is XploitScan a good alternative to Semgrep?
For AI-generated JavaScript, TypeScript, and Python code, yes. On a benchmark we built from third-party code (OWASP NodeGoat, Juice Shop, DVNA, a lodash pollution example, with hint comments stripped) XploitScan caught 8/16 issues when each case was first added and catches 16/16 after we fixed the rules behind its misses, versus Semgrep 1.86.0's 8/16 on official community rulesets. But Semgrep is a general-purpose SAST across 30+ languages with custom rule authoring, so it isn't a like-for-like replacement outside XploitScan's focus.
Does XploitScan replace Semgrep entirely?
No, and it doesn't claim to. XploitScan is deliberately narrow: deep coverage in JS, TS, Python, and config formats, tuned for the failure modes Cursor, Lovable, Bolt, Replit, and Claude Code ship by default. Semgrep covers 30+ languages, lets you author custom rules, and has mature enterprise integrations. If you need polyglot coverage or your own rules, keep Semgrep.
Is XploitScan or Semgrep better for a solo dev shipping AI-coded apps?
For a solo dev on a JS/TS or Python stack built with AI tools, XploitScan is usually the faster fit. It runs with one command (npx xploitscan@latest scan .) and scans locally; your code leaves your machine only if ANTHROPIC_API_KEY is set (AI analysis via Anthropic) or you sign in to sync findings. Findings ship copy-paste fixes, and pricing is flat and self-serve from $0 to $19/mo. Semgrep is more powerful and general.
What does Semgrep do better than XploitScan?
Three things, honestly. Custom rule authoring — Semgrep's rule syntax is powerful and well-documented for rules specific to your codebase. Language breadth — Semgrep covers 30+ languages versus XploitScan's JS/TS/Python-only depth. And enterprise integrations — established dashboards, triage workflows, and SOC tooling. Large teams already running Semgrep should stay on it.
How does XploitScan's detection method compare to Semgrep's?
XploitScan uses regex plus Babel-parsed AST plus a light local taint pass (source to sink). It is explicitly not CodeQL-grade semantic or interprocedural analysis. Semgrep Code adds cross-file, cross-function taint analysis (free for up to 10 contributors), beyond the community rulesets we benchmarked. XploitScan's edge comes from rules tuned specifically for AI-generated code patterns rather than from a deeper engine.
Try XploitScan on your code
Free: run npx xploitscan@latest scan . with no account, or create a free account for 5 web scans a day. The CLI scans locally; your code leaves your machine only if ANTHROPIC_API_KEY is set (AI analysis via Anthropic) or you sign in to sync findings. See what the scanner finds in your actual project before you decide.
XploitScan maps findings to SOC 2, ISO 27001, OWASP Top 10, and CWE for reference — informational mapping to help organize remediation, not a certification. XploitScan is built by Cipherline LLC, Fairfield CT.