LucidShark vs Semgrep
Last updated: March 2026
The short version
Semgrep CE is a solid free SAST engine. Semgrep AppSec Platform adds cross-file analysis and SCA - but pushes code to the cloud and costs $40/user/month. Opengrep is a recent community fork that restored some features Semgrep moved behind the paywall. LucidShark bundles linting, SAST, SCA, and more in a single local CLI - no platform account required.
The Opengrep situation
In December 2024, Semgrep moved several features - including cross-function taint analysis and result fingerprinting - from the open-source CE engine into the commercial platform. In response, more than 10 appsec companies (Aikido, Endor Labs, Jit, Orca Security, and others) forked Semgrep CE as Opengrep in January 2025. Opengrep restores cross-function taint analysis, fingerprinting, and tracking ignores under LGPL-2.1 with no commercial restrictions.
The fork is active and drop-in compatible with Semgrep rules. Long-term divergence is likely as both projects develop independently. Opengrep's governance - a consortium of competitors with potentially misaligned incentives - introduces its own continuity risk.
Comparison
| Criterion | LucidShark | Semgrep CE / Opengrep | Semgrep AppSec Platform |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free (Apache 2.0) | Free (LGPL-2.1) | Free up to 10 contributors, then ~$40/user/mo |
| Code leaves machine? | Never | Never (CLI only) | Yes - Platform analyzes code in cloud |
| SAST (cross-file) | Yes | Single-file (CE) / cross-function (Opengrep) | Yes (cross-file dataflow) |
| SCA (dependency scanning) | Yes | No | Yes (with reachability, paid) |
| Linting + formatting | Yes | No | No |
| IaC, container scanning | Yes | No | No |
| MCP / Claude Code integration | Native | Not built-in | Not built-in |
| Setup complexity | One command install | Low - single binary | Medium - account, project setup, CI config |
| Rules | Curated defaults per language | 3,000+ community rules | 20,000+ proprietary rules |
When Semgrep makes sense
Semgrep CE is a good choice if you want a fast, lightweight SAST engine you can customize with your own rules. The rule language is clean and well-documented. If you're already running Semgrep in CI and want to stay local, CE or Opengrep keeps you cloud-free. The AppSec Platform is worth evaluating for security teams at larger organizations that need SCA with reachability analysis and a policy dashboard.
When LucidShark makes sense
Semgrep CE does SAST only. If you want linting, formatting, dependency scanning, IaC validation, and type checking in a single command - without configuring and maintaining separate tools for each - LucidShark gives you that out of the box. It's particularly well-suited for developers building with AI coding agents who need comprehensive, local quality checks without cloud dependencies or per-seat pricing.
FAQ
What is the difference between Semgrep CE and the Semgrep AppSec Platform?
Semgrep CE is the free, open-source CLI engine. The AppSec Platform adds cross-file dataflow analysis, SCA with reachability, secrets scanning, AI-assisted triage, and a policy dashboard - but requires a cloud account and costs ~$40/user/month after 10 contributors. Your code is sent to Semgrep's cloud for Platform analysis.
Is Opengrep a safe replacement for Semgrep CE?
For current feature parity, yes - it's a drop-in replacement and is LGPL-2.1 licensed with no commercial restrictions. Long-term parity is not guaranteed as both projects evolve independently.
What is a good open-source Semgrep alternative?
LucidShark covers SAST plus linting, SCA, and more in a single local tool. Opengrep covers the SAST-only use case with an open engine. Neither requires a cloud account.