Application Security Testing (AST) tools are critical for ensuring software applications remain secure against vulnerabilities. When comparing AST tools, Snyk and Checkmarx are two prominent options for teams focused on secure development practices. This article highlights their respective capabilities, key differences, strengths, and weaknesses to help you make an informed decision.
For enterprises requiring a complete solution that combines superior scanning capabilities (including SAST, SCA, Secrets, and more) with integrations and platform extensibility, read on to the end to learn why Cydode’s AI-Native Application Security Platform for the AI Era may be the best Checkmarx and Snyk alternative for your needs.
What is Snyk?
Snyk is a developer-first security platform designed to integrate security into developer workflows. Initially focused on Software Composition Analysis (SCA) for identifying vulnerabilities in open-source dependencies, Snyk has expanded to include scanning for code, container images, infrastructure as code (IaC), and more.
Snyk’s emphasis on developer workflows and “shift-left” security has led to wide adoption among agile DevOps teams.
What is Checkmarx?
Checkmarx is an enterprise-focused application security platform. It has expanded from its foundations in Static Analysis (SAST) to build out its platform offering across Code, Cloud, and Software Supply Chain Security.
Checkmarx’s focus on governance and policy enforcement during development and throughout the application lifecycle caters to enterprise security teams.
What is Cycode?
Cycode is an AI-Native Application Security Platform for the AI Era It combines native application security testing (SAST, SCA, IaC, and Container) and pipeline security scanning (Secrets, Code Leak Detection, CI/CD) with extensive third-party integrations, deep risk intelligence (including exposure path analysis and owner mapping), and automated remediation to shorten the lifecycle of high-risk vulnerabilities at scale.
For enterprises managing risk across complex environments, Cycode consolidates and supplements security tools to deliver more resilience and a lower cost of ownership.
| # | Company | Description |
| 1 | Cycode | Cycode’s AI-Native Application Security Platform unites security and development teams with actionable context from code to runtime to identify, prioritize, and fix the software risks that matter. Combining AST, ASPM and SSCS, optimizes both security and developers workflows. |
| 2 | Snyk | Snyk primarily focuses on securing the application layer, including open-source dependencies, containers, and infrastructure as code. |
| 3 | Checkmarx | Application Security Platforms that focuses on SAST and SCA scanning |
Key Features of Snyk
Snyk’s strength lies in its developer-first approach. It integrates well with IDEs, CI/CD pipelines, and repositories to provide fast feedback to developers. This makes it well-suited for organizations looking for an agile security solution with a good developer experience.
- Dependency scanning: Identifies vulnerabilities in open-source libraries and dependencies, helping teams proactively address risks.
- Developer-friendly integrations: Embeds security seamlessly into developer workflows, ensuring minimal disruption and maximum adoption.
- Fast feedback: Delivers actionable insights in real-time, enabling developers to fix vulnerabilities faster and more efficiently.
- Container and IaC security: Analyzes container images and infrastructure configurations to secure the entire development environment.
Key Features of Checkmarx
Checkmarx offers a broad suite of AST tools with both on-prem and SaaS deployment options. It caters to enterprises looking to deploy security checks across the application lifecycle in a consolidated approach – albeit at the expense of extensibility and flexibility.
- Code-to-cloud scanning: Identifies vulnerabilities across proprietary code, open-source dependencies, and container and infrastructure as code files.
- Secure code training: Checkmarx Codebashing helps educate and train developers on secure code practices and remediation.
- Centralized Policy Management: Ensures consistent security policies across large development teams.
- Flexible deployments and scalability: On-prem and cloud deployments as well as the ability to handle complex, multi-application environments cater to enterprise customers. However, potential buyers should be aware of discrepancies between Checkmarx’s on-prem and cloud offerings.
Key Features of Cycode
Cycode’s strengths lie in its high-quality native AST and pipeline security suite augmented by extensive integrations with third-party scanners and SDLC tools. This unifies visibility and taps into deep context to power risk-based prioritization and rapid remediation of software vulnerabilities at scale.
- Proprietary Pipeline & AST Scanning: Secure code, software supply chains, and pipelines including detection of exposed secrets across all developer tools
- Third-Party Integration: Unified visibility, prioritization, and remediation across any security ecosystem via ConnectorX
- Risk Intelligence Graph & Change Impact Analysis: Risk-based prioritization with exposure path analysis and proactive assessment of every code change
Developer Experience: Accurate detection, risk prioritization, and AI assistance in developer workflows equals fewer tasks, faster fixes, and less effort
Snyk vs Checkmarx vs Cycode: 3 Key Differences
- Focus:
- Snyk: Prioritizes developer-first security with strengths aligning to open-source dependencies and developer-friendly workflows.
- Checkmarx: Focuses on comprehensive security coverage with tools tailored for enterprise governance.
- Cycode: Focuses on fixing what matters faster with unified visibility from proprietary and third-party scanners, deep risk assessment, and AI-assisted remediation.
- Deployment and User Experience:
- Snyk: Designed for quick integration into developer environments (IDEs, Git repositories, CI/CD pipelines) with an emphasis on automation and ease of use.
- Checkmarx: Aimed at security teams managing large-scale application portfolios typically requiring more operational setup. On-prem and cloud deployment options are available, though there are differences across the offerings
- Cycode: Delivers instant-on risk detection across the SDLC with integration into developer tools as well as automated workflows.
- Approach to Application Security:
- Snyk: Emphasizes “shift-left” principles, enabling developers to identify and fix vulnerabilities early in the software development lifecycle.
- Checkmarx: Focuses on comprehensive, in-depth security testing and detailed vulnerability analysis to support compliance and enterprise security objectives.
- Cycode: Specializes in risk reduction across all application layers: code, software supply chain, cloud infrastructure, and CI/CD integrity. It’s suited to enterprises modernizing to a risk-based approach to manage the end-to-end application lifecycle.
Snyk Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Integration with Developer Tools: Snyk embeds security checks directly into developers’ existing workflows, such as IDEs and CI/CD pipelines, enabling seamless adoption and minimal disruption.
- Vulnerability Detection: Provides immediate feedback and actionable solutions, empowering developers to identify and fix vulnerabilities early in the software development lifecycle.
- Ease of Use: Snyk’s intuitive interface and straightforward setup allow teams to onboard quickly, focusing on core development tasks without steep learning curves.
- Strong Support for Open-Source Security: Specializes in dependency analysis, ensuring teams can proactively manage risks in their software supply chain.
Cons:
- Limited Enterprise Governance Features: Snyk’s focus on developers makes it less suited for organizations with stringent compliance and governance requirements.
- Less Comprehensive Testing: While excellent for open-source and container security, Snyk lacks advanced capabilities like IAST, which limits its coverage for runtime vulnerabilities.
- Cost Scaling: Pricing can become expensive for larger teams or enterprises with extensive needs.
- Limited extensibility and visibility: Snyk’s lack of certain scan types and limited integrations with third-party scanners require additional tools to unify visibility and cover gaps in vulnerability detection.
Checkmarx Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Broad Testing Suite: Offers a broad suite of scanners to identify vulnerabilities across application layers and at various stages in the software development lifecycle.
- Enterprise Governance and Compliance: Provides robust policy enforcement and detailed reporting, making it ideal for organizations with strict regulatory and governance needs.
- Scalability for Large Enterprises: Designed to handle complex environments with multiple applications and development teams, making it suitable for large-scale use.
- Secure Coding Education: Includes Codebashing, a platform for training developers in secure coding practices.
Cons:
- Complex Setup and Steep Learning Curve: Requires more time and resources for integration and maintenance. Advanced features require significant time and resources to implement and master. Some advanced features are not available via on-prem deployments.
- Slower Feedback Cycles: Scans take longer to process delaying vulnerability detection and posing challenges for agile development teams.
- High Costs for Smaller Teams: Checkmarx’s enterprise-grade features come with a premium price tag, potentially limiting accessibility for smaller organizations.
- Limited extensibility and visibility: Gaps in Checkmarx’s portfolio and limited integrations with third-party scanners require additional tools to achieve full vulnerability detection.
Cycode: The Best Alternative to Snyk and Checkmarx
Both Snyk and Checkmarx provide valuable AST capabilities, but they come with limitations. Snyk excels at developer-friendly security but lacks comprehensive enterprise-grade features. Checkmarx, while robust, can be challenging to implement and maintain for agile teams or smaller organizations.
Furthermore, Snyk and Checkmarx both have relatively closed ecosystems and limited integrations with third-party scanners. This siloed approach prevents them from delivering a complete and unified application security solution – especially as new technologies emerge and testing requirements evolve.
Cycode’s AI-Native Application Security Platform for the AI Era solution best serves the needs of developers and enterprise security teams by combining superior AST scanners and developer experience with an enterprise-grade and extensible platform, risk-based prioritization, and workflow automation. Highlights include:
- Comprehensive AST coverage: Stop code risk before it starts and deliver safe code faster. Cycode’s proprietary scanners – including SAST, SCA, Secrets, Infrastructure as Code (IaC), Container, Source Code Leakage, and CI/CD posture – empower you to secure your code, software supply chain, and cloud-native infrastructure.
- Complete ASPM platform: Save developers time and fix what matters faster. Beyond its suite of proprietary scanners, Cycode unifies data from over 100 third-party security tools and leverages its Risk Intelligence Graph (RIG) to distill millions of findings into the few most critical risks. Cycode maps those risks to root causes and owners and automates workflows to simplify AppSec complexity, power risk-based prioritization, and accelerate remediation.
- Lower total cost of ownership: Identify tool overlaps, consolidate, and build the foundation for your future-fit security program. Cycode delivers a complete solution that empowers enterprise customers to adapt and optimize their security ecosystems for today and tomorrow.
Learn more about Cycode’s AST capabilities or get a demo to explore the full solution.
