Snyk vs Checkmarx: 3 Key Differences, Pros & Cons, and How to Choose the Best Solution

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 Complete Application Security Posture Management (ASPM) platform 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 a Complete Application Security Posture Management (ASPM) platform. 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.

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 buy