Why Checkmarx

Checkmarx vs SonarQube: SonarQube SAST Alternatives

Checkmarx SAST: A better approach to static application security testing

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Benefits

Checkmarx SAST combines speed and accuracy to deliver exceptional value and developer experience

Compared to SonarQube, a static application security testing (SAST) solution from Sonar, Checkmarx SAST delivers more accurate scans across a broader range of application languages and frameworks. Keep reading for a detailed breakdown of how Checkmarx SAST and SonarQube compare, and why Checkmarx is the better choice for most teams.

Focus on security

Unlike SonarQube, which is the product of a vendor whose focus is mostly on code quality, Checkmarx SAST is built by a company that specializes in security and security alone. SonarQube users say that “it doesn’t hurt to have it if you’re already” using other Sonar products for code quality but that SonarQube isn’t “good enough to be an organization’s only tool if you’re taking security seriously.”

Developer-friendly SAST

SonarQube users report that the product has a confusing interface and can be buggy, which makes it difficult to use and can disrupt workflows. In contrast, Checkmarx has a solid track record of working out-of-the-box.

Detailed scan reports

When scanning static applications for vulnerabilities, Checkmarx SAST generates detailed scan reports that not only identify risks but also explain attack vectors and trace vulnerabilities back to specific code snippets. SonarQube offers only basic risk reporting, with minimal context or guidance to help teams solve issues quickly.

Feature Spotlight

Checkmarx Code Repository Integration

Teams can deploy Checkmarx SAST in minutes, integrate it with their favorite CI/CD tooling, and start running scans that deliver comprehensive visibility into software components and supply chains. That gives Checkmarx a huge advantage in terms of developer experience over SonarQube, which has a complex installation process that requires manual setup of multiple components.

Why Checkmarx is a Preferred SAST Tool

Complete application security platform

SonarQube’s developer, Sonar, offers solutions only for code quality, static security analysis and detection of secrets inside IaC files. Sonar lacks a comprehensive application security platform that covers most other important application security needs, such as Software Composition Analysis (SCA).

By comparison, Checkmarx SAST is just one part of Checkmarx’s end-to-end enterprise application security platform, Checkmarx One. Checkmarx supports a comprehensive set of testing capabilities from code-to-cloud, including static and dynamic application security testing (SAST and DAST), API security testing, Infrastructure as Code (IaC) scanning, and more. Checkmarx’s integrated capabilities mean that no matter where your risks lie, you can address them effectively and efficiently.

Efficient, accurate scanning

A simple deployment process, the ability to scan without having to compile code first, and the security context and remediation guidance included in scan reports make Checkmarx SAST a breeze to use. As one customer put it, “Compared to the solutions we used previously, Checkmarx has reduced our workload by almost 75%.”

SonarQube is harder to deploy, and it lacks the robust reporting and security context capabilities of Checkmarx. This makes it hard for teams that depend on SonarQube to keep pace with never-ending streams of scanning requirements and security alerts. SonarQube might meet your needs if you just want to check a box to say you ran scans, but not if you need detailed, accurate security insights.

Wide range of languages and frameworks

Name any mainstream programming language or framework, and there’s a very high chance that Checkmarx SAST can scan for security risks in apps developed using the language or framework. By comparison, SonarQube supports a limited set of languages, especially if you don’t pay for the enterprise edition of the tool.

Exceptional ROI

The fact that SonarQube is available in a free community edition may make it seem like a cost-effective SAST solution. When it comes to security, however, you get what you pay for – and Checkmarx provides a much more powerful set of features to help teams find and fix application security risks quickly. Checkmarx’s seamless deployment process, professional support, and developer training offerings bring even more value to the product.

Checkmarx SAST vs. SonarQube

Capability Comparison

Table’s title or description
Feature	SonarQube	Checkmarx SAST
Scan accuracy
Scan accuracy	False positive rates of 20%+ according to real-world users.	False positive rates of around 5 percent.
Integrations
Integrations	Integrates with popular CI/CD tools. Doesn’t provide native integrations with other security tools because Sonar doesn’t offer other types of security tools.	Supports a broad range of integrations, many of which can be deployed in minutes.
Speed
Speed	Scans can be slow, especially when scanning large volumes of files or working with limited CPU and memory resources.	Provides fast and accurate scanning with minimal required configuration.
Developer experience
Developer experience	Time-consuming deployment process and lack of detailed reporting slow down developer operations.	Simple deployment and configuration process let developers focus on finding and fixing issues.
Vulnerability exploitability
Vulnerability exploitability	Does not offer detailed information about exploitability.	Exploitable paths allow developers to determine quickly how vulnerabilities can be exploited – and, by extension, how best to fix them.
Remediation guidance
Remediation guidance	Minimal; scan reports focus on identifying issues, not explaining them or suggesting fixes.	Remediation guidance helps developers fix security flaws fast.
Pricing
Pricing	Free version is available but offers limited features. Paid versions have complex pricing based on number of tool instances, as well as total lines of code scanned – which can make bills unpredictable because you don’t always know how much code you’ll end up scanning.	Transparent, scalable pricing that is easy to optimize for different use cases.
Platform coverage
Platform coverage	Part of a suite of tools that only cover SAST and code quality.	Covers SAST, DAST, SCA, API security, IaC scanning and more in one tightly integrated platform.

What Our Customers Say About Us

Learn why the world’s top enterprises choose Checkmarx to secure their applications

“We view Checkmarx as our trusted partner. They’ve elevated our security posture by consolidating our SAST, SCA, and API Security into a unified platform, Checkmarx One, enabling us to achieve vulnerability remediation, reduce noise, and benefit from strong support.”

“Incorporating Checkmarx’s technology has revolutionized our development culture. It’s more than just technology; it serves as the foundation of our security strategy, ensuring that our applications are secure by design.”

“Checkmarx One definitely checks all my boxes from a security standpoint and has a great interface that’s engaging and easy to use. Some of the solutions we considered were more complicated. With Checkmarx One, it’s easy to get right to the problem with little to no learning curve.”

“The success of our AppSec program can be directly attributed to the tooling, processes and support provided by Checkmarx managed services. Our mission revolves around providing secure and compliant lottery and gaming applications and services to our clients around the globe, and with Checkmarx SAST, SCA and associated components enhanced by their stellar service support, we deliver on this promise with confidence and certainty.”

“After nearly nine years of using Checkmarx’s SAST, CGI’s journey has been one of seamless integration and consistent satisfaction. The last three years have been particularly smooth, reflecting the solution’s reliability and our successful partnership.”

“After reviewing the Checkmarx platform, I’m not sure how Veracode is able to exist while being at a similar price point.”

“By Far The Best AppSec Tooling Decision We Have Made!!”

“We were thrilled to find Checkmarx, which helped us improve the SLA for identifying and remediating risk, reduce risk and the number of vulnerabilities, and eliminate high- and medium-risk issues.”

“Checkmarx made security team and developers life easier.”

See it in action

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