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npm vs Semgrep

Semgrep focuses on static analysis, not package publishing

Short answer: Pick npm if you want public and private JavaScript package hosting; pick Semgrep if you want AI-augmented static analysis across code and supply chain. npm has a free plan, paid from $7/month; Semgrep has a free plan.

Which to pick

Pick npm if you want…

  • Public and private JavaScript package hosting

Pick Semgrep if you want…

  • AI-augmented static analysis across code and supply chain
  • Code security scanning

Side by side

What it is
npm:npm is a free package manager and registry for JavaScript packages, with paid plans for private packages and team permissions.
Semgrep:Semgrep is an extensible AppSec platform that combines AI-assisted SAST, SCA, secrets and malware detection to surface actionable security issues.
Best for
npm:Public and private JavaScript package hosting
Semgrep:AI-augmented static analysis across code and supply chain
Who it’s for
npm:JavaScript developers and teams who need to publish and manage packages.
Semgrep:Developers, AppSec teams and security leaders who need integrated static analysis.
Pricing
npm:Freemium
Semgrep:Freemium
Starting price
npm:$7/month (Pro)
Semgrep:—
Free plan or trial
npm:Free plan (Free)
Semgrep:Free trial
Plans
npm:Free $0 · Pro $7 per month · Teams $7 per user per month
Semgrep:—
Open source
npm:Yes, 10,259 GitHub stars
Semgrep:Yes, 16,826 GitHub stars
Works with
npm:—
Semgrep:CLI, CI/CD, VS Code, GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, Azure, Jira

npm features

  • Unlimited public packages. Publish any number of public packages to the npm Registry.
  • Private packages. Pro and Teams plans allow unlimited private package publishing.
  • Package-based permissions. Control who can access and modify each package.
  • Team-based permissions. Teams plan adds granular team management for package access.
  • Security warnings. Automatic security alerts are included for all plans.

Semgrep features

  • AI-assisted SAST, SCA & Secrets. Detect vulnerabilities, vulnerable dependencies and hard-coded secrets with rule-based analysis enhanced by AI.
  • Multimodal Detection. Combine deterministic static analysis with AI reasoning to find complex issues like IDORs and logic flaws.
  • Noise Filtering & Triage. AI learns code context to suppress false positives and prioritize real risks, reducing backlog.
  • Automated Remediation. Generate fix suggestions and upgrade guidance directly in PRs and IDEs.
  • Malware Firewall. Runs on developer machines to block malicious open-source packages before they reach the environment.
  • Incident Response Automation. Enterprise policies trigger Slack/Jira workflows and API alerts for rapid malware incident handling.
  • Wide Integration Support. CLI, CI/CD, VS Code, JetBrains, GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, Azure, Jira, APIs/webhooks and AI tool integrations.

npm vs Semgrep FAQ

What is the difference between npm and Semgrep?+

Semgrep focuses on static analysis, not package publishing.

Should I use npm or Semgrep?+

Pick npm if you want public and private JavaScript package hosting. Pick Semgrep if you want AI-augmented static analysis across code and supply chain or code security scanning.

Is npm or Semgrep free?+

npm has a free plan; paid plans start at $7/month (Pro). Semgrep has a free plan and paid plans.

Is npm or Semgrep open source?+

Yes, both are open source: npm (npm/cli on GitHub) and Semgrep (semgrep/semgrep on GitHub, LGPL-2.1 license).

On DevHunt

Based on each tool's website and DevHunt data. Details may change; check the official sites.