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Head-to-head · Static Application Security Testing Software

GitHub CodeQL vs Horusec

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 5 checks side by side
Higher score GitHub CodeQL #2 in Static Application Security Testing Software 8.9/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 1 of 4 features Visit GitHub CodeQL
Horusec #7 in Static Application Security Testing Software 8.2/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 4 of 4 features Visit Horusec

GitHub CodeQL leads on 0 checks, Horusec on 0, and 5 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 5 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreGitHub CodeQL · 8.9/10
  • Free planboth
  • Most featuresHorusec · 4 of 4

GitHub CodeQL scores higher on our rubric for static application security testing software: 8.9 against 8.2 out of 10; our editors rank them #2 and #7.

GitHub CodeQL is the better fit for gitHub-centered teams needing semantic code analysis. Horusec is the better fit for open-source teams needing multilingual self-hosted scanning.

  • GitHub CodeQL fits best

    GitHub-centered teams needing semantic code analysis

  • Horusec fits best

    Open-source teams needing multilingual self-hosted scanning

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Side by side

Feature GitHub CodeQL 8.9/10 Visit ↗ Horusec 8.2/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.9 8.2
Ranking #2 in Static Application Security Testing Software #7 in Static Application Security Testing Software
Best for GitHub-centered teams needing semantic code analysis Open-source teams needing multilingual self-hosted scanning
Pricing model Free plan + paid Free
Starting price $30/user/mo Free plan
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud, Desktop Self-hosted
Platforms Web, Windows, macOS, Linux Web, Windows, macOS, Linux
Support Docs Community, Docs
Built for Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features GitHub CodeQL 1/4 · Horusec 4/4
IDE support ✓ ✓
CI/CD support Not checked yet ✓ (best)
SCA included Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Fix guidance Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Specs
Analysis target Not checked yet Source
Supported languages Not checked yet Not checked yet
Deployment Not checked yet Self-hosted
Our review
Pros
  • Semantic queries detect vulnerabilities and coding errors in source code.
  • Pull-request scanning and GitHub Actions integration support developer workflows.
  • Custom queries, SARIF, external CI, and VS Code extend analysis options.
  • Free, open-source scanning across 18 languages and configuration formats
  • Detects exposed secrets and analyzes Git history
  • Supports CLI, Docker, VS Code, CI/CD, and a vulnerability dashboard
Cons
  • Private-repository scanning requires GitHub Code Security licensing.
  • Language coverage is defined across nine listed programming-language entries.
  • Its focus is static source-code analysis rather than a broader security platform.
  • Self-hosted deployment requires teams to manage the environment
  • Third-party integration coverage is limited
  • An official deprecation issue creates long-term maintenance uncertainty
Our verdict

GitHub CodeQL is a semantic static-analysis engine for developers and security researchers who need to identify vulnerabilities, coding errors, and other issues in source code. It represents code as data, then applies queries to analyze…

Read the review →

Horusec is an open-source static application security testing tool from ZupIT for developers and DevSecOps teams. It analyzes source code across 18 listed programming languages and configuration formats, identifies security flaws and…

Read the review →
  1. GitHub CodeQLStatic Application Security Testing Software 8.9Free plan
  2. HorusecStatic Application Security Testing Software 8.2Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • GitHub CodeQL — where it wins

    • Semantic queries detect vulnerabilities and coding errors in source code.
    • Pull-request scanning and GitHub Actions integration support developer workflows.
    • Custom queries, SARIF, external CI, and VS Code extend analysis options.

    Where it doesn't

    • Private-repository scanning requires GitHub Code Security licensing.
    • Language coverage is defined across nine listed programming-language entries.
    • Its focus is static source-code analysis rather than a broader security platform.

  • Horusec — where it wins

    • Free, open-source scanning across 18 languages and configuration formats
    • Detects exposed secrets and analyzes Git history
    • Supports CLI, Docker, VS Code, CI/CD, and a vulnerability dashboard

    Where it doesn't

    • Self-hosted deployment requires teams to manage the environment
    • Third-party integration coverage is limited
    • An official deprecation issue creates long-term maintenance uncertainty

More comparisons

All static application security testing software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update