By the end of this guide you will have scanned a code repository for security vulnerabilities, sorted the findings into real problems and noise, and sent the real ones back to developers as fixes. An AI code security scanner does the first pass: it reads your source code, flags likely flaws, and in many products suggests or opens a fix for you to review.
Most tools fall into a few groups, and the right one depends on your stack and team size. This guide explains the groups, walks through a first scan, and compares seven tools from our Coding category. It is a way to find problems earlier, not a replacement for a security review.
Key takeaways
- Connect a repository to a scanner, run a first scan on your main branch, triage the findings by reachability and severity, then fix through pull requests.
- The main decision is the type of scanner: rule-based static analysis with AI triage, an AI-native scanner for logic flaws, or a layer that triages the output of scanners you already run.
- Free tiers exist but are capped, for example Semgrep's Free Edition covers up to 10 contributors and Corgea's Free plan covers 2 team members and 10 repositories.
- AI findings and AI fixes are suggestions. A person with security knowledge should check every fix before it is merged.
What you need before you start
- A repository you can connect. Most tools install through GitHub, GitLab or another host, so you need permission to add an app.
- A branch to scan first. Start with your main branch or a small service, not the whole organisation.
- Someone who can judge a finding. A developer who knows the code can confirm whether a flagged path is reachable.
- A ticket or pull request workflow. Decide in advance where fixes go and who reviews them.
- Time. Setup and a first scan take under an hour for a small repository. Triage takes longer.
- Difficulty. Moderate. Connecting a repository is easy; interpreting findings takes judgement.
- Permission. Only scan code you own or are authorised to test, and check your company's policy before sending source code to a third-party service.
Which kind of AI tool fits this job
Think about what you want the tool to find and where you want to see the results.
Static analysis platforms with AI triage. Semgrep runs static application security testing with cross-file analysis, finds vulnerable dependencies, detects hardcoded secrets and adds AI-assisted triage and fixes. It has VS Code and JetBrains plugins. DeepCode AI is Snyk's engine behind Snyk Code and its fix suggestions, so you reach it through Snyk plans rather than on its own.
AI-native scanners for logic flaws. Corgea looks for business logic flaws such as broken authentication and missing authorisation checks, which Corgea says rule-based scanners tend to miss, and on paid plans posts auto-fix comments on pull requests. Gecko Security maps attack paths in a repository, keeps findings it believes are real with a source-to-sink call chain and proof of concept, and can open fix pull requests.
Quality and security together. Codacy scans commits and pull requests for security issues, secrets and quality problems, and its free Guardrails extension checks AI-generated and hand-written code in the editor.
Triage for the scanners you already run. Pixee is not a scanner. It takes findings from tools such as CodeQL, Semgrep and SonarQube, judges whether each is a true positive, and opens a pull request for confirmed issues. It suits teams with a long backlog.
Security for AI-assisted coding. Corridor reviews GitHub pull requests for security issues and passes security context back to coding agents such as Cursor and Claude Code before they write code. It fits teams whose code increasingly comes from assistants.
Step 1: Define what you are scanning for
Start by deciding the scope so the results mean something.
- List the repositories, languages and frameworks in scope.
- Decide which classes of problem matter: code vulnerabilities, vulnerable dependencies, hardcoded secrets, or logic flaws.
- Write down who owns each repository and will receive findings.
- Choose one repository for the first run.
Check it worked by being able to say in one sentence what a successful scan looks like.
Step 2: Choose a scanner that matches your stack
You end this step with one tool picked and a plan you can afford for the repositories involved.
- Check the languages and hosting platform the tool supports. Corgea connects to GitHub, GitLab, Azure DevOps, Bitbucket and Harness, while Gecko Security lists GitHub and GitLab.
- Compare the plan limits with your team size. Codacy's Team plan is for up to 30 developers, and Gecko Security's free trial is capped at 10 scans in total.
- Decide whether you need dependencies and secrets covered as well as source code.
- Use the comparison table below to see pricing and limits side by side.
Check it worked by confirming your repository fits inside the plan's repository and contributor limits.
Step 3: Connect the repository and run a first scan
The goal is a baseline of findings on your main branch.
- Sign up and connect your code host through the tool's app or integration.
- Select only the repositories you chose in Step 1.
- Run the first full scan. Gecko Security describes a deep scan that maps the code before investigating attack paths.
- Wait for the scan to finish and open the findings list.
Check it worked by seeing your repository listed with a scan status and a count of findings.
Step 4: Triage findings by reachability and severity
Not every finding is a real problem, so sort before you fix.
- Start with the highest severity and anything marked reachable. Pixee and Corgea both describe prioritising by reachability or attack path.
- Open each finding and read the code location and explanation.
- Mark clear false positives and write a short reason so they do not return.
- Group duplicates, such as the same weakness repeated across files.
Check it worked by having a short list of confirmed issues, each with an owner.
Step 5: Review and apply the suggested fixes
AI-suggested fixes save time but need the same scrutiny as any contribution.
- Open the fix as a pull request where the tool offers it. Gecko Security and Pixee describe fix pull requests, and Corgea posts fixes as pull request comments on paid plans.
- Read the diff and confirm it changes only what is needed.
- Run your tests, and add one that fails without the fix.
- Ask a developer with security knowledge to review anything touching authentication, permissions, payments or personal data.
Check it worked by seeing the finding clear on the next scan after the fix merges.
Step 6: Add scanning to every pull request
A one-off scan goes stale, so make the check part of the normal workflow.
- Enable pull request scanning. Gecko Security re-scans each commit and labels findings as new, persisting or fixed, Corridor reviews GitHub pull requests, and Codacy's AI reviewer for pull requests comes with its Team plan.
- Add editor plugins where they exist, such as Semgrep's VS Code and JetBrains plugins or Codacy's Guardrails extension.
- Decide whether high-severity findings should block a merge.
- Route findings into the tracker your team already uses.
Check it worked by opening a test pull request and seeing the scanner comment on it.
Step 7: Review results on a schedule
Findings and rules change over time, so keep a regular check.
- Review open findings on a fixed rhythm and close the ones that are done.
- Track the number of new findings per pull request.
- Revisit your triage decisions when the code or the rules change.
- Keep a human security review for releases that matter.
Check it worked by seeing the open findings list shrink over several weeks.
Tools for this job compared
| Tool | Good fit for | Pricing | Stated limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Semgrep | Static analysis, dependencies and secrets with AI triage | Freemium, paid from $15/mo (checked 24 Oct 2026) | Free Edition limited to 10 repositories and 10 contributors; AI credits capped each month; on-prem needs Enterprise |
| DeepCode AI | Snyk users wanting code scanning and autofix | Freemium, paid from $25/mo (checked 24 Oct 2026) | Only through Snyk plans; AI Fix covers 8 languages; AI Pentesting not on Free or Team |
| Codacy | Quality and security scanning with IDE guardrails | Freemium, paid from $18/mo (checked 24 Oct 2026) | Team plan for up to 30 developers and 100 private repos; Business pricing not published |
| Corgea | Business logic and authentication flaws | Freemium, paid from $39/mo (checked 24 Oct 2026) | Free: 2 team members, 10 repositories, 10 PR scans per month; PR scanning needs a paid plan |
| Gecko Security | Exploitable logic flaws ranked by attack path | Free trial, paid from $100/mo (checked 24 Oct 2026) | Free trial is 10 scans in total; Pro has 100 scans per month and up to 5 team members |
| Pixee | Triaging findings from scanners you already run | Contact sales | Not a scanner; needs a connected scanner; pricing is outcome-based and not published |
| Corridor | Pull request review and steering AI coding agents | Free trial, paid from $20/mo (checked 24 Oct 2026) | Pro capped at 5 projects and 100 monthly PR reviews; custom guardrails need Team or Enterprise |
Prices and plan limits change, so confirm the current terms on each vendor's site before you subscribe.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Treating every finding as real. Scanners over-report, and a long list overwhelms developers. Fix it by triaging on reachability and severity, and recording why you dismiss a finding.
- Merging an AI fix without review. A generated patch can silence the warning while leaving the weakness, or break behaviour. Fix it by reading the diff and running tests, with a security-aware reviewer for sensitive code.
- Scanning only once. New code adds new flaws. Fix it by turning on pull request scanning so every change is checked.
- Expecting one tool to cover everything. Pixee needs a scanner behind it, and DeepCode AI is delivered only through Snyk plans. Fix it by checking what each product covers and what it relies on.
- Sending code somewhere you have not cleared. Hosted scanners process your source. Fix it by checking your company policy and the vendor's data terms first. Semgrep's listing says source code stays in your CI environment unless you opt in to AI processing or Managed Scans.
How we put this together
This is an evidence-based guide built from each tool's listing in our directory, which is compiled from the vendor's own site and pricing page. It is not a review based on using the tools. We don't rank tools, and nobody paid to be included. Some outbound links may be affiliate links; see our disclosure.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free way to find security vulnerabilities in code with AI?
Yes, with limits. Semgrep has a Free Edition, Corgea has a Free plan, Codacy has a free Developer plan and a free Guardrails extension, and Snyk lists a Free plan that includes DeepCode AI. Gecko Security offers a free trial of 10 scans rather than a permanent tier. Check the caps before you rely on any of them.
Can AI find every vulnerability in my code?
No. AI scanners find many common flaws and some logic problems, but they also miss issues and raise false alarms. Use them as a first pass, keep human code review, and have a security specialist check anything high risk.
Will the scanner fix the problems for me?
Several tools propose fixes, often as pull requests, but you still review and merge them. Corgea, Gecko Security, Pixee and Semgrep describe AI-assisted fixes. Treat each one as a suggestion from a junior contributor.
Can I scan AI-generated code?
Yes. Codacy's Guardrails extension checks AI-generated and hand-written code, and Corridor steers coding agents toward secure output. Scan AI-written code in the same pull request flow as everything else.
How long does a first scan take?
The listings do not publish scan times, so it depends on repository size and the tool. Triage usually takes longer than the scan itself.
Compare more options in our Coding category.
