# Static application security testing for small business buyers: what AI models recommend, September 2026

IT AI Recommendation Index, September 2026 Edition. Asked as "SAST tool" and as "static code security scanner", six framings each, to twelve models with search on, on behalf of a small B2B company. Page: https://it-ai-index.com/developer/static-application-security-testing/smb/

**Standing:** Semgrep leads with 70% of first choices; verdict clear leader. 47 first choices across the direct, paraphrase, budget and scale prompts.

## First-choice share

| # | Product | Share | Negative rate | Labels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Semgrep | 70% | 2% | 63 |
| 2 | Snyk Code | 9% | 6% | 36 |
| 3 | Aikido Security | 9% | 13% | 23 |
| 4 | Snyk | 4% | 10% | 10 |
| 5 | SonarQube | 2% | 21% | 52 |
| 6 | CodeQL | 0% | 17% | 24 |
| 7 | Bandit | 0% | 6% | 16 |
| 8 | CodeAnt AI | 0% | 8% | 12 |
| 9 | Codacy | 0% | 0% | 11 |
| 10 | OpenText Fortify | 0% | 89% | 18 |
| 11 | Veracode | 0% | 78% | 23 |
| 12 | Checkmarx One | 0% | 77% | 30 |

## Each model's first choice on the direct prompt

- Claude Haiku 4.5: Aikido Security, Semgrep; alternatives GitLab SAST
- GPT-5.4 mini: Semgrep; alternatives GitHub Advanced Security
- Gemini 3.5 Flash: Aikido Security; alternatives Semgrep
- Perplexity Sonar: Semgrep; alternatives Checkmarx One, GitHub Advanced Security / CodeQL, Veracode
- Grok 4.1 Fast: Semgrep; alternatives Snyk Code, SonarQube
- Mistral Small: Semgrep; alternatives Codacy, CodeAnt AI
- DeepSeek V4 Flash: Semgrep; alternatives CodeQL, Snyk Code, SonarQube
- Llama 4 Maverick: Semgrep
- Qwen 3.7 Flash: Snyk; alternatives Semgrep, SonarQube
- Kimi K2: Snyk Code; alternatives Semgrep, SonarQube
- GLM 4.7 FlashX: Semgrep; alternatives Snyk Code, SonarQube
- MiniMax M2.5: Semgrep, Snyk Code; alternatives Codiga, Corgea, GitHub Advanced Security / CodeQL

## Sources the answers cite

65 of 72 answers came back with a source list, from 12 of 12 models. Sites named in the most answers:

- dev.to: 42 answers, 77 citations
- corgea.com: 31 answers, 35 citations
- appsecsanta.com: 27 answers, 37 citations
- zeropath.com: 27 answers, 27 citations
- g2.com: 26 answers, 34 citations
- ox.security: 26 answers, 29 citations
- safeguard.sh: 23 answers, 33 citations
- pixee.ai: 19 answers, 21 citations

Pages named in the most answers:

- https://dev.to/rahulxsingh/i-reviewed-32-sast-tools-the-ones-worth-using-283e (37 answers)
- https://ox.security/blog/static-application-security-sast-tools (26 answers)
- https://zeropath.com/blog/best-sast-tools (26 answers)
- https://corgea.com/learn/best-sast-tools (23 answers)
- https://g2.com/categories/static-application-security-testing-sast/small-business (22 answers)
- https://pixee.ai/blog/best-sast-tools-2026 (18 answers)
- https://appsecsanta.com/sast-tools (17 answers)
- https://dev.to/rahulxsingh/11-best-sast-tools-in-2026-static-application-security-testing-compared-4ajo (17 answers)
- https://endorlabs.com/learn/best-sast-tools (16 answers)
- https://jit.io/resources/appsec-tools/best-sast-tools (15 answers)

## Warned against

- Checkmarx One: 23 of 30 labels negative. "Why Avoid: These are built for large teams with dedicated AppSec specialists.  (e.g., older versions of Checkmarx One, Fortify, Veracode enterprise plans)" (Qwen 3.7 Flash, negative prompt)
- Veracode: 18 of 23 labels negative. "Veracode | Enterprise‑focused, complex workflow, no transparent pricing; typically sold via long sales cycles and annual contracts." (GLM 4.7 FlashX, negative prompt)
- OpenText Fortify: 16 of 18 labels negative. "e.g., older versions of Checkmarx One, Fortify, Veracode enterprise plans ... Why Avoid: These are built for large teams" (Qwen 3.7 Flash, negative prompt)
- SonarQube: 11 of 52 labels negative. "Defaults to high false positives (40–60% untuned ...), demanding custom rules and maintenance that small businesses often can't sustain" (Grok 4.1 Fast, negative prompt)

## Record

- Method: https://it-ai-index.com/methodology/
- Raw judge labels and full responses: https://it-ai-index.com/data/
- License: CC BY 4.0. Cite as IT AI Recommendation Index, September 2026 Edition, it-ai-index.com.