Is ESLint or Semgrep better?

Neither clearly leads. ESLint starts at Free and Semgrep at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.

Which is cheaper, ESLint or Semgrep?

ESLint starts at Free and Semgrep at Free.

Does ESLint or Semgrep run on more platforms?

ESLint runs on Browser-based JavaScript, Node.js, Any JavaScript environment. Semgrep runs on web, api, linux, mac, windows.

Can I use ESLint for free?

Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.

What is ESLint best used for?

ESLint is most often used for statically analysing javascript and jsx to find problems before runtime, automatically fixing issues with syntax-aware rewrites, enforcing a consistent code style across a team, running as a ci step to block non-conforming code. Of those, statically analysing javascript and jsx to find problems before runtime and automatically fixing issues with syntax-aware rewrites are not what Semgrep is typically brought in for.

What can ESLint do that Semgrep cannot?

Semgrep covers Static code scanning, Supply chain scanning, Secrets detection, Cross-file analysis.

Developer Tools · head to head

ESLint vs Semgrep

ESLint

Developer Tools

Find and fix problems in JavaScript code

From: Free
Free plan: Yes

Full review Website

Semgrep

Cybersecurity

Open-source static analysis tool for finding security bugs and enforcing code standards.

From: Free
Free plan: Yes

Full review Website

The short version

Each has a real cost: ESLint slow performance on large codebases compared to newer tools like Oxlint and Biome; Semgrep free tier caps out at 10 contributors and 10 repositories.
Prices and features above were last checked on 29 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which ESLint and Semgrep actually diverge.

Attributes where ESLint and Semgrep differ
Attribute	ESLint	Semgrep
Pricing model	Unknown	freemium
Platforms	Browser-based JavaScript, Node.js, Any JavaScript environment	web, api, linux, mac, windows
Category	Developer Tools	Cybersecurity
Founded	2019	Unknown

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in ESLint

Nothing recorded that Semgrep does not also cover.

Only in Semgrep

Static code scanning
Supply chain scanning
Secrets detection
Cross-file analysis
AI-powered triage and remediation
CI/CD integration

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

ESLint

Statically analysing JavaScript and JSX to find problems before runtimenot Semgrep
Automatically fixing issues with syntax-aware rewritesnot Semgrep
Enforcing a consistent code style across a teamnot Semgrep
Running as a CI step to block non-conforming codenot Semgrep
Writing custom rules for project-specific conventionsnot Semgrep

Semgrep

Scanning code for security vulnerabilities in CI/CDnot ESLint
Detecting vulnerable open-source dependenciesnot ESLint
Finding hardcoded secrets before code shipsnot ESLint
Enforcing custom code standards with rule setsnot ESLint
Prioritizing findings with AI-assisted triagenot ESLint

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

ESLint

Slow performance on large codebases compared to newer tools like Oxlint and Biome
Complexity in configuration from scratch, particularly for TypeScript support
Limited built-in TypeScript support, requiring separate parsers and coordination with new TypeScript features

Semgrep

Free tier caps out at 10 contributors and 10 repositories.
Secrets scanning is priced as a separate module ($15/contributor) from Code and Supply Chain.
Self-managed repositories and custom CI/CD require the Enterprise tier.
AI credits are limited per tier and additional usage requires upgrading.

Pricing, plan by plan

ESLint

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the ESLint review.

Semgrep

Free

FreeFree
- Up to 10 contributors
- Code and Supply Chain scanning
- 60 AI credits total
Teams$30/month
- Code, Supply Chain, or Secrets scanning per contributor
- Pro rules
- AI-powered triage and remediation
Enterprise$undefined/month
- On-prem support
- Custom CI/CD
- 50 AI credits per developer/month

Which should you pick?

Choose ESLint if

You want to start without paying.
You work on Browser-based JavaScript, Node.js, Any JavaScript environment.

ESLint review

Choose Semgrep if

You need static code scanning.
You want to start without paying.
You work on web, api, linux, mac, windows.
You also want supply chain scanning.

Semgrep review

Questions people ask

Is ESLint or Semgrep better?: Neither clearly leads. ESLint starts at Free and Semgrep at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, ESLint or Semgrep?: ESLint starts at Free and Semgrep at Free.
Does ESLint or Semgrep run on more platforms?: ESLint runs on Browser-based JavaScript, Node.js, Any JavaScript environment. Semgrep runs on web, api, linux, mac, windows.
Can I use ESLint for free?: Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is ESLint best used for?: ESLint is most often used for statically analysing javascript and jsx to find problems before runtime, automatically fixing issues with syntax-aware rewrites, enforcing a consistent code style across a team, running as a ci step to block non-conforming code. Of those, statically analysing javascript and jsx to find problems before runtime and automatically fixing issues with syntax-aware rewrites are not what Semgrep is typically brought in for.
What can ESLint do that Semgrep cannot?: Semgrep covers Static code scanning, Supply chain scanning, Secrets detection, Cross-file analysis.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

ESLint: Does ESLint automatically fix code issues?

Many problems ESLint finds can be automatically fixed via the --fix flag. ESLint fixes are syntax-aware so you won't experience errors introduced by traditional find-and-replace algorithms.

Source

Semgrep: What does Semgrep cost?

The Free edition covers up to 10 contributors; Teams starts at $30/contributor/month for Code scanning (Supply Chain also $30, Secrets $15); Enterprise is custom-priced.

Source

ESLint: How much does ESLint cost?

ESLint is completely free and open-source software maintained by the OpenJS Foundation. The project accepts voluntary donations from sponsors.

Source

Semgrep: Is there a free plan, and what are its limits?

Yes, the Free edition supports up to 10 contributors and 10 repositories with Code and Supply Chain scanning plus 60 AI credits total.

Source

ESLint: Can I write custom ESLint rules?

Yes. You can develop custom rules that work alongside built-in functionality through ESLint's plugin system, allowing complete customization for your project needs.

Source

Semgrep: How is usage metered?

Pricing is per contributor, defined as someone who made at least one commit to a scanned private repository in the past 90 days.

Source

Semgrep: Is there special pricing for startups?

Yes, Semgrep offers special startup pricing upon request for early-stage companies.

Source

ESLint vs Semgrep

ESLint

Semgrep

The short version

Where they differ

What each one covers

Only in ESLint

Only in Semgrep

What people use each for

ESLint

Semgrep

Where each one falls short

ESLint

Semgrep

Pricing, plan by plan

ESLint

Semgrep

Which should you pick?

Choose ESLint if

Choose Semgrep if

Questions people ask

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Related pages

More on ESLint

More on Semgrep

Keep looking

Other head to heads