Cybersecurity · head to head
Falco vs Semgrep
Falco
Cybersecurity
CNCF-graduated runtime threat detection for Linux and Kubernetes using eBPF
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Semgrep
Cybersecurity
Open-source static analysis tool for finding security bugs and enforcing code standards.
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Falco falco detects and alerts but does not block; stopping an attack requires wiring up Falco Talon or your own response tooling, so out of the box a confirmed detection still means a human intervening after the fact.; Semgrep free tier caps out at 10 contributors and 10 repositories.
- They diverge on capability: Falco covers eBPF kernel instrumentation, Semgrep covers Static code scanning.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Falco and Semgrep actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Cybersecurity).
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 Falco
- eBPF kernel instrumentation
- System call rules engine
- Container and Kubernetes context
- Default rule set
- Falcosidekick
- Falco Talon
- Plugins framework
- DaemonSet deployment
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.
Falco
- A platform team that needs to know when a shell is opened inside a production container, which image scanning cannot detect because it happens at runtimenot Semgrep
- A regulated business required to evidence host and container intrusion detection on Kubernetes nodes for an auditnot Semgrep
- A security team wanting a vendor-neutral detection layer whose rules they can read and modify rather than a black-box agentnot Semgrep
- A cluster where a compromised dependency might write to sensitive paths or open unexpected outbound connections, and only kernel-level visibility will catch itnot Semgrep
Semgrep
- Scanning code for security vulnerabilities in CI/CDnot Falco
- Detecting vulnerable open-source dependenciesnot Falco
- Finding hardcoded secrets before code shipsnot Falco
- Enforcing custom code standards with rule setsnot Falco
- Prioritizing findings with AI-assisted triagenot Falco
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Falco
- Falco detects and alerts but does not block; stopping an attack requires wiring up Falco Talon or your own response tooling, so out of the box a confirmed detection still means a human intervening after the fact.
- The default rule set is noisy in real clusters and generates a large volume of benign matches from normal operational activity; without weeks of tuning, alert fatigue sets in and the team stops reading the feed, which is the usual failure mode.
- There is no storage, console, search or case management in the project, so a working detection capability means also running Falcosidekick, an event store, a dashboard and alert routing, all of which you build, host and maintain.
- The modern eBPF driver requires kernel 5.8 or later; older hosts fall back to the legacy probe or the kernel module, which brings driver-building against kernel headers and the operational fragility that comes with it on every kernel upgrade.
- Per-node syscall instrumentation carries measurable CPU overhead on busy hosts, and the cost scales with syscall volume rather than with cluster size, so the noisiest and most performance-sensitive workloads are exactly the ones that feel it most.
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
Falco
Free- Falco (open source)Free
- Apache 2.0 licence, CNCF graduated project
- eBPF and kernel module drivers
- Full rules engine and default rule set
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 Falco if
- You need ebpf kernel instrumentation.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Linux, Kubernetes, Self-hosted.
- You also want system call rules engine.
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.
Questions people ask
- Is Falco or Semgrep better?
- Neither clearly leads. Falco 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, Falco or Semgrep?
- Falco starts at Free and Semgrep at Free.
- Does Falco or Semgrep run on more platforms?
- Falco runs on Linux, Kubernetes, Self-hosted. Semgrep runs on web, api, linux, mac, windows.
- Can I use Falco for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Falco best used for?
- Falco is most often used for a platform team that needs to know when a shell is opened inside a production container, which image scanning cannot detect because it happens at runtime, a regulated business required to evidence host and container intrusion detection on kubernetes nodes for an audit, a security team wanting a vendor-neutral detection layer whose rules they can read and modify rather than a black-box agent, a cluster where a compromised dependency might write to sensitive paths or open unexpected outbound connections, and only kernel-level visibility will catch it. Of those, a platform team that needs to know when a shell is opened inside a production container, which image scanning cannot detect because it happens at runtime and a regulated business required to evidence host and container intrusion detection on kubernetes nodes for an audit are not what Semgrep is typically brought in for.
- What can Falco do that Semgrep cannot?
- Falco covers eBPF kernel instrumentation, System call rules engine, Container and Kubernetes context, Default rule set. Semgrep covers Static code scanning, Supply chain scanning, Secrets detection, Cross-file analysis.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Falco: Does Falco block attacks?
No. It detects and emits events. Response requires Falco Talon or your own automation on top.
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.
SourceFalco: Is Falco owned by Sysdig?
Sysdig created and open sourced it, but it graduated within the CNCF in February 2024, so governance sits with the foundation rather than the vendor.
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.
SourceFalco: What does it cost?
The project is Apache 2.0 with no licence fee. The cost is the storage, routing, tuning and staff time needed to make its output useful.
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.
SourceFalco: What kernel version do I need?
Kernel 5.8 or later for the default modern eBPF driver. Older hosts need the legacy eBPF probe or the kernel module.
Semgrep: Is there special pricing for startups?
Yes, Semgrep offers special startup pricing upon request for early-stage companies.
SourceRelated pages
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