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Cybersecurity · head to head

Motorola Vigilant vs Semgrep

Motorola Vigilant logo

Motorola Vigilant

Cybersecurity

Fixed and mobile licence plate recognition with a shared law enforcement plate database

From
On request
Rated
-
Semgrep logo

Semgrep

Cybersecurity

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

From
Free
Rated
-

The short version

  • Only Semgrep has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Motorola Vigilant state law can decide eligibility outright: California's SB 34 imposes operator duties and restricts sharing ALPR data with out-of-state and federal agencies, and agencies have been audited and found non-compliant.; Semgrep free tier caps out at 10 contributors and 10 repositories.
  • They diverge on capability: Motorola Vigilant covers Fixed LPR cameras, Semgrep covers Static code scanning.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Motorola Vigilant and Semgrep actually diverge.

Attributes where Motorola Vigilant and Semgrep differ
AttributeMotorola VigilantSemgrep
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelquotefreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Windows, iOS, Androidweb, api, linux, mac, windows

Identical on both: 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 Motorola Vigilant

  • Fixed LPR cameras
  • Mobile LPR
  • LEARN database
  • VehicleManager analytics
  • Hotlist alerting
  • Published API
  • Audit logging

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.

Motorola Vigilant

  • A police department building a hotlist alerting network on arterial roads into a jurisdictionnot Semgrep
  • An investigator reconstructing a suspect vehicle's movements across multiple agency jurisdictionsnot Semgrep
  • A toll or parking authority enforcing against a registered vehicle listnot Semgrep
  • A sheriff's office locating a vehicle associated with an active AMBER or missing person alertnot Semgrep

Semgrep

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

Where each one falls short

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

Motorola Vigilant

  • State law can decide eligibility outright: California's SB 34 imposes operator duties and restricts sharing ALPR data with out-of-state and federal agencies, and agencies have been audited and found non-compliant.
  • Local surveillance technology ordinances increasingly require a published usage policy, retention limits and a public council hearing before purchase, which can add many months or block the procurement entirely.
  • Motorola has faced litigation over its dual role as ALPR operator and end user, so the legal exposure of the data-sharing model is unresolved and sits partly with the purchasing agency.
  • The value comes from the shared LEARN database, which means the capability an agency actually buys depends on what other agencies contribute, and that can shrink if peers withdraw for legal or political reasons.
  • Nothing is published on price, and camera hardware, database subscription and analytics are separate line items, so the multi-year total is far higher than the initial camera quote suggests.

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

Motorola Vigilant

On request
  • Vigilant LPR$undefined/year
    • Fixed and mobile camera hardware quoted per unit
    • LEARN database access subscribed per agency
    • Analytics software licensed separately

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 Motorola Vigilant if

  • You need fixed lpr cameras.
  • You work on Web, Windows, iOS, Android.
  • You also want mobile lpr.

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 Motorola Vigilant or Semgrep better?
Neither clearly leads. Motorola Vigilant starts at On request and Semgrep at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Motorola Vigilant or Semgrep?
Semgrep has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Motorola Vigilant and Free for Semgrep.
Does Motorola Vigilant or Semgrep run on more platforms?
Motorola Vigilant runs on Web, Windows, iOS, Android. Semgrep runs on web, api, linux, mac, windows.
Can I use Semgrep for free?
Yes. Semgrep has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Motorola Vigilant starts at On request.
What is Motorola Vigilant best used for?
Motorola Vigilant is most often used for a police department building a hotlist alerting network on arterial roads into a jurisdiction, an investigator reconstructing a suspect vehicle's movements across multiple agency jurisdictions, a toll or parking authority enforcing against a registered vehicle list, a sheriff's office locating a vehicle associated with an active amber or missing person alert. Of those, a police department building a hotlist alerting network on arterial roads into a jurisdiction and an investigator reconstructing a suspect vehicle's movements across multiple agency jurisdictions are not what Semgrep is typically brought in for.
What can Motorola Vigilant do that Semgrep cannot?
Motorola Vigilant covers Fixed LPR cameras, Mobile LPR, LEARN database, VehicleManager analytics. Semgrep covers Static code scanning, Supply chain scanning, Secrets detection, Cross-file analysis.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Motorola Vigilant: What is LEARN?

The Law Enforcement Archival Reporting Network, the shared database where plate reads from subscribing agencies are stored and queried. It is the core of the product.

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
Motorola Vigilant: Can any agency buy it?

No. Several states restrict ALPR use and data sharing, and many municipalities require a published usage policy and a public hearing first. Check statute and local ordinance before budgeting.

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
Motorola Vigilant: Does California allow sharing with federal agencies?

SB 34 restricts sharing ALPR information with out-of-state and federal agencies, and California agencies have been audited on precisely that point.

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
Motorola Vigilant: Is it only for police?

No. Toll and parking authorities, and some commercial repossession and insurance operations, also use LPR, though the LEARN law enforcement network is agency restricted.

Semgrep: Is there special pricing for startups?

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

Source
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