GitHub Advanced Security vs HCL AppScan comparison

GitHub and HCLSoftware are both solutions in the Application Security Tools category. GitHub is ranked #12 with an average rating of 8.0, while HCLSoftware is ranked #23 with an average rating of 7.0. GitHub holds a 2.5% mindshare in AS, compared to HCLSoftware ’s 2.3% mindshare. Additionally, 91% of GitHub users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 84% of HCLSoftware users who would recommend it.

GitHub Advanced Security

Read 12 GitHub Advanced Security reviews

7,576 Views
7,500 Comparison Views

91% willing to recommend

HCL AppScan

Read 44 HCL AppScan reviews

7,882 Views
5,123 Comparison Views

84% willing to recommend

GitHub Advanced Security

HCL AppScan

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Jun 3, 2026

HCL AppScan and GitHub Advanced Security are competitors in the application security space. HCL AppScan seems to have the upper hand in identifying vulnerabilities due to its extensive scanning capabilities, while GitHub Advanced Security offers stronger integration with development workflows.

Features: HCL AppScan is strong in identifying vulnerabilities with its extensive scanning capabilities, integration with SDLC, and dynamic scans. It combines static and dynamic testing and offers significant user customization. GitHub Advanced Security integrates well with development workflows and features CodeQL for tailored queries. It also supports secret scanning and dependency alerts.

Room for Improvement: HCL AppScan could improve integration and user-friendliness, handle false positives better, and support a broader range of languages. Its technical support has room for improvement. GitHub Advanced Security could enhance reporting and centralized dashboards. Configuring security rules can be complex, especially for large teams, and integration with more security tools could be beneficial.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: HCL AppScan is mainly deployed on-premises with cloud flexibility. Feedback on its technical support varies, particularly after transitioning from IBM. GitHub Advanced Security offers public and hybrid cloud deployments, benefiting from strong GitHub workflow integration, though support may not be as comprehensive.

Pricing and ROI: HCL AppScan is noted for its high cost but provides value by reducing vulnerabilities and delivering significant ROI. GitHub Advanced Security also has a high pricing model tied to active developer commitments, which can be costly for large teams. Both could optimize pricing to better fit various organizational sizes and usage patterns.

To learn more, read our detailed GitHub Advanced Security vs. HCL AppScan Report (Updated: August 2026).

Buyer's Guide

GitHub Advanced Security vs. HCL AppScan

August 2026

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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

GitHub Advanced Security

Ranking in Application Security Tools

12th

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

6.5

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

HCL AppScan

Ranking in Application Security Tools

23rd

Average Rating

7.6

Reviews Sentiment

5.9

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Static Application Security Testing (SAST) (18th), Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST) (7th)

Mindshare comparison

As of August 2026, in the Application Security Tools category, the mindshare of GitHub Advanced Security is 2.5%, down from 8.3% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of HCL AppScan is 2.3%, down from 2.6% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Application Security Tools Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
GitHub Advanced Security	2.5%
HCL AppScan	2.3%
Other	95.2%

Application Security Tools

Featured Reviews

Devendiran Kandan

DevOps Engineer at a tech vendor with 1,001-5,000 employees

Security scanning has protected our pipelines but currently needs clearer dashboards and controls

We used additional third-party solutions, but we replaced them with GitHub Advanced Security, even though I do not have a very good opinion about GitHub Advanced Security. Even though it is an inline product, I'm not seeing user-friendly things in GitHub Advanced Security. Dependent bots and the secret detection are good compared to others. However, code scanning is not finding very good results based on pipeline where it will scan and do code scanning. While build, before building and deploying the code, we want to block or do an advanced model, but it is not supporting. During deployment, code scanning is not good. It is a little complicated. It is not a straightforward method we can complete. We need expertise to get the full benefit, and troubleshooting sometimes requires going through that. The security overview dashboard is not really clear. It's not showing centralized information; each repo is showing, but if you compare it with competitors, it is not that great. Mainly in the centralized dashboard, enterprise level needs to improve. A centralized way where we can get that overall view is needed, and we want that code scanning and blocking deployments based on security. There are AI improvements, but however, it is not so easy to configure. It is multiple windows we need to go through and make changes or configure that. A few things we need to enable going into settings, and a few things we can find out in security. One product where security means the security dashboard should cover everything, but it is going here and there in many places.

Read full review

Ravi Khanchandani

Founder Director at Techsa Services

Has improved identification of encryption and authentication issues across cloud and on-prem applications

During the learning curve of onboarding HCL AppScan, we learned that HCL has altered the portfolio and now offers HCL AppScan 360, which has a much better look and feel with an improved user interface. However, there is one feature called SCA, which stands for Software Composition Analysis, that could be improved. When I'm doing an application scan, HCL AppScan has the ability to generate information about what components are in use. For example, if I'm scanning a web application, it shows me the various components being used. It tells me whether I have Java libraries, .NET frameworks, or other log management libraries such as Log4j, and what versions of those specific components are present. I would like to see more detailed reports from the tool. Currently, you can find out the components belonging to a specific software, but if detailed reporting became available, you would be in a better position to identify vulnerabilities. For instance, I could identify that I had the Log4j vulnerability and know that I need to fix my application accordingly. If they add the features I'm describing, I would consider giving them a higher rating. However, I've only been experienced with the product for three months.

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Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"The best features of GitHub Advanced Security are its flexibility and the multiple options it has compared to other tools."

"I have not experienced any performance or stability issues with GitHub Advanced Security."

"The initial setup was straightforward and completed in a matter of minutes."

"The most valuable is the developer experience and the extensibility of the overall ecosystem."

"It is a stable solution...It is a scalable solution as it can handle new applications along with the analysis part."

"GitHub Advanced Security is a very developer-friendly solution that is integrated within my development environment."

"Dependency scanning is a valuable feature."

"GitHub Advanced Security uses artificial intelligence in the backend, specifically CodeQL, to analyze code and provide fewer but more reliable findings, so there are less false positives."

More GitHub Advanced Security pros

"The most valuable feature of the solution is Postman."

"For me, as a manager, it was the ease of use. Inserting security into the development process is not normally an easy project to do. The ability for the developer to actually use it and get results and focuses, that's what counted."

"Technical support is helpful."

"With AppScan, we are now deploying less defects to production."

"HCL AppScan has helped us improve our security posture, as we've been able to identify quite a few issues."

"It has certainly improved our organization in terms of quality of solutions that are developed."

"Compared to other tools only AppScan supports special language."

"The reporting part is the most valuable feature."

More HCL AppScan pros

Cons

"GitHub Advanced Security should look into API security issues, which they currently do not. Additionally, open-source security vulnerabilities are not getting updated in a timely manner."

"For GitHub Advanced Security, I would like to see more support for various programming languages."

"The deployment part of the product is an area of concern that needs to be made easier from an improvement perspective."

"We used additional third-party solutions, but we replaced them with GitHub Advanced Security, even though I do not have a very good opinion about GitHub Advanced Security."

"The reporting feature might need improvement. While it integrates seamlessly with my workflow, it doesn't provide management with oversight, such as statistics and the number of vulnerabilities."

"A more refined approach, categorizing and emphasizing specific vulnerabilities, would be beneficial."

"There could be DST features included in the product."

"The report limitations are the main issue."

More GitHub Advanced Security cons

"The solution could improve by having a mobile version."

"IBM Security AppScan Source is rather hard to use."

"AppScan needs to improve its handling of false positives."

"The tool should improve its output. Scanning is not a challenge anymore since there are many such tools available in the market. The product needs to focus on how its output is being used by end users. It should be also more user-friendly. One of the major challenges is in the tool's integration with applications that need to be scanned. Sometimes, the scanning is not proper."

"There is room for improvement in the pricing model."

"I think it's a little bit complex, and that's quite a common issue with most of the IBM products."

"One thing which I think can be improved is the CI/CD Integration"

"In future releases, I would like to see more aggressive reports. I would also like to see less false positives."

More HCL AppScan cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The current licensing model, which relies on active commitments, poses challenges, particularly in predicting and managing growth."

"The solution is expensive."

"The price is very expensive."

"The product is moderately priced, though it's an investment due to extensive code analysis needs."

"Our clients are willing to pay the extra money. It is expensive."

"The solution is moderately priced."

"I would rate the product's pricing a nine out of ten. The product's pricing is expensive compared to the features that they offer."

"The price of HCL AppScan is okay, in my opinion. You just buy HCL AppScan and don't pay anything anymore, meaning it is just a one-time purchase."

"The tool was expensive."

"With the features, that they offer, and the support, they offer, AppScan pricing is on a higher level."

More HCL AppScan pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

16%

Computer Software Company

Comms Service Provider

Manufacturing Company

Financial Services Firm

10%

Manufacturing Company

Government

Construction Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	1
Midsize Enterprise	4
Large Enterprise	7

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	14
Midsize Enterprise	6
Large Enterprise	31

Questions from the Community

What needs improvement with GitHub Advanced Security?

See all answers

What is your primary use case for GitHub Advanced Security?

I'm working with software development nowadays. As a process, we are using the dependent bot alerts and the code scanning for Java, and some of the code scanning is happening. Security secrets in c...

See all answers

What advice do you have for others considering GitHub Advanced Security?

Dependent bots and the secret detection are good compared to others. However, code scanning is not finding very good results based on pipeline where it will scan and do code scanning. While build, ...

See all answers

What needs improvement with HCL AppScan?

See all answers

What is your primary use case for HCL AppScan?

I'm currently working with BigFix and HCL AppScan. At least three people in my company are using HCL AppScan. Since we are a reseller, we run it in both lab environments and live production applica...

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for HCL AppScan?

AppScan is considered more cost-effective than Veracode, although I have not updated the exact pricing details. Companies often choose based on budget constraints, with Veracode being on the higher...

See all answers

Comparisons

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Compared 16% of the time

Snyk vs GitHub Advanced Security

Compared 11% of the time

PortSwigger Burp Suite Professional vs GitHub Advanced Security

Compared 9% of the time

Veracode vs GitHub Advanced Security

Compared 8% of the time

Sonatype Lifecycle vs GitHub Advanced Security

Compared 3% of the time

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Veracode vs HCL AppScan

Compared 8% of the time

Checkmarx One vs HCL AppScan

Compared 7% of the time

PortSwigger Burp Suite Professional vs HCL AppScan

Compared 6% of the time

Acunetix vs HCL AppScan

Compared 5% of the time

Coverity Static vs HCL AppScan

Compared 2% of the time

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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

GitHub Advanced Security

July 2026

Download GitHub Advanced Security product report

Buyer's Guide

HCL AppScan

July 2026

Download HCL AppScan product report

Also Known As

No data available

IBM Security AppScan, Rational AppScan, AppScan

Overview

GitHub Advanced Security secures data by scanning for vulnerabilities in dependencies, secret scanning, and protecting sensitive information. It integrates seamlessly, reducing reliance on multiple tools and optimizing vulnerability detection.

GitHub Advanced Security is designed to enhance security awareness by offering comprehensive tools for secret scanning, code analysis, and SCSS dependency checks. AI-driven features deliver accurate security insights while minimizing false positives. It provides valuable integration with Azure DevOps, maintaining control within dashboards and enabling external systems' support through APIs. With CodeQL, users can perform custom queries across projects. Propelled by Microsoft, the platform enhances operational frameworks with essential security features, although improvements are needed in dashboard consolidation, reporting, and integration mechanisms. Users seek better customizability, language support, and training resources to ensure smoother implementation.

What are the key features of GitHub Advanced Security?

Security and Dependency Scanning: Identifies vulnerabilities in code and dependencies.
Secret Scanning: Detects sensitive information exposure.
Cost-effectiveness: Reduces the need for multiple security tools.
Developer Experience: Integrates seamlessly with development environments.
Extensibility: Custom queries via CodeQL and integration support.

What benefits and ROI can users expect?

Improved Security Posture: Enhanced visibility reduces risk.
Operational Efficiency: Streamlines processes with fewer tools.
Actionable Insights: AI-driven analysis provides clear guidance.
Enhanced Collaboration: Facilitates team integration through shared dashboards.

Industries implement GitHub Advanced Security to maintain robust security standards. It is favored by technology sectors seeking seamless integration with Azure DevOps and looking for customizable security tools tailored to project needs. Financial institutions value its accurate threat detection and compliance support, while enterprises focus on its comprehensive dependency scanning and code analysis capabilities to safeguard critical assets. The adaptability of GitHub Advanced Security across different operational environments illustrates its practical benefits.

GitHub

HCL AppScan offers quick vulnerability detection with effective SDLC integration and is known for its user-friendly interface and seamless security integration.

HCL AppScan provides dynamic and static scanning to identify vulnerabilities like XSS and SQL injection. It integrates well into CI/CD pipelines, supports multiple languages, and offers web and dynamic scanning, helping businesses ensure security across development lifecycles. Users benefit from API coverage, Postman integration, and its ability to function in cloud and on-premise environments, facilitating a shift from DevOps to DevSecOps practices.

What features define HCL AppScan?

User-friendly interface: Simplifies navigation and usage.
Vulnerability detection: Quickly identifies issues like XSS and SQL injection.
Integration with SDLC: Seamlessly blends with development processes.
Dynamic scanning: Offers comprehensive security evaluations.
Multiple language support: Supports diverse programming environments.

What benefits should users consider?

Scalability: Adapts to growing needs and projects.
Low false-positive rates: Delivers accurate and reliable results.
Detailed reporting: Provides comprehensive vulnerability insights.
Effective integration: Enhances CI/CD pipeline security.

HCL AppScan is leveraged in sectors requiring rigorous security checks, such as finance and healthcare, where it conducts comprehensive scans and offers insights into potential vulnerabilities. Its robust scanning capabilities aid companies in maintaining compliance and security standards.

HCLSoftware

Sample Customers

Information Not Available

Essex Technology Group Inc., Cisco, West Virginia University, APIS IT

Buyer's Guide

GitHub Advanced Security vs. HCL AppScan

August 2026

Free Report: GitHub Advanced Security vs. HCL AppScan

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