GitHub Code Scanning vs HCL AppScan comparison

GitHub and HCLSoftware are both solutions in the Static Application Security Testing (SAST) category. GitHub is ranked #13 with an average rating of 8.5, while HCLSoftware is ranked #15 with an average rating of 8.1. GitHub holds a 1.6% mindshare in SAST, compared to HCLSoftware ’s 2.5% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of GitHub users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 84% of HCLSoftware users who would recommend it.

GitHub Code Scanning

Read 6 GitHub Code Scanning reviews

1,223 Views
1,174 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

HCL AppScan

Read 43 HCL AppScan reviews

4,265 Views
3,369 Comparison Views

84% willing to recommend

GitHub Code Scanning

HCL AppScan

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Dec 12, 2024

HCL AppScan and GitHub Code Scanning compete in security scanning software. GitHub Code Scanning is preferred for integration features, while HCL AppScan wins on pricing and support.

Features: HCL AppScan offers robust scanning capabilities, comprehensive policy configuration, and great pricing. GitHub Code Scanning is known for deep integration with GitHub workflows, actionable insights, and adaptability within development pipelines.

Room for Improvement: HCL AppScan could enhance integration flexibility, user experience, and database reach. GitHub Code Scanning could benefit from comprehensive vulnerability databases, better reporting features, and improved support response.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: HCL AppScan is praised for reliable customer support but has an intricate deployment process. GitHub Code Scanning simplifies setup with smooth GitHub integration and offers ease of deployment, but with mixed reviews on support responsiveness.

Pricing and ROI: HCL AppScan is valued for affordability and strong ROI from scanning capabilities relative to cost. GitHub Code Scanning involves higher setup costs but demonstrates good ROI through enhanced integration and streamlined development processes.

To learn more, read our detailed GitHub Code Scanning vs. HCL AppScan Report (Updated: November 2025).

Buyer's Guide

GitHub Code Scanning vs. HCL AppScan

November 2025

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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 Code Scanning

Ranking in Static Application Security Testing (SAST)

13th

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

6.7

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

HCL AppScan

Ranking in Static Application Security Testing (SAST)

15th

Average Rating

7.6

Reviews Sentiment

5.9

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Application Security Tools (15th), Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST) (3rd)

Mindshare comparison

As of November 2025, in the Static Application Security Testing (SAST) category, the mindshare of GitHub Code Scanning is 1.6%, up from 0.6% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of HCL AppScan is 2.5%, down from 2.8% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Static Application Security Testing (SAST) Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
GitHub Code Scanning	1.6%
HCL AppScan	2.5%
Other	95.9%

Static Application Security Testing (SAST)

Featured Reviews

VishalSingh15

Head of Business at Variyas Labs Pvt Ltd

Traverses the entire network, scanning every system to determine which ports are open

You can use the tool locally on your system or in the cloud. I rate it a nine out of ten. It's a very good tool for people who want to start using GitHubCode Scanning, especially for software development or team collaboration. GitHubCode Scanning allows teams to collaborate by uploading files to repositories. For example, if someone is developing an application, they can host the code on GitHub Code Scanning. Other developers can then download the code for testing purposes. If bugs are found, fixes can be applied using the GitHub Code Scanningrepository, and everyone on the team can see the changes. Software developers often use GitHub Code Scanning for version control, and it's essential for CI/CD pipelines to work.

Read full review

AnshulTomar

Cyber Security Architect and Presales Consultant at Kyndryl

Scalable platform with efficient static and dynamic testing features

We use the product for Static Application Security Testing (SAST) and Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST). By integrating AppScan into our CI/CD pipelines, aligned with Agile methodologies, we ensure that security testing becomes an integral part of the software development lifecycle The…

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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 static code analysis capability in GitHub Code Scanning is a very powerful feature, providing the ability to identify vulnerabilities and ensure code quality."

"It's very scalable, very easy to handle, and very intuitive."

"GitHub Code Scanning has positively impacted my organization as it helps us recognize errors and avoid many later issues which may arise."

"GitHub Code Spaces brings significant value with its simplicity and ease of use."

"We use GitHub Code Scanning mostly for source code management."

"The solution helps identify vulnerabilities by understanding how ports communicate with applications running on a system. Ports are like house numbers; to visit someone's house, you must know their number. Similarly, ports are used to communicate with applications. For example, if you want to use an HTTP web server, you must use port 80. It is the port on which the web application or your server listens for incoming requests."

"The most valuable feature of HCL AppScan is its integration with the SDLC, particularly during the coding phase."

"IBM AppScan has made our work easy, as we can do four to five scans of websites at a time, which saves time when it comes to vulnerability."

"There's extensive functionality with custom rules and a custom knowledge base."

"The solution is easy to install. I would rate the product's setup between six to seven out of ten. The deployment time depends on the applications that need to be scanned. We have a development and operations team to take care of the product's maintenance."

"The HCL AppScan turnaround time for Burp Suite or any new feature request is pretty good, and that is why we are sticking with the HCL."

"The solution is cheap."

"Technical support is helpful."

"The reporting part is the most valuable feature."

More HCL AppScan pros

Cons

"When running code scans, GitHub Code Scanning provides recommendations for probable fixes. However, integrating a feature where developers receive real-time highlights of vulnerabilities when checking in or merging a PR would be beneficial."

"GitHub Code Scanning should add more templates."

"One area for improvement could be the ability to have an AI system digest the reports generated from code scanning and provide a summary. Currently, the reports can be extensive, and users may overlook details, such as outdated libraries, which could be highlighted for attention."

"At times it becomes very annoying as it highlights certain things which are intuitive. They require code coverage for those aspects as an extra overhead."

"The solution's scalability can be a matter of concern because one license runs on one machine only."

"Sometimes it doesn't work so well."

"If HCL AppScan is able to alert the clients over email once the scan is complete, it would be great. Right now, HCL AppScan doesn't let me know if the scanning part is finished or not, because of which I have to come back and check mostly."

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

"Scans become slow on large websites."

"Improvement can be done as per customer requirements."

"The databases for HCL are small and have room for improvement."

"Visibility is an issue for us. Our partners do not know we have integrations with some of IBM products."

More HCL AppScan cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"GitHub Code Scanning is a moderately priced solution."

"The minimum pricing for the tool is five dollars a month."

"The solution is cheap."

"I rate the product's price a seven on a scale of one to ten, where one is low, and ten is high. HCL AppScan is an expensive tool."

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

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

"The tool was expensive."

"The product has premium pricing and could be more competitive."

"HCL AppScan is expensive."

"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."

More HCL AppScan pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

13%

Financial Services Firm

11%

Manufacturing Company

Transportation Company

Computer Software Company

15%

Financial Services Firm

12%

Government

10%

Manufacturing Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

No data available

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	13
Midsize Enterprise	6
Large Enterprise	31

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about GitHub Code Scanning?

We use GitHub Code Scanning mostly for source code management.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for GitHub Code Scanning?

The organization pays for the license of GitHub Code Scanning, but specific price details are unknown.

See all answers

What needs improvement with GitHub Code Scanning?

In my opinion, areas of GitHub Code Scanning that could be improved include that a few things are not visible to us, such as where it stores data and which path. There is a separate team for that w...

See all answers

What do you like most about HCL AppScan?

The most valuable feature of HCL AppScan is its integration with the SDLC, particularly during the coding phase.

See all answers

What needs improvement with HCL AppScan?

AppScan needs to improve its handling of false positives. It also requires enhancements in customer support, similar to what Veracode provides. Regularly scheduling calls with clients to discuss fe...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for HCL AppScan?

The primary use case for AppScan is for security purposes. I compare AppScan with other tools such as Veracode. We use AppScan for vulnerability detection and auto-remediation of vulnerabilities wi...

See all answers

Comparisons

SonarQube vs GitHub Code Scanning

Compared 36% of the time

Coverity Static vs GitHub Code Scanning

Compared 24% of the time

Aikido Security vs GitHub Code Scanning

Compared 8% of the time

OWASP Zap vs GitHub Code Scanning

Compared 6% of the time

Checkmarx SAST vs GitHub Code Scanning

Compared 5% of the time

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SonarQube vs HCL AppScan

Compared 12% of the time

Veracode vs HCL AppScan

Compared 12% of the time

Acunetix vs HCL AppScan

Compared 11% of the time

PortSwigger Burp Suite Professional vs HCL AppScan

Compared 7% of the time

Snyk vs HCL AppScan

Compared 3% of the time

More HCL AppScan Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

GitHub Code Scanning

October 2025

Download GitHub Code Scanning product report

Buyer's Guide

HCL AppScan

October 2025

Download HCL AppScan product report

Also Known As

No data available

IBM Security AppScan, Rational AppScan, AppScan

Overview

Code scanning is a feature that you use to analyze the code in a GitHub repository to find security vulnerabilities and coding errors. Any problems identified by the analysis are shown in GitHub.

GitHub

IBM Security AppScan enhances web application security and mobile application security, improves application security program management and strengthens regulatory compliance. By scanning your web and mobile applications prior to deployment, AppScan enables you to identify security vulnerabilities and generate reports and fix recommendations.

HCLSoftware

Sample Customers

Information Not Available

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

Buyer's Guide

GitHub Code Scanning vs. HCL AppScan

November 2025

Free Report: GitHub Code Scanning vs. HCL AppScan

Find out what your peers are saying about GitHub Code Scanning vs. HCL AppScan and other solutions. Updated: November 2025.

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