GitHub Code Scanning vs HCL AppScan comparison

GitHub and HCLSoftware are both solutions in the Static Application Security Testing (SAST) category. GitHub is ranked #16 with an average rating of 8.5, while HCLSoftware is ranked #15 with an average rating of 8.3. GitHub holds a 1.5% 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

1,145 Views
1,088 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

HCL AppScan

Read 43 HCL AppScan reviews

4,583 Views
3,666 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: September 2025).

Buyer's Guide

GitHub Code Scanning vs. HCL AppScan

September 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)

16th

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

7.8

Reviews Sentiment

5.9

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Application Security Tools (15th), Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST) (1st)

Mindshare comparison

As of September 2025, in the Static Application Security Testing (SAST) category, the mindshare of GitHub Code Scanning is 1.5%, up from 0.4% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of HCL AppScan is 2.5%, down from 2.6% 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 (%)
HCL AppScan	2.5%
GitHub Code Scanning	1.5%
Other	96.0%

Static Application Security Testing (SAST)

Featured Reviews

VishalSingh

Consulting & Solutions, BA/BD in Enterprise IT on Open Source, Red Hat & EDB at KEEN AND ABLE COMPUTERS 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.

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Gladwin Christian

QA manager at SmartStream Technologies ltd.

A useful tool to scan applications that can be easily installed

Given that we have been using HCL AppScan for many years, I think the setup process is not difficult at all. Sometimes, some issues stop or prevent my company from moving forward with the product's setup phase. We have to call HCL's support team and engage in long discussions to smoothly carry out the setup phase. In general, the product's setup phase is not difficult in our company. The solution is deployed on an on-premises model. The licenses for the solution are available only on cloud deployments nowadays. The solution is already installed in our environment. Every time a new release or software comes out from HCL, our company does a scan, which takes maybe a day or two.

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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

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

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

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

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

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

"It is easy it is to use. It is quick to find things, because of the code scanning tools. It's quite simple to use and it is very good the way it reports the findings."

"It's generally a very user-friendly tool. Anyone can easily learn how to scan"

"Technical support is helpful."

"The platform has valuable security features, helping us identify sensitive code issues and the possibility of internal applications' exposure to external threats."

"The solution is cheap."

"It is a stable solution...It is a scalable solution...The initial setup or installation of HCL AppScan is easy."

"This solution saves us time due to the low number of false positives detected."

"We are now deploying less defects to production."

More HCL AppScan pros

Cons

"GitHub Code Scanning should add more templates."

"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."

"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."

"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."

"I think being able to search across more containers, especially some of the docker elements. We need a little tighter integration there. That's the only thing I can see at this point."

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

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

"There are so many lines of code with so many different categories that I am likely to get lost. "

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

"It's a little bit basic when you talk about the Web Services. If AppScan improved its maturity on Web Services testing, that would be good."

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

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

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."

"AppScan is a little bit expensive. IBM needs to work a little bit on the pricing model, decreasing the license cost."

"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."

"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."

"The price is very expensive."

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

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

"The solution is moderately priced."

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

10%

Government

Computer Software Company

16%

Financial Services Firm

12%

Government

11%

Manufacturing Company

10%

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...

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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 Server (formerly SonarQube) vs GitHub Code Scanning

Compared 32% of the time

Coverity Static vs GitHub Code Scanning

Compared 25% of the time

SonarQube Cloud (formerly SonarCloud) vs GitHub Code Scanning

Compared 11% of the time

Aikido Security vs GitHub Code Scanning

Compared 10% of the time

OWASP Zap vs GitHub Code Scanning

Compared 6% of the time

More GitHub Code Scanning Competitors

Acunetix vs HCL AppScan

Compared 12% of the time

SonarQube Server (formerly SonarQube) vs HCL AppScan

Compared 12% of the time

Veracode vs HCL AppScan

Compared 11% of the time

OWASP Zap vs HCL AppScan

Compared 8% of the time

Invicti vs HCL AppScan

Compared 3% of the time

More HCL AppScan Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

GitHub Code Scanning

September 2025

Download GitHub Code Scanning product report

Buyer's Guide

HCL AppScan

September 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

September 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: September 2025.

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