Percy vs Semgrep
Percy and Semgrep are both popular tools in the Code Review & Testing space. Both use a freemium pricing model, with Percy starting at Free and Semgrep at Free. Both offer a free tier to get started. Below we break down features, pricing, strengths, and weaknesses to help you decide which tool fits your workflow best.
Last updated: March 2026
Quick Verdict
Choose Percy if you want automated visual testing to catch ui regressions in every pr.. Percy's biggest strengths include catches visual regressions that unit tests miss and excellent cross-browser testing coverage. Choose Semgrep if you prefer fast, customizable static analysis for finding bugs and security issues. Key advantages include extremely fast performance compared to traditional sast tools and easy-to-write custom rules without deep ast knowledge. It's also rated higher (4.3 vs 4.2).
Automated visual testing to catch UI regressions in every PR.
Fast, customizable static analysis for finding bugs and security issues
| Percy | Semgrep | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Free Tier | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Rating | ★ 4.2 | ★ 4.3 |
| Categories | Code Review & Testing | Code Review & Testing |
| Key Features | 6 features | 6 features |
| Feature | Percy | Semgrep |
|---|---|---|
| Automated visual regression testing | ✓ | — |
| Cross-browser screenshot comparison | ✓ | — |
| Responsive design testing across screen sizes | ✓ | — |
| GitHub and GitLab PR integration | ✓ | — |
| Approval workflows for visual changes | ✓ | — |
| Integration with Cypress, Playwright, and Storybook | ✓ | — |
| Pattern-based code scanning across 30+ programming languages | — | ✓ |
| Custom rule creation with intuitive YAML syntax | — | ✓ |
| Thousands of pre-built security and code quality rules | — | ✓ |
| CI/CD integration with GitHub Actions, GitLab, and more | — | ✓ |
| Fast local scanning with minimal false positives | — | ✓ |
| Differential scanning to analyze only changed code | — | ✓ |
Percy
Pros
- + Catches visual regressions that unit tests miss
- + Excellent cross-browser testing coverage
- + Good integration with popular testing frameworks
- + Approval workflow makes review process clear
Cons
- − Free tier limited to a small number of screenshots
- − Can produce false positives from dynamic content
- − Pricing scales with screenshot volume
Semgrep
Pros
- + Extremely fast performance compared to traditional SAST tools
- + Easy-to-write custom rules without deep AST knowledge
- + Strong open-source community with extensive rule library
- + Privacy-first with local scanning and no code upload required
Cons
- − Advanced features like cross-file analysis require paid plans
- − Learning curve for writing complex multi-pattern rules
- − Language support maturity varies across different ecosystems
The Bottom Line
Choose Percy if: you want automated visual testing to catch ui regressions in every pr.. It's completely free to use. Keep in mind: free tier limited to a small number of screenshots.
Choose Semgrep if: you prefer fast, customizable static analysis for finding bugs and security issues. It's completely free to use. It holds a higher user rating (4.3 vs 4.2). Keep in mind: advanced features like cross-file analysis require paid plans.
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