Open Source SonarQube Alternatives
Looking for self-hosted, open source alternatives to SonarQube? Here's a complete guide to the best open source code quality and security tools.
Why Choose Open Source?
Full Control
Host on your infrastructure. Complete data sovereignty and no vendor lock-in.
No License Costs
No per-user or per-project licensing. Scale without cost increases.
Transparency
Review the code. Contribute improvements. Build trust with auditable tools.
Open Source Tools
Semgrep
Fast, lightweight static analysis tool with pattern-based scanning. Excellent for custom security rules. Used by many companies as their primary SAST engine.
Languages:
Features:
- Pattern-based scanning
- Custom rule support
- Fast performance
- Low false positives
Limitations:
- No built-in dashboard
- SCA requires paid tier
- Requires rule expertise
Quick Install:
pip install semgrepPMD
Source code analyzer for Java, JavaScript, Apex, and more. Focuses on finding programming flaws, dead code, suboptimal code, and overcomplicated expressions.
Languages:
Features:
- Copy-paste detection (CPD)
- Customizable rulesets
- Maven/Gradle plugins
- IDE integration
Limitations:
- No security focus
- No dashboard
- Limited language support
Quick Install:
brew install pmdSpotBugs
Static analysis tool for finding bugs in Java programs. Successor to FindBugs with active development and modern Java support.
Languages:
Features:
- Bug pattern detection
- Security bug finders
- FindSecBugs plugin
- Maven/Gradle plugins
Limitations:
- Java only
- No dashboard
- Limited metrics
Quick Install:
brew install spotbugsESLint
The standard linting tool for JavaScript and TypeScript. Huge plugin ecosystem for code quality, style, and some security checks.
Languages:
Features:
- Huge plugin ecosystem
- Auto-fix support
- Custom rules
- IDE integration
Limitations:
- JS/TS only
- Not security focused
- No SAST/SCA
Quick Install:
npm install eslintBandit
Security-focused static analysis tool for Python. Designed to find common security issues in Python code.
Languages:
Features:
- Security focused
- Low false positive rate
- CI integration
- Custom plugins
Limitations:
- Python only
- No dashboard
- No SCA
Quick Install:
pip install banditGosec
Security-focused static analysis tool for Go. Scans Go source code for security issues by analyzing AST.
Languages:
Features:
- Go security focused
- CWE identification
- SARIF output
- Custom rules
Limitations:
- Go only
- No dashboard
- No SCA
Quick Install:
go install github.com/securego/gosec/v2/cmd/gosec@latestBrakeman
Static analysis security vulnerability scanner for Ruby on Rails applications. Designed specifically for Rails security.
Languages:
Features:
- Rails-specific checks
- Low false positive rate
- JSON/HTML reports
- CI integration
Limitations:
- Ruby/Rails only
- No dashboard
- No SCA
Quick Install:
gem install brakemanTrivy
Comprehensive security scanner for vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, and secrets. Covers containers, filesystems, and IaC.
Languages:
Features:
- Container scanning
- SCA (dependencies)
- IaC scanning
- Secrets detection
Limitations:
- No SAST
- No dashboard (in OSS)
- Focus on containers/deps
Quick Install:
brew install trivyBuilding a Complete Stack
No single open source tool covers everything SonarQube does. Here's how to combine tools for comprehensive coverage:
Recommended Stack
- SAST: Semgrep for pattern-based security scanning + language-specific tools (ESLint, Bandit, etc.)
- SCA: Trivy for dependency vulnerability scanning
- Secrets: Trivy or Gitleaks for secrets detection
- IaC: Trivy or Checkov for infrastructure-as-code security
- Containers: Trivy for container image scanning
Want It All in One Platform?
Managing multiple open source tools is complex. TigerGate combines SAST, SCA, secrets, IaC, container, cloud, and runtime security in one unified platform with a free tier.
Try TigerGate Free