Kelrova vs. Semgrep: where each fits.
Both find vulnerabilities in first-party code. Semgrep Code matches code against rules you can read and customize, with AI features on top; Kelrova is AI code security review with no rules to write.
Last reviewed
The short answer
Kelrova and Semgrep both find vulnerabilities in first-party code; the difference is rules. Semgrep Code is a SAST tool that reports code matching the patterns its rules define, runs in your CI and IDE, and adds AI features for triage, fixes and detection. Kelrova is an alternative to rule-based SAST: AI models read the whole repository in Kelrova's cloud the way a reviewer does, guided by your instructions and threat model, report each finding with its evidence, and open a draft fix pull request when a member asks.
Side by side: what each one does.
Kelrova's column comes from its own documentation, Semgrep's from Semgrep's public documentation.
| Topic | KelrovaAI security scans in Kelrova's cloud | SemgrepSemgrep Code and Semgrep's AI features |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | ||
| What it is | AI security scans of whole repositories, run in Kelrova's cloud, not on your machine or CI runner. | Semgrep Code is a SAST tool for first-party code that scans locally or in CI/CD. Community Edition is a separate edition with narrower analysis. |
| How it finds issues | ||
| How it finds issues | AI models read the repository at the level you pick, from the files changed since the last scan to every entry point, application and config file. Each finding comes with its evidence and fix guidance. | Rules define code patterns, and Semgrep reports the code that matches them; rules can be read and customized. Cross-file analysis runs on full scans, not on diff-aware pull request scans. |
| AI features | ||
| AI features | AI models run the whole scan, at the model tier you pick for each run: Fast, Balanced or Best. | Semgrep's AI features suggest which findings can be ignored, add fix guidance to pull request comments, generate code changes for fixes and add AI detection, for example of IDORs. They need the Semgrep AppSec Platform. |
| Secrets | ||
| Secrets | Secrets in code are reported as findings. | Semgrep Secrets is a separate product on the same platform. |
| Code hosts | ||
| Code hosts | GitHub, GitLab.com and Bitbucket Cloud. Self-managed GitLab and Bitbucket Data Center are not supported. | GitHub Cloud and GitHub Enterprise Server, GitLab SaaS and Self-Managed, Bitbucket Cloud and Bitbucket Data Center, and Azure DevOps Cloud. |
| Setup | ||
| Setup | Link a repository in the Kelrova portal. Scans run in Kelrova's cloud, by hand or on a schedule, with no CI change. | Turn on Code scans in the Semgrep AppSec Platform, then run semgrep ci from your CI provider, or scan locally. Extensions for VS Code and IntelliJ. |
| Pull requests | ||
| Pull requests | No checks on your team's pull requests. Merge gates can review Kelrova's own fix pull requests before you merge them. | CI scans post findings and guidance as pull request and merge request comments, and diff-aware scans check each change. |
| Fixes | ||
| Fixes | Go Fix opens a draft pull request on GitHub or Bitbucket, or a draft merge request on GitLab, when a member asks. A re-check confirms the fix once it is merged. | Semgrep's AI features can open pull requests or merge requests with AI-suggested fixes. |
| AI coding agents | ||
| AI coding agents | A hosted MCP server lets AI coding agents list and read findings, report what they fixed and request a re-check. It never starts scans. | Semgrep Guardian bundles the Semgrep MCP server, hooks and skills, and scans each file an AI coding agent writes or edits with Code, Supply Chain and Secrets. |
Information from Semgrep's documentation, checked October 21, 2026:
Where Semgrep is stronger
Semgrep gives you rules you control and checks that run wherever your code does. If these matter most, Semgrep is the better fit.
Rules you can read and change
Write, read and tune rules, with results you can reproduce. Kelrova has no rule language.
A published language list
Many languages generally available and more in beta or experimental, Terraform among them.
More code hosts
Self-managed GitLab, GitHub Enterprise Server, Bitbucket Data Center and Azure DevOps. Kelrova supports GitHub, GitLab.com and Bitbucket Cloud.
Runs where your code runs
The semgrep ci command in your pipeline, the CLI, VS Code and IntelliJ, and Guardian on the code an AI coding agent writes. Kelrova runs in its cloud.
Diff-aware pull request scans
Checks on each change, with comments on pull requests and merge requests.
Supply Chain and Secrets
Dependency and secrets scanning on the same platform. Kelrova is not a dependency scanner.
Rules and AI together
Semgrep's AI features work on top of rule-based findings, so rule matches and AI triage sit in one product.
When to choose which
They can be used together: Semgrep for checks on each change, Kelrova for periodic whole-repository review.
Choose Semgrep when
- You want rules you can read and customize.
- You want scans in your own CI and on every pull request.
- You want feedback in VS Code or IntelliJ.
- Your code is on self-managed GitLab or Bitbucket Data Center.
- You want dependency and secrets scanning on one platform.
Choose Kelrova when
- You want a cloud scan that reads the whole repository like a reviewer.
- You want no rules to write or maintain.
- You want each finding reported with its evidence.
- You want a draft fix pull request when you ask for one.
- You want Adversary scans that record every step of an attack path.
Questions about Kelrova and Semgrep
Something else? Contact us.
Is Kelrova an alternative to Semgrep?
For finding vulnerabilities in first-party code, yes. Kelrova is not rule-based: AI models read the repository and report findings with their evidence. Semgrep is rule-based and adds AI features, so teams that want editable rules and CI checks may prefer Semgrep or use both.
Does Kelrova use rules like Semgrep?
No. Scans are run by AI models guided by your instructions, threat model and business rules; there is no rule language to maintain.
Does Kelrova have something like Semgrep's AI features?
Kelrova's findings come with evidence and fix guidance, Go Fix opens a draft pull request when a member asks, and the MCP server lets your own AI coding agent read and fix findings. Semgrep's AI features add triage and fixes on top of rule-based findings.
Can Kelrova scan self-managed GitLab or Bitbucket Data Center?
No. Kelrova supports GitHub, GitLab.com and Bitbucket Cloud. Semgrep supports self-managed GitLab, GitHub Enterprise Server and Bitbucket Data Center.
About this comparison
Kelrova is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by Semgrep. Semgrep is a trademark of its owner. Product details come from Semgrep's public documentation as of October 21, 2026 and may have changed; check their pages for current information.