Terrascan vs Checkmarx: Which Should You Choose in 2026?
Choosing between Terrascan and Checkmarx comes down to understanding what each tool does best. This comparison breaks down the key differences so you can make an informed decision based on your specific needs, not marketing claims.
By Toolradar Team · Last updated February 28, 2026 · Methodology
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
Terrascan
Detect compliance and security violations across Infrastructure as Code (IaC) to mitigate risk.
Best for you if:
- • You need something completely free
- • You need infrastructure as code features specifically
- • Scans Infrastructure as Code (IaC) for security and compliance violations.
- • Includes 500+ out-of-the-box policies and supports custom policies via OPA/Rego.
Checkmarx
Application security testing platform
Best for you if:
- • You want the higher-rated option (7.8/10 vs 7.2/10)
- • You need code review features specifically
- • Checkmarx is an enterprise application security testing platform for finding vulnerabilities in code
- • It provides SAST, SCA, and DAST scanning integrated into CI/CD pipelines
| At a Glance |  Terrascan |  Checkmarx |
|---|---|---|
Price | Free | Paid |
Best For | Infrastructure as Code | Code Review |
Rating | 72/100 | 78/100 |
| Feature | Terrascan | Checkmarx |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Free | Paid |
| Editorial Score | 72 | 78 |
| Community Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Total Reviews | 0 | 0 |
| Community Upvotes | 0 | 0 |
| Categories | Infrastructure as CodeVulnerability Scanning | Code ReviewTesting & QA |
How Terrascan and Checkmarx Compare
Terrascan
Detect compliance and security violations across Infrastructure as Code (IaC) to mitigate risk.
Free · 72/100 score
Checkmarx
Application security testing platform
Paid · 78/100 score
Terrascan is a infrastructure as code tool. Checkmarx is in code review.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Terrascan is free. Checkmarx is paid.
Go with: Terrascan
Want the highest-rated option?
Terrascan: 72/100. Checkmarx: 78/100.
Go with: Checkmarx
Value user reviews?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: Checkmarx
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Terrascan is free. Checkmarx is paid. Go with Terrascan if free matters most.
What's your use case?
Terrascan is a infrastructure as code tool. Checkmarx is in code review. Pick the category that matches your needs.
How important are ratings?
Checkmarx scores higher: 78/100 vs 72/100.
Key Takeaways
Checkmarx
- Higher score: 78/100 vs 72
- Our pick for this comparison
Terrascan
- Completely free
- Better fit for infrastructure as code
The Bottom Line
Checkmarx (78/100) is our pick. That said, Terrascan is free — hard to beat on price.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Terrascan or Checkmarx better?
Checkmarx scores 78/100 in our evaluation. Terrascan is free and Checkmarx is paid.
What are Terrascan and Checkmarx used for?
Terrascan: Detect compliance and security violations across Infrastructure as Code (IaC) to mitigate risk.. Checkmarx: Application security testing platform.
What does Terrascan cost vs Checkmarx?
Terrascan is completely free. Checkmarx is a paid tool. Visit their websites for detailed pricing.