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 April 14, 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:
- 0
- • 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:
- 0
- • 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 | — | — |
| Feature | Terrascan | Checkmarx |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Free | Paid |
| 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
Checkmarx
Application security testing platform
Paid
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?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: Terrascan
Value user reviews?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: Terrascan
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?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Key Takeaways
Terrascan
- 0
- Completely free
- Our pick for this comparison
Checkmarx
- Better fit for code review
The Bottom Line
Terrascan is our pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Terrascan or Checkmarx better?
Terrascan is rated high 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.