CodeMarine vs Snyk
Snyk is a great tool for dependency scanning and container security. CodeMarine solves a different problem: catching vulnerabilities as AI writes them, before they ever reach your repo.
Different tools for different threat models. Here's where each one shines.
At a glance
Both tools make your code safer. They just protect against different threats.
- ✓ Industry-leading dependency vulnerability database
- ✓ Container and IaC scanning
- ✓ Deep CI/CD pipeline integration
- ✓ Large enterprise ecosystem
- ⚠ Scans after code is written (post-hoc)
- ⚠ Requires cloud connectivity for analysis
- ⚠ Not designed for AI-generated code patterns
- ✓ Catches AI-specific vulnerability patterns in <50ms
- ✓ Edge-first - your code never leaves your environment
- ✓ Slopsquatting detection (AI-hallucinated packages)
- ✓ Rules file backdoor scanning (.cursorrules, MCP configs)
- ✓ Real-time IDE integration - catches on every file save
- ✓ Works offline, air-gapped environments
- ✓ Behavioral intelligence across 15+ AI assistants
Feature-by-feature comparison
| Capability | Snyk | CodeMarine |
|---|---|---|
| AI-generated code detection | Limited | ✓ Purpose-built |
| Slopsquatting / hallucinated packages | ✗ | ✓ 7 ecosystems |
| Rules file backdoor scanning | ✗ | ✓ BIDI, Unicode, prompt injection |
| Detection speed | Seconds-minutes | <50ms |
| Runs locally / offline | ✗ Cloud required | ✓ Edge-first, code stays local |
| Code leaves your machine | Yes (cloud analysis) | Never |
| Dependency vulnerability DB | ✓ Industry-leading | Basic (focus is code patterns) |
| Container / IaC scanning | ✓ Comprehensive | ✗ Not in scope |
| Real-time IDE diagnostics | Basic | ✓ VS Code + CLI |
| AI assistant behavioral tracking | ✗ | ✓ 10+ assistants |
| Vibe Score (security reputation) | ✗ | ✓ |
| Starting price | Free tier + $98/dev/mo | Free + $5/mo (Scout) |
When to use which
Choose Snyk when you need:
- → Comprehensive dependency vulnerability management
- → Container image and IaC scanning
- → Enterprise-wide license compliance
- → Deep CI/CD pipeline integration at scale
- → A mature, established security platform
Choose CodeMarine when you need:
- → Real-time protection against AI-generated vulnerabilities
- → Edge-first scanning - code never leaves your environment
- → Slopsquatting and hallucinated package detection
- → Rules file backdoor scanning (BIDI, prompt injection)
- → Sub-50ms detection right in your IDE
- → Air-gapped or compliance-sensitive environments
Better together
CodeMarine and Snyk are complementary. Use Snyk for dependency and container security across your pipeline. Use CodeMarine to catch AI-specific threats at the point of creation - before vulnerable code ever reaches your repo or Snyk's scanner.
Snyk scans what's committed. CodeMarine catches what shouldn't be.
The AI-specific threat gap
Traditional security tools weren't built for AI-generated code. These threats are new - and growing.
Cosmetic fixes
AI changes syntax without fixing the vulnerability. Looks fixed in the diff. Still exploitable in production. CodeMarine detects the pattern, not just the syntax.
Slopsquatting
AI hallucinates package names that don't exist - but attackers register them. 19.7% of AI-suggested packages are hallucinated. CodeMarine checks 7 ecosystems offline.
Rules file backdoors
Hidden BIDI overrides and prompt injection in .cursorrules, copilot-instructions.md and MCP configs. Invisible to humans. CodeMarine scans them all.
Try CodeMarine free for 14 days
No credit card. Edge-first - your code stays on your machine.
Fixing bugs during coding is ~100× cheaper than in production. At $5/mo, CodeMarine pays for itself on the first catch.