Puma Scan

Puma Scan is a C# static-analysis tool built around Visual Studio and automated build pipelines. It is best suited to .NET developers and security, development, and operations teams that want findings during coding and enforceable checks in CI. Its focused Microsoft-stack workflow is a strength, while editor and project coverage limits its fit for broader teams.

Overview

Puma Scan analyzes source code and reports vulnerabilities as compiler warnings before a commit. The End User Edition runs locally in Visual Studio, making security feedback part of everyday coding rather than a separate review step. Pipeline editions extend that approach to automated checks and on-premises build environments.

The product targets C# in .NET Framework and .NET Core, including Web Forms and MVC. Legacy Web Site projects are unsupported, and the End User extension does not work with cross-platform editors such as VS Code. Those constraints make Puma Scan a deliberate choice for Visual Studio-centered teams, not a general editor-agnostic scanner.

Key features

Developer scanning

Visual Studio scanning surfaces findings while code is being written, so developers can investigate issues before they reach a shared branch. Community Edition analyzers run locally and do not contact Puma Scan servers for rule updates, which suits organizations that want local analysis without that server communication. The maker documents its vulnerability-analysis rules and cautions that static analysis can produce both false positives and false negatives; findings still require engineering judgment.

AI-generated code coverage

Puma Scan says the scanner covers code produced with GitHub Copilot, Cursor, Claude, ChatGPT, Amazon Q, and Gemini Code Assist. That is relevant when generated code is part of a C# workflow, but it does not replace review or validation of the results.

Pipeline controls and reports

Integrations for GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, and Azure DevOps support automated scanning. CI editions can apply configurable vulnerability-severity thresholds and stop builds that fail the required level, giving security teams a practical release gate. Server Edition adds command-line scans and an on-premises Azure DevOps command-line build task. It can export findings in HTML, JSON, MSBuild, VSO, VSTest, and CSV formats, which is useful when results must move into different build or reporting processes.

Pricing

The Community plan is free for open source projects. It is the sensible starting point for eligible open-source work, but it does not provide the paid editions' named-user, build-agent, or pipeline capacities.

End User costs $299 a year on an annual subscription. One named user may use it on up to three workstations; the license is valid for one year and renews annually. It fits an individual developer or a small .NET team that primarily needs Visual Studio feedback. The Professional End User Edition includes email support and scheduled telephone support, while the annual subscription includes product support and updates.

Server costs $4,999 a year with annual renewal. Each license covers up to five build agents; additional five-agent bundles cost $1,000, and five End User licenses are included. This is aimed at organizations running self-managed build infrastructure rather than a single developer.

Cloud CI Standard costs $5,999 a year, renews annually, supports up to 20 build pipelines, and includes five End User licenses. Cloud CI Unlimited costs $10,999 a year with annual renewal, removes the scanning limit within one organization, and also includes five End User licenses. Standard is the more controlled choice for a known pipeline count; Unlimited is justified when that ceiling would otherwise constrain a large organization.

A 30-day trial is offered without a credit card, but reporting is unavailable during the trial. That makes the trial useful for validating scanning and workflow fit, not for evaluating the full reporting process.

Platforms

Puma Scan supports Linux, macOS, Windows, and self-hosted deployment. Its IDE support is Visual Studio for the supported C# project types, with CI/CD integrations for the listed pipeline systems. It includes software-composition analysis and fix guidance, alongside its source-analysis focus.

Who it's for

Choose Puma Scan for a Visual Studio and .NET Framework or .NET Core environment where early compiler-warning feedback matters and CI gates need severity thresholds. Server Edition is the better fit for on-premises Azure DevOps and command-line build tasks; the cloud editions suit teams managing many hosted pipelines. Look elsewhere if developers work mainly in VS Code, rely on legacy Web Site projects, or need language coverage beyond C#.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Findings appear during Visual Studio coding, before commit, shortening the path from discovery to remediation.
• Pro: Severity thresholds can block failing CI builds, turning policy into an enforceable control.
• Pro: Server Edition offers broad export formats and an on-premises Azure DevOps build option.
• Con: The End User extension excludes VS Code and legacy Web Site projects, narrowing IDE and project compatibility.
• Con: Static-analysis false positives and false negatives mean results cannot be treated as conclusive without review.
• Con: Trial users cannot evaluate reporting because reports are unavailable during the 30-day period.

Alternatives

For a wider directory of tools, see Static Application Security Testing Software.

Skylos is a better comparison when local CLI scans, a web cloud project, or broader platform coverage including API and extensions matter.

Pick Snyk Open Source instead when software-composition analysis for open-source dependencies and a free tier of five projects are the priority.

Horusec is the free, Apache-licensed option for teams wanting open-source CLI and platform components.

MobSF is the free GPL v3 choice for mobile-focused Android and iOS analysis.

Pysa is the free MIT-licensed alternative for Python static analysis.

Semgrep Code is worth choosing when code and supply-chain scanning across up to 10 repositories is more important than Puma Scan's C# and Visual Studio focus.

Flawfinder is a free GPL-2.0+ option for teams seeking a lightweight open-source scanner.

Microsoft DevSkim is a free MIT-licensed choice with CLI, library, and IDE-extension components.

Verdict

Puma Scan is a strong match for .NET teams committed to Visual Studio that want immediate C# vulnerability warnings and CI policies capable of stopping non-compliant builds. Its paid tiers provide a clear path from one developer to on-premises agents or larger cloud pipeline estates. Choose another tool if VS Code, legacy Web Site projects, multiple programming languages, or trial reporting are central requirements.