Best Static Analysis Tools in 2026
Updated
In short: MATLAB Grader is ranked #1 of 39 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of Infer and PMD. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Infer. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Codacy at $1.50/mo.
Static analysis tools help examine source code without running a program, with listed capabilities that can vary by language and development environment. Compare language support and IDE support, then look at security analysis and custom rules to understand the checks each tool offers. CI/CD support and deployment options can be relevant when fitting analysis into a development process. Free plans and paid-from pricing add useful cost context. MATLAB Grader, Infer, and PMD are among the entries, alongside Qodana and Semgrep Code. Consider the languages you use and whether integrations or configurable rules matter for your workflow.
39 static analysis tools ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
12 of the 25 here have a free tier you can use, 0 have open-source code on record, and 0 have full bars: free, open, on most of your devices and documented.
| # | App | Signal | Free tier | Open code | Devices | From | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MATLAB GraderWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | Free | 6.7 | |
| 2 | InferWeb · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.6 | |
| 3 | PMDWindows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.6 | |
| 4 | QodanaWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | $5/mo | 6.6 | |
| 5 | Semgrep CodeWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted · API · Extension | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | $30/mo | 6.6 | |
| 6 | Snyk Open SourceWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · API | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | $25/mo | 6.6 | |
| 7 | Clang Static AnalyzerWindows · Mac · Linux | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 8 | CodeSceneWeb · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | €18/mo | 6.5 | |
| 9 | CppcheckWindows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 10 | FlawfinderWindows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 11 | CodacyWeb · Extension | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | $1.50/mo | 6.4 | |
| 12 | GitarWeb · Self-hosted · API | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | $20/mo | 6.4 | |
| 13 | Black Duck CoverityWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted | Two bars | — | — | 4 of 6 | — | 5.6 |
| 14 | CodeCheckerWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted · API · Extension | Two bars | — | — | 4 of 6 | — | 5.6 |
| 15 | UnderstandWindows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted · API · Extension | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | $8343.33/mo | 5.6 |
| 16 | Veracode DASTWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · API | Two bars | — | — | 4 of 6 | — | 5.6 |
| 17 | PVS-StudioWindows · Mac · Linux | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.5 |
| 18 | LDRA Tool SuiteWindows · Mac · Linux | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.4 |
| 19 | OpenText Fortify SASTWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux | One bar | — | — | 4 of 6 | — | 5.4 |
| 20 | Perforce QAC (formerly Helix QAC)Web · Windows · Linux | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.4 |
| 21 | SquishWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Android · iPhone · Self-hosted · API | Two bars | — | — | 6 of 6 | — | 5.4 |
| 22 | KlocworkWeb · Windows · Linux | One bar | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 23 | SpotBugsWindows · Mac · Linux | One bar | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 24 | Coverity ScanWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 25 | JArchitectWindows · Mac · Linux | One bar | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
Is your app on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which static analysis tool is ranked first on Freedom251?
MATLAB Grader is ranked #1 of 39 with a score of 6.7. Infer is second and PMD third.
How many of these have a free plan?
12 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, Codacy has the lowest first paid tier we found: $1.50/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked free-and-open first: a usable free tier and open-source code, then the platforms it runs on and its documentation. Paid placements never change a rank.