Comparison
SafeWeave vs GitHub Advanced Security
GitHub Advanced Security (GHAS) brings code scanning, secret scanning, and dependency review directly into GitHub repositories and pull requests. SafeWeave takes a different shape: it runs locally and inside your AI editor through the Model Context Protocol, so findings surface while code is being written rather than after it is pushed. Here is an honest, architectural look at how the two compare.
Side by side
| Dimension | SafeWeave | GitHub Advanced Security |
|---|---|---|
| AI-editor / MCP-native | Built as an MCP server — scans run from inside Claude, Cursor, and other MCP-aware editors as the AI writes code. | Designed around GitHub repositories, Actions, and pull requests rather than an in-editor MCP workflow. |
| Local execution / code privacy | Scans run locally on your machine; source does not need to leave your environment for a scan. | Code scanning typically runs in GitHub-hosted (or self-hosted) Actions runners within the GitHub platform. |
| Install effort | Add one MCP server to your editor config; no repository onboarding or CI wiring required to start. | Enabled per repository/organization in GitHub settings, usually with a code-scanning workflow configured. |
| Scan model | 8 scanners (SAST, secrets, dependencies, IaC, container, DAST, license, posture) run together in a typical ~12s scan. | CodeQL semantic analysis plus secret scanning and Dependabot dependency review, oriented around commit and PR events. |
| Pricing posture / entry price | Open-core with an MIT-licensed core. Free tier at $0, then Developer Pro $15, Cloud $29, Team $99. | A paid add-on to GitHub, generally billed per active committer on enterprise/organization plans. |
| Best-fit use case | Developers who want security feedback in the editor and on their own machine, independent of where code is hosted. | Teams standardized on GitHub that want security gating native to pull requests and the GitHub UI. |
GitHub Advanced Security: GitHub-native code scanning (CodeQL), secret scanning, and dependency review built into the GitHub platform. Comparisons are qualitative and architectural — capabilities and pricing change, so verify the latest details on each vendor’s site.
When to choose which
Choose SafeWeave when…
Choose SafeWeave if you want findings while you (or your AI assistant) are still writing the code, if you prefer scans to run locally for privacy, or if your repositories are not all on GitHub.
Choose GitHub Advanced Security when…
Choose GitHub Advanced Security if your workflow is already centered on GitHub and you want security checks integrated directly into pull requests, the code-scanning UI, and Dependabot.
FAQ
Is SafeWeave a replacement for GitHub Advanced Security?
They overlap but solve the problem from different angles. SafeWeave focuses on local, MCP-native scanning in the editor, while GHAS focuses on security integrated into GitHub repositories and pull requests. Many teams find value in both: catch issues early with SafeWeave locally, and gate merges with GHAS in GitHub.
Does SafeWeave require my code to be on GitHub?
No. SafeWeave runs locally and is hosting-agnostic, so it works regardless of whether your code lives on GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, or a private server.
How does pricing compare?
SafeWeave is open-core with a free tier and published per-seat plans ($15 Developer Pro, $29 Cloud, $99 Team). GitHub Advanced Security is a paid add-on generally billed per active committer on enterprise plans.
See SafeWeave in your editor
Eight scanners, ~12 seconds, running locally and MCP-native. Free forever to start — no credit card required.