Semgrep vs Shield Kya
A side-by-side look at the Semgrep and Shield Kya MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
Verdict: choose Semgrep for security work as a local process; choose Shield Kya for security as a local process. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
Which MCP server should you choose?
Choose Semgrep when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Security domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- Its auth model fits you: No auth required.
Choose Shield Kya when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Security domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You have the keys it needs:
KYA_API_KEY, KYA_OFFLINE, KYA_DIFF_PREVIEW, KYA_GATE. - You want tools like
kya.policy_evaluate, kya.session_ingest, kya.request_approval.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Security | Security |
| Quality signal | 48/100 · Fair | 55/100 · Good |
| Install command | Confirmed | Confirmed |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | Local subprocess (stdio) |
| Auth | No auth required | Not declared |
| Pricing | Free | Not declared |
| Required env vars | None listed | KYA_API_KEYKYA_OFFLINEKYA_DIFF_PREVIEWKYA_GATE |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 17,146 | 1 |
| Directory activity | 1 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 0 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | Not listed | 3 |
| Full listing | View Semgrep | View Shield Kya |
Tools & capabilities
Semgrep tools
No tool names declared yet. Check the project README from the listing page.
Shield Kya tools 3
kya.policy_evaluateALLOW` \kya.session_ingestObserve / raise-only riskkya.request_approvalOpen a human Hold. Does not execute the side effect
Ready-to-paste client configs
Paste either block (or both) into your client config, e.g. claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json. We only show a config when the install command is confirmed.
Semgrep
{
"mcpServers": {
"semgrep-semgrep": {
"command": "uvx",
"args": [
"semgrep"
]
}
}
}
Shield Kya
{
"mcpServers": {
"shield-kya": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@shield-agent/kya@latest"
],
"env": {
"KYA_API_KEY": "YOUR_KYA_API_KEY_HERE",
"KYA_OFFLINE": "YOUR_KYA_OFFLINE_HERE",
"KYA_DIFF_PREVIEW": "YOUR_KYA_DIFF_PREVIEW_HERE",
"KYA_GATE": "YOUR_KYA_GATE_HERE"
}
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
Semgrep is categorized under Security and uses a local stdio subprocess. Shield Kya belongs to Security and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick Semgrep for security work and Shield Kya for security.
Copy the mcpServers block from the config section on this page into your client's config (for example claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json), then fully restart the client.
Semgrep is listed as free. Auth: no auth required. Shield Kya has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. If a server needs environment variables such as API keys, define them under the env key in your client's MCP config.
Yes. MCP clients support multiple servers: add semgrep-semgrep and shield-kya as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, Semgrep has a quality signal of 48/100 (Fair) with 1 views, 0 installs and 17,146 GitHub stars. Shield Kya has 55/100 (Good) with 0 views, 0 installs and 1 GitHub stars.