19 BEST Static Code Analysis Tools (2022)

Matthew MartinByMatthew Martin Hours Updated

Static code analysis tools can analyze source or compiled code versions to find semantic and security flaws. They can highlight the problematic code by filename, location, and line number of the affected code snippet. They also save you time and effort since detecting vulnerabilities later in the development stage is difficult.

Many static code analysis tools are available in the market, and you’ll need to consider various factors before selecting one. Following is a handpicked list of Top Static Code analysis tools with their popular features, pricing info, and website links.

Best Static Code Analysis Tool

Name Supported Languages Free Trial Link
Collaborator C++, C#, Java, Ruby, Perl, etc. Yes- 30 days Learn More
Embold Java, C, C++, C#, Objective-C, JavaScript, Python, etc. Free basic plan Learn More
PVS‑Studio Visual Studio, C, C++, C++/CLI, C++/CX (WinRT), etc. Yes (Upon request). Learn More
SonarQube Java, Kotlin, C#, VB.NET, C, C++, JavaScript, Typescript, PPH, Cobol, Flex, Go, HTML, etc. Community edition is free Learn More
HelixQAC Java, Kotlin, C#, VB.NET, C, C++, JavaScript, etc. Yes- (Upon request) Learn More

1) Collaborator

SmartBear Collaborator is a static code analysis tool that offers comprehensive review capabilities. It helps you to review various documents like design, requirements, documentation, test plans, and source code. It is one of the best code scanning tools that help you conduct better peer code reviews with custom Templates, workflows, and checklists.

Collaborator

Features:

  • Build and Audit trail with Automatic Report and Metrics.
  • It helps you to analyze and improve your team’s peer review process with custom fields, defect metrics, and out-of-the-box reports.
  • Review source code, design docs, requirements, test plans, and documentation in one tool.
  • Analyze and improve your team’s peer review process with defect metrics,
  • Ensure proof with electronic signatures & detailed reports to meet
  • It enables you to make comments, mark defects, and track bugs in real time.
  • Supported languages: C++, C#, Java, Ruby, Perl, ASP.Net, Python, SQL, HTML, XML, and many others.
  • Price: Plan starts at $693 for 5 users for a yearly payment.
  • Free Trial: Yes- 30 days.

Link: https://smartbear.com/product/collaborator/overview/

2) Embold

Embold is a code analytics platform that helps you to build higher quality software by speeding up code review duration. It allows you to manage and monitor the quality of your software projects.

It automatically prioritizes hotspots in the code and also provides clear visualizations. You can analyse software from multiple lenses, including software design. It also helps you to transparently manage and improve software quality.

Embold

Features:

  • Embold offers visual and intuitive UI
  • Enables code review and quality monitoring
  • KPI feature helps you assess the business and engineering impact of various issues within your code
  • Anti-pattern visualization allows the developer to understand the issue in its context
  • IDE plugins are available for IntelliJ Idea, Android Studio, Visual Studio, and Visual Studio Code Extension.
  • Provides monitoring options like customer KPIs, Quality Check Point, and Custom Quality Check Point.
  • Supported Languages: Java, C, C++, C#, Objective-C, JavaScript, Python, PHP, TypeScript, Go, Kotlin, Solidity, SQL, etc.
  • Pricing: Plan to start at $4.99 per month
  • Free Trial: Free basic plan

Link: https://embold.io/

3) PVS‑Studio

PVS-Studio is one of the Best Static Application Security Testing tools for detecting bugs and security weaknesses. It offers a digital reference guide for all analytic rules, locally available, on its website and as a single document. It also provides simple navigation through the code’s warnings.

PVS‑Studio

Features:

  • Automatic analysis of individual files immediately following recompilation in the IDE.
  • Errors get into the version control system
  • Reduced mistakes during the software development process
  • The analyzer reports are available in HTML, XML, CSV, Json, CompileError, TaskList, TeamCity formats.
  • Easy integration with Visual Studio, IntelliJ IDEA, Rider, SonarQube, Jenkins, and other similar products.
  • Platforms: Windows, macOS, and Linux.
  • Supported Languages: Visual Studio, C, C++, C++/CLI, C++/CX (WinRT), etc.
  • Pricing: Contact customer care for pricing.
  • Free Trial: Yes (Upon request)

Link: https://pvs-studio.com/en/pvs-studio/

4) SonarQube

SonarQube is one of the best static analysis tools that empower you to write cleaner and safer code. It is a widely used open-source static analysis tool for continuously inspecting your project’s code quality and security. It finds different types of issues, vulnerabilities, and bugs in the code. You can enhance your workflow by continuously monitoring code quality and security.

SonarQube

Features:

  • It helps you catch tricky bugs to prevent undefined behavior that may impact end-users
  • Provide dashboards and portfolios for audit purposes
  • Easy CI/CD integrations with Jenkins, Azure DevOps Server, and many others
  • Supported Languages: Apex, C, C#, C++, COBOL, Flex, Go, HTML, Java, JavaScript, Kotlin Objective-C, PHP, PLI, PL/SQL, Python, Ruby, Swift, etc.
  • Pricing: Free
  • Free Trial: Its community edition is free

Link: https://www.sonarqube.org/

5) Helix QAC

Helix QAC is Perforce’s code analysis tool for C and C++. It automatically enforces coding standards, such as MISRA® (A set of software development guidelines), that ensure your code is compliant. You can develop and customize your own rules, project/business coding standards, or compliance modules for C or C++. You can integrate static code analysis with the rest of your development toolset.

Helix QAC

Features:

  • It helps you analyze the code’s entirety by project and section.
  • Prioritize coding issues based on the severity of risk
  • You can review project updates and notifications.
  • It helps you to measure overall code quality.
  • It is one of the best code scanning tools to monitor software development trends with customizable reports.
  • Supported Languages: Java, Kotlin, C#, VB.NET, C, C++, JavaScript, Typescript, PHP, Python, Cobol, CSS, Flex, Go, HTML, etc.
  • Pricing: Plan start at $4.99 per month
  • Free Trial: Yes- (Upon request)

Link: https://www.perforce.com/products/helix-qac

6) Veracode

Veracode is a widely known static code analysis tool that focuses solely on security issues. It is one of the best code scanning tools that help developers detect security flaws and includes pipeline scans, IDE scans, and policy scans. You can provide specific detail about the location of vulnerabilities in an application’s code.

Veracode

Features:

  • Secure your software without sacrificing speed
  • You can prioritize actual flaws with the lowest false-positive rate
  • Provides specific detail about the location of vulnerabilities in an application’s code, making them easier to remedy.
  • Manage and measure the software security posture of all your applications.
  • Supported Languages: Java, C, C++, C#, Objective-C, TypeScript, JavaScript, Python, PHP, Go, Kotlin, Solidity, SQL, etc.
  • Pricing: Plan starts at $4.99 per month
  • Free Trial: Free basic plan

Link: https://www.veracode.com/products/static-analysis-sast/static-analysis-tool

7) Reshift

Reshift is a SaaS-based software platform that integrates seamlessly into the software development workflow. It helps you to reduce the cost and duration of searching and resolving vulnerabilities. It also helps you to identify the potential risk of data breaches. It is a highly advanced static analysis tool that helps developers to secure their custom code.

Reshift

Features:

  • It provides rich content and best practices.
  • Detailed code fix suggestions.
  • Provide reports of overviews of overall project health, developer activity, and total issues fixed.
  • Offers fast scans, so you never miss a release.
  • Supported Languages: Javascript, NodeJS, ExpressJS, AngularJS, VueJS, and Electron.
  • Pricing: The pricing plan starts at $99 per month.
  • Free Trial: Free Basic version.

Link: https://www.reshiftsecurity.com/

8) Coverity Scan

Coverity is a code review tool that helps you locate errors and weaknesses as the code is written, saving time and cost for your software development project. It provides comprehensive identification and characterization of the issues, allowing faster resolutions. It helps you track and manage bug risks across the application portfolio.

Coverity Scan

Features:

  • This tool provides a detailed and clear description of the issues, which helps in faster resolution.
  • You can analyse your code in real time as you type in your IDE and get live and instant feedback & guidance.
  • It helps you test every code line and the potential execution path.
  • It explains the root cause of each defect to fix bugs.
  • Supported Languages: Java, C/C++, C#, JavaScript, Ruby, or Python open-source project.
  • Pricing: Free software.
  • Free Trial: Free.

Link: https://scan.coverity.com/

9) CodeSonar

CodeSonar by Grammatech is a static analysis tool for detecting programming error. It also helps discover domain-related coding errors. Additionally, built-in checks can be configured according to requirements. You can also integrate codeSonar with other software development environments.

CodeSonar

Features:

  • It offers the highest levels of safety for the IEC 61508 and ISO 26262 standards by Exida.
  • Test every line of code and the potential execution path.
  • It helps organizations develop and release high-quality software that is free of harmful defects that cause system failures.
  • It provides comprehensive code understanding capabilities that help developers understand and fix issues rapidly.
  • Supported Languages: C/C++, Java, C#, and Android
  • Pricing: Contact customer care for pricing
  • Free Trial: No, but provide a demo on request

Link: https://www.grammatech.com/codesonar-cc

10) Teamscale

Teamscale is a static analysis tool that supports developers in analyzing, monitoring, and improving the quality of your software. By pointing you to areas of code that are difficult to understand, it helps you to improve your code. Teamscale makes your software quality visible and empowers you to act against quality decay.

Teamscale

Features:

  • It integrates into your daily development work and offers integrations for your IDE.
  • Provide instant feedback about the changes in your code’s quality.
  • IDE Integrations: Eclipse, NetBeans, Visual Studio, etc.
  • Supported Languages: Java, C++, Python, C, etc.
  • Pricing: Plan to start at EUR 110.
  • Free Trial: No

Link: https://www.cqse.eu/en/products/conqat/overview/

11) CppDepend

CppDepend is a code analysis tool that helps you to analyze C/C++ codes. It supports different code quality metrics, monitors trends, and has an add-on that integrates with Visual Studio. The tool helps you identify and prioritize technical debt and quality issues.

CppDepend

Features:

  • Connect with your Git provider to start your first analysis within minutes.
  • You can set improvement goals for each hotspot and a quality level for all code.
  • Get Trend Charts to master the evolution of your project.
  • It offers an early feedback loop that detects code health issues before they appear on the main branch.
  • It provides code visualizations based on version-control data and machine learning algorithms.
  • You can integrate CppDepend into your build process and get highly detailed reports.
  • Supported Languages: C and C++.
  • Pricing: Contact customer care pricing.
  • Free Trial: Yes- Upon request.

Link: https://www.cppdepend.com/

12) CodeScene

CodeScene is a multi-purpose tool for bridging code, business, and people. It helps you to prioritize and reduce technical debt. It enables engineering and business teams to make smarter decisions to increase their business value.

CodeScene

Features:

  • You can measure the business impact of unhealthy code
  • It allows you to set improvement goals for each hotspot and a quality level for all code
  • Be proactive and supervise hotspots in your pull requests
  • Easy Integrations with GitHub, SonaQube, Bitbucket, Jenkins, and Azure DevOps
  • Supported Languages: Apex, C, C#, C++, Clojure, Dart2, Go, Groovy, Java, JavaScript, Kotlin, Swift, TCL, TypeScript, etc.
  • Pricing: €18 per month
  • Free Trial: Yes- 30 days free Trial

Link: https://codescene.com/

13) Codacy

Codacy helps you to check your code quality and keep track of your technical debt for more than 40 programming languages. This tool can be seamlessly integrated into your development workflow. It helps you to maintain your code quality by blocking merges of pull requests based on your quality rules. It also helps you to prevent critical issues from affecting your product.

Codacy

Features:

  • You can identify which codes are being covered by your test suite.
  • It helps you to speed up the process by receiving notifications as pull request comments or on Slack.
  • With hundreds of rules available, you can customize your analysis.
  • Identify exactly which lines of code are being covered by your test suite.
  • It prevents security-related issues.
  • Supported Languages: Apex, AsyncAPI, AWS Cloud​Formation, Azure Resource Manager Templates, C, C#, C++, CoffeeScript, Go, and more.
  • Pricing: Plan starts at $15 per month.
  • Free Trial: Yes- 14 das free Trial.

Link: https://www.codacy.com/

14) DeepSource

DeepSource is a static code analysis tool that helps you create pull requests with bug fixes using the Autofix feature. It creates patches with fixes that you can review and merge in a couple of clicks. You can leverage it to detect code quality and security issues early in your software’s development lifecycle.

DeepSource

Features:

  • A good source code analysis tool that covers everything you get from open-source.
  • Unlimited public repositories
  • It runs continuously on every pull-request
  • Easy integrations with GitHub, GitLab, and bitbucket
  • Supported Languages: Python, JavaScript, Go, JAVA, PHP, Rust, Terraform, UBY, SCALA, and more
  • Pricing: plan starts at $8 for one month.
  • Free Trial: Free Basic version

Link: https://deepsource.io/static-analysis/

15) VectorCAST

The VectorCAST code analysis tool works with your current software development tools, which allows you to reduce your IT investment and operating costs associated with Software-as-a-Service operation. It enables Continuous and Collaborative Testing. It also provides a scalable solution for multi-user environments.

VectorCAST

Features:

  • It offers project-specific reporting of measurement data and statistical analysis.
  • Enable Continuous and Collaborative Testing
  • It provides easy searching, filtering, and display of measurement data.
  • It offers automatic indexing of measurement data on import.
  • Supported Languages: C and C++
  • Pricing: Contact customer care
  • Free Trial: Yes (Upon request)

Link: https://www.vector.com/int/en/products/products-a-z/software/vectorcast/

16) Checkmarx SAST

With Checkmarx SAST, you can secure your most critical code commits within your rule sets, at scale. It offers customizable queries, actionable insights, and a simple web UI. It also helps you to Inject security automation into your dev pipeline.

Checkmarx SAST

Features:

  • Effortlessly scale security with flexible scanning.
  • You will get the accuracy you need to fix problems fast, with fewer false positives.
  • Supported Languages: Java, C, C++, C#, Objective-C, TypeScript, JavaScript, Python, PHP, Go, Kotlin, Solidity, SQL
  • Pricing: Contact customer care for pricing
  • Free Trial: Free basic plan

Link: https://checkmarx.com/product/cxsast-source-code-scanning/

17) Brakeman

Brakeman is a free vulnerability scanner software specifically designed for Ruby on Rails applications. It statically analyses Rails application code to detect security issues at any stage of development. It instantly updates messages for unsafe reflection.

Brakeman

Features:

  • Update message for unsafe reflection
  • Fix errors with hash shorthand syntax
  • Provide an additional string method for SQL Injection
  • Supported Languages: Java, C, C++, C#, Objective-C, TypeScript, JavaScript, Python, PHP, Go, Kotlin, Solidity, SQL
  • Pricing: Plan starting at $4.99 per month
  • Free Trial: Free basic plan

Link: https://brakemanscanner.org/

18) Gimpel Software

Gimpel Software is a static application security testing tool that helps you to identify defects and vulnerabilities. In addition, it allows you to improve your developer’s productivity as it offers a multi-threaded operation that allows you to analyze larger projects.

Gimpel Software

Features:

  • Detect bugs that can waste countless hours of developer and end-user time before they’re found.
  • Provide unlimited private repositories for individual accounts.
  • Leverage the parallel computation capabilities of modern hardware to quickly analyze large projects
  • Supported Languages: Java, C, C++, C#, Objective-C, TypeScript, JavaScript, Python, PHP, Go, Kotlin, Solidity, SQL
  • Pricing: Pricing plans start at $8 per month per team member
  • Free Trial: 30 Days

Link: http://www.gimpel.com/

FAQ:

❓ What are the Best Statics Code Analysis Tools?

Here are the Best Statics Code Analysis Tools:

  • Collaborator
  • Embold
  • PVS‑Studio
  • SonarQube
  • HelixQAC

⚡ What is Static vs. Dynamic code Analysis?

Here are some important differences between Static vs. Dynamic Code Analysis:

Static Dynamic
Static code analysis that is also known as Static Application Security Testing (SAST), is the process of analyzing computer software without actually running the software. Dynamic Application Security Testing or DAST, where the analysis occurs while the application runs.
It uncovers errors before testing the software. This code analysis method uncovers errors during the testing phase, including any errors that the static code analysis failed to uncover.
Static code analysis process helps reduce exposure to internal and external security risks. It helps you analyze how code interacts with other components, like application servers, SQL databases, etc.

🏅 How to select the Best Static Code Analysis Tools?

Here are some important factors that you need to consider when selecting a static code analysis tool:

  • Coverage: It should have a wide coverage range, including low-level and high-level checks.
  • Low false-positive rates: You should select the tool that should make it easy to manage fast positive, irrespective of how low the rate of occurrence is.
  • Flexibility: It should be able to run on a variety of platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android.
  • IDE Integration: You should be able to integrate their tools into their existing developer environments.
  • The extent of automation: You should also ensure that your select static code analysis tool is automated within the development environment.
  • Accuracy: The static doe analysis tool should be accurate and reliable.
  • Extensibility: The static analysis tool should handle changes and updates gracefully.
  • Cost: The cost of the tool should be reasonable.

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