Boost.Test vs CppUTest
Boost.Test
boost.orgCppUTest
cpputest.github.ioSide by side
| Figure | Boost.Test | CppUTest |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · Unit Testing Frameworks | 8.3 (#3) | 8.7 (#1) |
| Spec score · Unit Testing | 8.3 (#4) | 8.6 (#1) |
| License | Boost.Test is distributed under the Boost Software License, Version 1.0. | The project repository identifies its license as BSD-3-Clause. |
| Purpose | Boost.Test supports simple program testing, full unit testing, and program execution monitoring. | CppUTest is a C/C++ xUnit framework for unit testing and test-driving code, frequently used in embedded systems. |
| Support | The FAQ directs users to the Boost Users mailing list and the project's GitHub issues for bug reports and feature requests. | The project site directs users with questions to Google Groups and provides a GitHub issues page for bugs and feature requests. |
Plans
In their own words
Boost.Test
Boost.Test is a free C++11, C++14, and C++17 library for simple program testing, unit testing, and program execution monitoring. Its BOOST_TEST macro handles comparisons involving floating-point values, collections, and strings. Test cases can self-register and be arranged into suites with fixtures, decorators, labels, dependencies, descriptions, and groups. Documentation also covers data-driven and template cases. Assertion context and configurable logging provide failure diagnostics, while XML and JUNIT logs support third-party and continuous-integration tools. Boost.Test can be used as a header-only, static, or shared library and is distributed under the Boost Software License, Version 1.0. The Boost 1.92.0 release page lists Unix source archives plus Windows source and binary downloads. The library page links documentation, Boost Slack discussion, and GitHub issues, and lists dependencies including Algorithm, Assert, Bind, Config, Core, Exception, and Type Traits. Listed platforms are Linux and Windows. There is no free trial because the software is free.
CppUTest
CppUTest is a free C/C++ xUnit framework for unit testing and test-driven development, frequently used in embedded systems. It organizes tests into groups with setup and teardown, and provides assertions for conditions, comparisons, strings, numbers, pointers and memory. CppUMock supplies mocking support, and the manual describes optional Google Mock integration. C source files can use CppUTest macros and wrappers to register tests with the framework. Its per-test memory leak check compares memory use before setup with usage after teardown. Plugins cover memory leak detection, pointer restoration and floating-point exception flags. The command-line runner can emit JUnit-style XML and TeamCity XML for CI systems; the manual also describes running Google Tests alongside CppUTest tests in one binary. Build options include source builds using CMake or autoconf, Debian and Ubuntu packages, and Homebrew on macOS. It supports Linux, macOS, Windows and self-hosted use, and the repository identifies its license as BSD-3-Clause. One build limitation is that MakefileWorker.mk is available for source builds but is not supported by pre-packaged installs.