CppUTest vs GoogleTest
CppUTest
cpputest.github.ioGoogleTest
google.github.ioSide by side
| Figure | CppUTest | GoogleTest |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · Unit Testing | 8.6 (#1) | 8.0 (#7) |
| Spec score · Unit Testing Frameworks | 8.7 (#1) | 8.1 (#8) |
| License | The project repository identifies its license as BSD-3-Clause. | The repository uses the BSD-3-Clause license, permitting source and binary redistribution subject to its conditions and disclaimer. |
| Purpose | CppUTest is a C/C++ xUnit framework for unit testing and test-driving code, frequently used in embedded systems. | GoogleTest is Google’s C++ testing and mocking framework. |
Plans
In their own words
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.
GoogleTest
GoogleTest is Google’s free C++ framework for testing and mocking on Linux, macOS, and Windows. Built on the xUnit architecture, it supports many kinds of C++ tests rather than only unit tests and discovers tests automatically without manual registration. Assertions cover equality, inequality, exceptions, and other conditions, with support for user-defined assertions. The framework includes fatal and non-fatal failures, death tests, and value-parameterized and type-parameterized cases. Developers can run individual tests, choose an order, or execute tests in parallel. Quickstarts cover Bazel and CMake, and pkg-config files help compile and link GoogleTest and GoogleMock. Documentation includes primers, advanced topics, mocking guides, FAQs, references, samples, and community material. The 1.18.x branch requires at least C++17. GoogleTest follows Google’s Foundational C++ Support Policy and publishes supported compiler, platform, and build-tool versions. It uses the BSD-3-Clause license, permitting redistribution under its conditions.