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Head-to-head · Code Clone Detection Tools

PMD vs NiCad

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 2 checks side by side
Higher score PMD #3 in Code Clone Detection Tools 9.0/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 3 features Visit PMD
NiCad #4 in Code Clone Detection Tools 8.8/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 1 of 3 features Visit NiCad

PMD leads on 0 checks, NiCad on 0, and 2 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 2 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scorePMD · 9.0/10
  • Free planboth
  • Most featuresNiCad · 1 of 3

PMD scores higher on our rubric for code clone detection tools: 9.0 against 8.8 out of 10; our editors rank them #3 and #4.

PMD is the better fit for teams wanting clones plus broad static analysis. NiCad is the better fit for research-grade configurable clone detection.

  • PMD fits best

    Teams wanting clones plus broad static analysis

  • NiCad fits best

    Research-grade configurable clone detection

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature PMD 9.0/10 Visit ↗ NiCad 8.8/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.0 8.8
Ranking #3 in Code Clone Detection Tools #4 in Code Clone Detection Tools
Best for Teams wanting clones plus broad static analysis Research-grade configurable clone detection
Pricing model Free Free
Starting price Free plan Free plan
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Self-hosted, Desktop Self-hosted
Platforms Windows, Linux, macOS Windows, macOS, Linux
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business, Mid-market
Features PMD 0/3 · NiCad 1/3
CI integration Not checked yet Not checked yet
IDE integration Not checked yet Not checked yet
Self-hosted option Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Specs
Clone detection method Not checked yet Hybrid
Scan scope Not checked yet Repository
Supported languages Not checked yet Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • CPD detects duplicated code alongside 400+ built-in analysis rules
  • Supports 16 languages with Java and XPath custom rules
  • Fits Maven, IDE, CI, and major build-tool workflows
  • Detects exact and near-miss clones across repositories
  • Supports configurable normalization, abstraction, filtering, and thresholds
  • Produces clone-pair and clone-class reports in XML and HTML
Cons
  • Primarily suits teams comfortable with self-hosted developer tooling
  • Custom rules require Java or XPath knowledge
  • IDE support centers on Eclipse, IntelliJ IDEA, and Visual Studio Code
  • Command-line workflow may require Unix-like environments
  • Language availability varies by version and distribution
  • Self-hosted operation requires local setup and maintenance
Our verdict

PMD is an open-source, multilanguage static code analyzer for developers and development teams that need more than duplicate-code detection. Its CPD component identifies duplicated code, while the wider analysis engine covers issues such…

Read the review →

NiCad is a free, open-source command-line tool for detecting exact and near-miss code clones in software systems. It is aimed at researchers, engineering teams, and developers who need configurable repository analysis rather than a hosted…

Read the review →
  1. PMDCode Clone Detection Tools 9.0Free plan
  2. NiCadCode Clone Detection Tools 8.8Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • PMD — where it wins

    • CPD detects duplicated code alongside 400+ built-in analysis rules
    • Supports 16 languages with Java and XPath custom rules
    • Fits Maven, IDE, CI, and major build-tool workflows

    Where it doesn't

    • Primarily suits teams comfortable with self-hosted developer tooling
    • Custom rules require Java or XPath knowledge
    • IDE support centers on Eclipse, IntelliJ IDEA, and Visual Studio Code

  • NiCad — where it wins

    • Detects exact and near-miss clones across repositories
    • Supports configurable normalization, abstraction, filtering, and thresholds
    • Produces clone-pair and clone-class reports in XML and HTML

    Where it doesn't

    • Command-line workflow may require Unix-like environments
    • Language availability varies by version and distribution
    • Self-hosted operation requires local setup and maintenance
  • PMD9.0/10 · Free plan

    A strong open-source choice for teams pairing clone detection with broad static analysis.

    Visit PMDFull verdict →
  • NiCad8.8/10 · Free plan

    A configurable, self-hosted choice for exact and near-miss clone analysis.

    Visit NiCadFull verdict →

More comparisons

All code clone detection tools comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update