Kover review

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Kover is an open-source code coverage toolset for Kotlin code compiled for JVM and Android platforms. It is aimed at developers maintaining Kotlin and Java projects, especially Android builds and Kotlin Multiplatform projects. The tooling is available through Gradle and Maven plugins, a command-line interface, offline instrumentation, a JVM agent, and a features artifact, giving teams several ways to add coverage collection to their build process.

The published offering is free and open source rather than divided into commercial tiers. Kover collects line, instruction, and branch coverage, then generates HTML reports for human review, JaCoCo-compatible XML reports for compatible workflows, and binary IC reports. It can combine coverage across projects or variants, filter classes by class, annotation, or inheritance, and apply configurable coverage verification rules. These controls make it suitable for teams that need coverage gates as part of JVM or Android build validation, not only standalone reports.

Platform fit is its clearest focus. Kover supports mixed Kotlin and Java sources, Android build variants, and Kotlin Multiplatform plugins, while its Gradle, Maven, CLI, offline instrumentation, and JVM-agent modes accommodate different build arrangements. That breadth should appeal to teams already working in the Kotlin ecosystem, particularly those using Android Gradle projects. Teams building primarily in other languages, or requiring report formats beyond HTML, XML, and IC, should consider a tool aligned with those requirements instead. Kover is a strong choice for Kotlin and Android coverage governance, but less suitable when broad language coverage is the main priority.

Kover pros and cons

• Where it wins
  • Supports JVM, Android host tests, build variants, and multiplatform plugins
  • Produces HTML, JaCoCo-compatible XML, and binary IC reports
  • Adds coverage filters and configurable verification rules
• Where it doesn't
  • Its documented language focus is Kotlin and Java
  • Coverage output is limited to HTML, XML, and binary IC formats
  • The broad tooling modes may require more build configuration

Kover fact sheet, pricing and score →

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.

Last updated 7 Oct 2026 · How we research and update