Microsoft Code Coverage review
A free, flexible coverage toolset for Microsoft-stack teams across three desktop platforms.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Microsoft Code Coverage is a free toolset for measuring how much managed .NET and native C++ code is exercised by tests or other application runs. It is suited to teams working with C# and C++ projects across Windows, macOS, and Linux. The tooling is distributed through Microsoft testing packages, dotnet-coverage, Microsoft.CodeCoverage.Console, and Visual Studio integrations, with workflows covering test projects, console applications, ASP.NET applications, and C++ binaries.
Its collection and reporting capabilities are the main strengths. Microsoft Code Coverage supports both static and dynamic instrumentation, along with managed CLR and unmanaged native coverage. Coverage can be collected from the command line through dotnet-coverage and Microsoft.CodeCoverage.Console. Teams can configure inclusion and exclusion rules with runsettings, XML, or JSON, then merge or convert reports for further use. Output includes coverage, XML, and Cobertura formats, while supported coverage types include line, block, assembly, class, and procedure coverage.
The toolset also supports coverage thresholds in Microsoft.Testing.Platform, making it suitable for teams that want coverage gates alongside collection. The command-line options provide a practical fit for automated workflows, while Visual Studio integrations offer another route for Microsoft-oriented development environments. Visual Studio licensing and edition requirements vary by workflow, so teams should distinguish those requirements from the separately documented command-line tooling. Microsoft Code Coverage is a strong choice for free coverage collection across .NET and C++ projects, but teams needing broader language support or an open-source implementation should choose an alternative.
Microsoft Code Coverage pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Collects managed CLR and native C++ coverage
- Supports static, dynamic, and command-line collection
- Merges reports, applies rules, and supports coverage thresholds
- Where it doesn't
- Visual Studio licensing varies by workflow
- Focused on C# and C++ coverage collection
- Closed-source tooling limits source-level customization
Microsoft Code Coverage fact sheet, pricing and score →
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