Freedom251 › CBMC

Instead of CBMC

CBMC alternatives

CBMC is built for bounded verification of C and C++: it unwinds loops, then checks the resulting equations for memory-safety errors, undefined behavior, and user assertions. It also supports C/C++ I/O equivalence checks with languages such as Verilog and can generate tests for several coverage criteria. Its free, BSD-licensed tool runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows, but the macOS and Windows distributions are command-line only, with no GUI; the Windows binary runs from the Visual Studio Command Prompt.

1. 1 I

   Infer

   Free plan LinuxMacSelf-hosted+1

   Free multi-language static analysis and potential bug reports — Infer analyzes Java, C, C++, Objective-C, and Erlang for potential bugs, while CBMC checks bounded C/C++ behavior and assertions.

   7.3 Free plan Visit site
2. 2 M

   MATLAB Grader

   by MATLAB Grader

   Free plan LinuxMacWeb+1

   Instructors creating and grading MATLAB assignments — MATLAB Grader creates and automatically grades MATLAB assignments, rather than verifying C and C++ programs like CBMC.

   Free plan Visit site
3. 3

   Qodana

   Free plan APIExtensionLinux+4

   Teams adding code analysis and quality gates to CI — Qodana analyzes code smells, vulnerabilities, and license issues across many paid-edition languages, while CBMC focuses on bounded C/C++ verification.

   7.1 Free plan · 30-day trial Visit site
4. 4

   Semgrep Code

   Free plan Open source APIExtensionLinux+4

   Teams prioritizing application security findings and fixes — Semgrep Code combines SAST and AI analysis for vulnerabilities across 35+ languages; CBMC instead verifies bounded C/C++ behavior.

   8.6 From $15/user/mo Visit site
5. 5 C

   Clang Static Analyzer

   Free plan LinuxMacWindows

   Free path-sensitive analysis of C-family code — Clang Static Analyzer uses symbolic execution for path-sensitive, inter-procedural bug analysis, while CBMC uses loop unwinding and decision procedures.

   7.5 Free plan Visit site
6. 6 C

   CPAchecker

   Free plan LinuxMacSelf-hosted+1

   Configurable software verification with open-source deployment options — CPAchecker offers configurable software verification, while CBMC specializes in bounded C/C++ checks using loop unwinding.

   7.5 Open source Visit site
7. 7

   Flawfinder

   Free plan LinuxMacSelf-hosted+1

   Free C/C++ security weakness scans and patch review — Flawfinder matches C/C++ source against a database of security-related functions, rather than checking CBMC-style assertions and bounded behavior.

   7.5 Free plan Visit site
8. 8

   GitHub CodeQL

   Free plan ExtensionLinuxMac+3
   7.4 Free plan · paid from $30/mo Visit site
9. 9 C

   CodeChecker

   Free plan APIExtensionLinux+4
   7.3 Open source Visit site
10. 10 F

    Frama-C

    Free plan LinuxMacWindows
    7.0 Free plan Visit site
11. 11

    PVS-Studio

    Free plan LinuxMacWindows
    7.0 Pricing on request · 7-day trial Visit site
12. 12

    Understand

    Free plan APIExtensionLinux+3
    6.9 Free plan · paid from $100/user/mo (annual) Visit site
13. 13 U

    Ultimate Automizer

    Free plan LinuxWebWindows
    6.5 Free plan Visit site
14. 14

    CppDepend

    Free trial LinuxMacWindows
    6.3 From $599/user · 14-day trial Visit site
15. 15

    LDRA Tool Suite

    Free trial LinuxMacSelf-hosted+1
    6.1 Pricing on request Visit site
16. 16 I

    Imagix 4D

    Free trial LinuxWindows
    5.9 Pricing on request · 15-day trial Visit site
17. 17 A

    Astrée

    Paid LinuxWindows
    5.5 Pricing on request Visit site
18. 18 F

    Fortify Static Code Analyzer

    Paid LinuxSelf-hostedWindows
    5.4 Pricing on request Visit site
19. 19 A

    Axivion Suite

    Paid LinuxMacWeb+1
    5.2 Pricing on request Visit site
20. 20 T

    TrustInSoft Analyzer

    Paid LinuxMac
    5.1 Pricing on request Visit site
21. 21 S

    SeaHorn

    Paid LinuxMacSelf-hosted
    5.0 Open source Visit site
22. 22

    Klocwork

    Paid LinuxWebWindows
    4.6 Pricing on request Visit site
23. 23

    Polyspace

    Paid LinuxMacWeb+1
    4.6 Pricing on request · 30-day trial Visit site
24. 24

    Perforce QAC (formerly Helix QAC)

    Paid LinuxWebWindows
    4.5 Pricing on request Visit site
25. 25 P

    Parasoft C/C++test

    Paid LinuxWindows
    4.2 Visit site

Alternatives suit different work. Some analyze more languages or emphasize security findings, CI integration, or teaching workflows instead of bounded C/C++ verification. Others offer a different verification or bug-finding method while remaining free. Consider whether you need CBMC’s assertions, memory checks, and solver-based loop unwinding, or would benefit more from broader language coverage, IDE and pipeline connections, or grading and reporting features. Pricing also varies: several options are free, while Semgrep Code starts at a per-user monthly price.

← Back to CBMC The whole c and c++ static analysis tools list