10 Best Code Review Tools For Developers & Testers In 2024

As technology continues to advance, developers and testers are constantly seeking new tools and techniques to improve their workflow and ensure high-quality code. Code review is an essential part of the development process, as it helps identify bugs, improve code quality, and promote collaboration among team members. In 2024, there are several code review tools that have emerged as top choices for developers and testers looking to streamline their processes and increase efficiency. In this article, we will explore the 10 best code review tools for developers and testers in 2024.

1. Gerrit

Gerrit includes Git-enabled SSH and HTTPS servers compatible with all Git clients. Simplify management by hosting many Git repositories together.

In terms of pricing and setup, Gerrit is open-source and can be self-hosted, offering a cost-effective solution for teams willing to handle their infrastructure management. This contrasts with GitHub and GitLab, which offer hosted solutions with scalable pricing models.

For teams looking for a straightforward, efficient code review tool without additional DevOps features, Gerrit provides a robust solution. Its emphasis on code review efficiency makes it particularly appealing for projects where streamlined collaboration and code quality are of utmost priority.

Features

• Manage workflows
• You can easily find the error in the source code 
• You can work with Gerrit, if you have regular Git client; no need to install any Gerrit client
• Gerrit can be used as an intermediate between developers and git repositories
• Gerrit is a free and an open source Git version control syste
• The user interface of Gerrit is formed on Google Web Toolkit
• It is a lightweight framework for reviewing every commit
• Gerrit acts as a repository, which allows pushing the code and creates the review for your commit
• Gerrit provides access control for Git repositories and web frontend for code review
• You can push the code without using additional command line tools
• Gerrit can allow or decline the permission on the repository level and down to the branch level
• Gerrit is supported by Eclipse

Get started here: Gerrit

2. Crucible 

Crucible by Atlassian is a tool of ”code review” type which makes it possible for people responsible for a code quality to check its particular parts, suggest changes and cooperate with developers in improving it. Owing to Crucible, reviewing a code along with its different versions is easy, fast and clear. The application allows assigning users to particular elements, commenting and following changes introduced by other people, in real time. The integration with Jira Software and other Atlassian applications makes it easier to manage the whole cycle of software development. 

Features 

• Inline discussion 
• Activity streams 
• Pre commit reviews
• Real time notifications
• Chat and report 
• Audit and compliance 
• Iterative reviews

Get started here: Crucible

3. Rhodecode

RhodeCode is an enterprise source code management platform for behind-the-firewall Mercurial, Git, and SVN. It is open source, secure, and provides centralized control over distributed code repositories. Developers get code review tools and custom APIs that work across Mercurial, Git & SVN. Companies get unified security and access controls so that their CTOs can sleep at night. 

Features 

• Inline Comments and TODO notes
• Live chat in code context
• RhodeCode Gists
• A Code Review Tool for Mercurial, Git, and Subversion
• Smart Integrations, and Smart Commits
• Pull Requests
• Custom Workflows and Integration

Get started here: RhodeCode

4. Bitbucket

When you work on a team with multiple Bitbucket users, you’ll want to work on your own set of code separately from the main codebase. Branches allow you to do just that. A branch represents an independent line of development for your repository. Think of it as a brand-new working directory, staging area, and project history. After you create a branch, you work on and commit code to that branch, pull updates from Bitbucket to keep your branch up-to-date, and then push all your work to Bitbucket.

Once you’ve got code changes on a branch in Bitbucket, you can create a pull request, which is where code review takes place. Your teammates will comment on your code with feedback and questions and eventually (hopefully) approve the pull request. When you have enough approvals, merge the pull request to merge your branch into the main code.

Features 

• Review large diffs with ease
• Find and fix bugs faster
• List conditions for reviewers to check off before approving
• Take control and establish consistency in your code with more checks and balances
• Access Controls/Permissions
• Approval Workflow
• Audit Trail
• Automated Testing
• Build Log
• Change Management
• Collaboration Tools
• Commenting/Notes

Get started here: Bitbucket

5. Review board

Review Board gives you a birds-eye-view of everything that matters for your day. The customizable Dashboard lists every review request waiting for your review, and every review request waiting for reviews from others. 

Review Board integrates with Continuous Integration and code checking solutions to provide automatic reviews on your code.

Jenkins, CircleCI, and Travis-CI are supported out of the box, and with our free Review Bot add-on, you can connect to a wider collection of tools, and even craft your own.

Features 

• Every review request you care about, all in one place
• Automatically review code with Review Bot and CI solutions
• Command line users will love it
• Integrate with services you are already using 
• Easy to handle code review 
• Creating and managing review request
• Integration With Github for code reviews
• Review Reports to share with higher management

Get started here: Review Board

6. Codescene

CodeScene is the leading Software Engineering Intelligence tool that maps hotspots in your codebase and pinpoints the exact lines of unhealthy code hindering software delivery flow.

With this knowledge, you can better prioritize new features, bug fixes or improvements. CodeScene also reviews the code health in pull requests and offers refactoring recommendations.

CodeScene is the invisible developer on your team that constantly watches out for changes in technical debt, giving you instant feedback on how to improve code health.

Features 

• CodeScene as a company has been highly responsive to my input over the whole course of my engagement with them. 
• CodeScene helps to find ways to improve the productivity of our development teams and measure our success
• Ultimately improving how quickly we can deliver value to the business
• This helps keep teams engaged and proactively looking for further insight from the tools many other features
• Getting CodeScene set up and connected to our repos was very easy
• CodeScene lets you interrogate code and discover entry points for the developers 
• The least technical stakeholders can understand with the streamlined visuals codescene creates

Get started here: CodeScene

7. Veracode 

Veracode is a broadly capable platform with the ability to focus in on different areas of software risk analysis. Blending SAST, SCA scanning and results in a user-friendly interface, backed by strong APIs with easy integration into CI/CD processes. 

Capable of providing a complete Secure Development Program with the inclusion of security focused training (SecurityLabs, eLearning) with direct ties to platform findings for an integrated developer experience.”

Features 

• Security risks are identified by thorough scans and are generally high quality and actionable. 
• Findings can be grouped by Applications for management-level risk analysis and prioritization of risks. 
• Add-on capabilities such as Mitigation Proposal Reviews enable outside confirmation on risk-acceptance processes. 
• Consultation sessions with Veracode engineers on findings enable developers to understand risks Veracode is highlighting and assess options for remediation. 
• Strong-partnership through Veracode Customer Success Managers enable accelerated focus on organization security-focused objectives and progress on related goals.

Get started here: Veracode

8. Phabricator

Host Git, Mercurial, and Subversion repositories with Diffusion, or connect an existing repository elsewhere. Review others’ code with Differential, because they can’t be trusted.

Phabricator supports post-commit auditing, either as a primary workflow or, when coupled with Herald, allows rule based triggers to get an extra set of eyes on your code. The Plan features, track bugs, and award tokens. Maniphest lets you customize input forms, use custom fields, and has a rich API. 

Features

• Pre-Commit Code Review
• Supports Git, Mercurial, and SVN
• Audit Source Code
• Customizable Task Management
• Write Things Down
• Workboards and Sprints
• Chat Channels
• Command Line Tools

Get started here: Phabricator

9. GitLab

GitLab is the most comprehensive AI-Powered DevSecOps platform that enables software innovation by empowering development, security, and operations teams to build better software, faster.  With GitLab, teams can create, deliver, and manage code quickly and continuously instead of managing disparate tools and scripts.  GitLab helps your teams across the complete DevSecOps lifecycle, from developing, securing, and deploying software. 

Features

• It has a good vulnerability report and a security dashboard
• Another good feature is how milestones, issue boards, and merge requests are easily integrated
• Merge request review 
• The best GitLab has are the pipelines
• They can be used for integration, for unit tests, for external scanners and, what is most important for me, security scans
• This has a very clear and attractive user interface
• Very useful for doing code review on peer developers work
• GitLab is easy to use and configure the code collaboration is also top notch with every commit being logged to review incase someone messes up the code

Get started here: GitLab

10. GitHub

GitHub is where the world builds software. Millions of individuals, organizations and businesses around the world use GitHub to discover, share, and contribute software. Developers at startups to Fortune 50 companies use GitHub, every step of the way.

Features

• GitHub helps you and your team to collaborate on your project easily. 
• Sharing and syncing of your project is also a plus points for GitHub, you can do your work at anywhere the same time. 
• We can also share our past projects to public for others to get a reference
• You can get some reference from other developers much easier. 
• GitHub is the best platform to host code repositories for all your projects. 
• Easy to collaborate with team members and work on the same project simultaneously
• GitHub features of effortlessly creating pull requests, adding reviewers & tags and easily tracking work through user commits
• GitHub also offers great support for integration with build tools 
• Creation of a custom script to build images for deployment from our GitHub projects

Get started here: GitHub

FAQs

Conclusion

Code review is a critical aspect of software development, and having the right tools can make a significant difference in the quality and efficiency of the review process. The 10 code review tools mentioned above offer a range of features and capabilities to help developers and testers collaborate effectively, identify issues early, and deliver high-quality code. By utilizing these tools in 2024, developers and testers can streamline their workflows, improve code quality, and ultimately create better software products.