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TFS Reviews

Vendor: Microsoft
4.0 out of 5
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What is TFS?

Visual Studio’s Team Foundation Server (TFS) is a powerful application development lifecycle management solution. It aids developers in managing every aspect of their DevOps and application creation. TFS combines many different types of solutions into a single powerful platform.

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TFS is the #4 ranked solution in top Quality Management Tools and #6 ranked solution in top Application Lifecycle Management Suites. PeerSpot users give TFS an average rating of 8.0 out of 10. TFS is most commonly compared to Microsoft Azure DevOps: TFS vs Microsoft Azure DevOps. TFS is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 63% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a computer software company, accounting for 13% of all views.
Buyer's Guide
TFS
August 2025
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TFS mindshare

Product category:
Test Management Tools
As of August 2025, the mindshare of TFS in the Test Management Tools category stands at 6.5%, down from 9.3% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Test Management Tools Market Share Distribution
ProductMarket Share (%)
TFS6.5%
Tricentis qTest15.1%
OpenText Application Quality Management12.6%
Other65.8%
Test Management Tools

PeerResearch reports based on TFS reviews

TypeTitleDate
CategoryTest Management ToolsAug 27, 2025Download
ProductReviews, tips, and advice from real usersAug 27, 2025Download
ComparisonTFS vs OpenText Application Quality ManagementAug 27, 2025Download
ComparisonTFS vs TestRailAug 27, 2025Download
ComparisonTFS vs Tricentis qTestAug 27, 2025Download
Suggested products
TitleRatingMindshareRecommending
Microsoft Azure DevOps4.1N/A95%135 interviewsAdd to research
Jira4.1N/A91%275 interviewsAdd to research
 
 
Key learnings from peers

Valuable Features

TFS offers extensive features like integration with Visual Studio, complete lifecycle management, and strong version control. Users appreciate its ability to manage application lifecycle, project management, and seamless development processes. Support for Agile, test management, and defect tracking enhances its functionality. The ease of use, customization options, and traceability ensure efficient collaboration. Features like build automation, reporting, and source control integration are highly valued, providing flexibility and control.
  • "TFS allows me to handle automated builds and release management quite easily."
  • "It is user-friendly with a straightforward drag and drop interface, which makes it easier for me to create builds and release pipelines without needing to program YAML files."
  • "A notable feature of TFS is its ease of creating user stories and tasks, which simplifies the process of adding and editing them."

Room for Improvement

TFS requires enhancements in integration capabilities, user interface, and tools for merging. Agile functionalities and dashboards could be more robust. Licensing and support need attention. Improving compatibility with third-party tools and platforms is suggested. Better project and test management features are desired. Stability, scalability, and performance are identified areas for development. The interface could be more intuitive, and advanced merging features should be simpler to use. Pricing and ease of setup present challenges.
  • "There are glitches, such as runners getting stuck, deployments generating errors, and it's becoming outdated."
  • "There might be some complexity in its off-cloud versions."
  • "TFS should have capabilities similar to Git, like storing all types of artifacts in the repository."

ROI

The ROI from TFS varies widely among users, with significant gains in productivity and cost efficiency noted. Many report that TFS has significantly reduced time required for validation and response to customer needs, highlighting automatic generation and real-time problem diagnosis. Users appreciate the seamless integration with Visual Studio and Azure Cloud, along with its impact on software development processes. While some haven't quantified ROI, others believe it justifies its investment through improved operations.

Pricing

Enterprise buyers find TFS pricing complex yet flexible, with options varying based on organization size and needs. The tool is often bundled with Microsoft subscriptions like Visual Studio, making it more cost-effective for those ecosystems. While some consider it expensive compared to specific competitors, others find the cost reasonable given its integration and functionality, particularly for those using it as an ALM solution. Licensing costs are typically annual, with both cloud and on-premise options available.
  • "There is a yearly licensing fee that needs to be paid."
  • "TFS is expensive, and the licensing costs are yearly. I rate the tool's pricing an eight out of ten."
  • "The tool's licensing costs are yearly."

Popular Use Cases

Organizations primarily use TFS for source control, version management, and project management within the Microsoft ecosystem. It's frequently utilized for code repository tasks, backlog management, bug tracking, and CI/CD processes. Teams leverage TFS for handling work items and agile methodologies, integrating with Git and managing full software development lifecycles. It is also applied to test management, deployment, and task assignment, supporting seamless collaboration across various domains like finance, healthcare, and software development.

Service and Support

Customers appreciate Microsoft's support for TFS, often finding self-help resources online. Many haven't needed direct contact due to the platform's reliability. When contact does occur, responses are often quick and thorough. A few suggest room for improvement in response time and availability, while those with premier support report excellent experiences. Overall, Microsoft's technical assistance is generally rated highly, though some regions face challenges accessing direct support.

Deployment

TFS initial setup is generally straightforward, with many finding it simple and well-documented. It often requires basic configurational knowledge and can benefit from documentation and support if needed. Some find configuring specific components more complex, particularly in larger environments. Installing newer versions is simpler compared to older ones. Initial deployments usually don't face significant issues, though larger teams might experience more complexity due to additional roles and permissions management.

Scalability

TFS' scalability receives positive ratings, often considered good, with many organizations successfully using it across various scales. The tool integrates well with Microsoft applications, supporting numerous users effectively. Some challenges arise with branch management and scalability in larger setups. Scalability rates range from six to ten out of ten, reflecting mixed experiences with deployment and performance, yet often meeting company needs. Many users report no significant issues when scaling TFS for their organizations.

Stability

Most users consider TFS stable, mentioning only minor issues such as hardware requirements and configuration-related stability concerns. Occasional glitches under heavy load, security leaks, and connectivity issues have been reported, but updates generally resolve them. Users appreciate TFS' dependability and performance, often rating its stability highly, though some experience slowness or prefer alternatives like Jira for agility. Users suggest appropriate hardware provisioning for optimal stability on-premise.
These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.
Download our TFS Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

Review data by company size

By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business12
Midsize Enterprise24
Large Enterprise54
By reviewers
By visitors reading reviews
Company SizeCount
Small Business139
Midsize Enterprise81
Large Enterprise375
By visitors reading reviews

Top industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
13%
Manufacturing Company
12%
Financial Services Firm
9%
Healthcare Company
7%
Government
6%
Educational Organization
5%
Insurance Company
5%
Energy/Utilities Company
4%
Retailer
4%
Comms Service Provider
4%
Performing Arts
4%
Construction Company
3%
University
3%
Real Estate/Law Firm
3%
Media Company
2%
Outsourcing Company
2%
Legal Firm
2%
Consumer Goods Company
2%
Aerospace/Defense Firm
1%
Non Profit
1%
Logistics Company
1%
Hospitality Company
1%
Non Tech Company
1%
Recreational Facilities/Services Company
1%
Wholesaler/Distributor
1%
Renewables & Environment Company
1%
Pharma/Biotech Company
1%
Recruiting/Hr Firm
1%
Transportation Company
1%

Compare TFS with alternative products

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Learn more about TFS

Visual Studio TFS Benefits

Some of the ways that organizations can benefit by choosing to deploy TFS include:

  • Build automation. TFS enables users to create definitions that can easily automate any and all tasks that are critical to the development of their applications. Businesses can utilize features that are built into TFS to accomplish preset tasks that can help them create the application of their choice. This can include enabling them to run automated tests when the need arises. Additionally, users can create custom tasks that will run automatically and allow users to focus their attention on the areas that most demand their focus.
  • Security. TFS is designed with the security of a user’s DevOps in mind. It enables an organization to restrict user permissions so that only developers that are meant to have access to particular parts of the development process can perform tasks related to those sections. It segments the development process to reduce the possibility of sensitive data being stolen.
  • Enables product rollbacks. TFS keeps copies of past versions of the organization’s application. Users can sift through the different versions that are available and can redeploy the version that best fits their needs should it ever become necessary to do so.

Visual Studio TFS Features

  • Source code management. TFS comes with all of the tools that developers need to completely manage their source code. They can share their code so that multiple developers can work on the same project. Additionally, TFS enables them to do things like review the history of a particular piece of source code.

  • Project management. Organizations can leverage the wealth of project management features that TFS offers and ensure that their projects run as smoothly as possible. Project managers are able to use TFS to control every aspect of their project, from the planning stage until the application’s development has reached its conclusion.
  • Reporting. TFS enables users to generate reports that leverage critical metrics and provide them with important insights into the applications that they are creating. These comprehensive reports can be secured so that only users with the proper level of clearance can access them.

Reviews from Real Users

TFS is a highly effective solution that stands out when compared to many of its competitors. Two major advantages it offers are its source code management capabilities and its powerful integration suite.

Carl B., the vice president of engineering at Vertex Downhole Ltd, writes, “The most valuable features are related to source code management. Using TFS for source code management and being able to branch and have multiple developers work on the same projects is valuable. We can also branch and merge code back together.”

Ashish K., the principal consultant at Wipro, says, “I have found almost all of the features valuable because it integrates well with your Microsoft products. If a client is using the entire Microsoft platform, then TFS would be definitely preferable. It integrates with the digital studio development environment as well.”

TFS was previously known as Team Foundation Server.

TFS customers

Vendex KBB IT Services, Info Support, Fujitsu Consulting, TCSC, Airways New Zealand, HP

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Product Categories

Product Categories
Test Management Tools
Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) Suites

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TFS Reviews Summary
Author infoRatingReview Summary
Angular C Full Stack Developer at Great American Insurance4.5I use TFS for managing Agile sprints and code changes, appreciating its ease in creating user stories and Azure DevOps integration. While off-cloud versions can be complex, TFS offers better flexibility and integration compared to Jira.
VP & GM, Client Storage at Micron Technology4.5I worked with TFS for source control and Agile project management, appreciating its excellent version control. While TFS enhanced cost efficiency and productivity, it could improve reporting features. Now, I use Azure DevOps for its superior CI/CD pipelines.
IT Manager at a tech company with 5,001-10,000 employees3.0No summary available
Service delivery manager at a consultancy with 10,001+ employees3.5I’ve used TFS for 20 years to manage code versioning, deployments, and product releases. It ensures team coordination, though testing integration could improve. It's simple to set up and does its intended job well within our organization’s needs.
Sr Solution Architect, Sr Technical Manager of Automation at Convergys Corporation3.0We utilize TFS for automation in banking, finance, and healthcare, emphasizing its security features like the Credential Vault. However, TFS needs improvements to match Git's artifact storage and DevOps functionalities for better source code tracking and reporting.
Software Engineer at BAE Systems4.0I use TFS to align Git story branches with user stories for a use case. The iteration board is valuable for tracking work, but I wish selecting iterations was easier. A visualization tool similar to IBM ClearCase would be beneficial.
IT Manager at Agricultural Bank of Egypt3.5We use TFS for forecast management, and we find it sufficient for our business needs. However, we experience issues with backups. We haven't used or considered other solutions, and there's no information on ROI or cloud providers.
Senior Software Engineer at Eurofins4.5No summary available