Free reverse-engineering tools
As of October 2026, the core free reverse-engineering toolbox is Ghidra 12.1.4 for decompiling native code, jadx 1.5.6 and Apktool 3.0.3 for Android, Frida 17.24.1 for runtime instrumentation and x64dbg 2026.05.27 for Windows debugging.
A practical free toolbox for authorized reverse engineering (checked 2026-10-17 (UTC)):
| Tool | Cost | License summary | Best starting job |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ghidra | $0 | Apache-2.0 | Native SRE + decompiler |
| radare2 | $0 | Mostly LGPLv3 | CLI scripting |
| Rizin + Cutter | $0 | LGPL-3.0 / GPL-3.0 | CLI fork + GUI |
| jadx | $0 | Apache-2.0 | Android DEX → Java |
| Apktool | $0 | Apache-2.0 | Android resources / rebuild |
| Frida | $0 | wxWindows Library Licence 3.1 | Dynamic instrumentation |
| x64dbg | $0 | GPL-3.0 (repo LICENSE) | Windows user-mode debug |
| WinDbg | $0 | Microsoft product | Windows debugging (docs) |
| IDA Free | $0 | Proprietary; non-commercial | Limited Hex-Rays entry |
| Binary Ninja Free | $0 | Proprietary free edition | BN evaluation/education |
Open-source rows are preferred when you need redistributable tooling. IDA Free / BN Free are not open source.
Versions checked (2026-10-17 UTC)
| Tool | Latest GitHub release (UTC dates converted notes in plan) |
|---|---|
| Ghidra | Ghidra_12.1.4_build |
| radare2 | 6.2.4 |
| Rizin | v0.9.1 |
| Cutter | v2.5.0 |
| jadx | v1.5.6 |
| Apktool | v3.0.3 |
| Frida | 17.24.1 |
| x64dbg | 2026.05.27 |
Free but not open source
IDA Free Free (not OSS)
Proprietary gratis edition from Hex-Rays. Non-commercial use only; limited to PC x86 disassembly with cloud x86 decompilers. Vendor page.
Binary Ninja Free Free (not OSS)
Proprietary free edition from Vector 35 for evaluation and education. Not open source. Purchase / editions.
Suggested starter kits
| Track | Kit |
|---|---|
| Native desktop (OSS) | Ghidra (+ JDK) |
| Native CLI | radare2 or Rizin; add Cutter for GUI |
| Android static | jadx + Apktool |
| Windows debug | x64dbg; add WinDbg when you need Microsoft’s debugger stack |
| Dynamic hooks (lab) | Frida |
Related on BinBench
- OSS IDA alternatives · Ghidra vs IDA · radare2 vs rizin vs Cutter · jadx vs Apktool · Frida vs x64dbg · IDA pricing · BN pricing
FAQ
Is “free” the same as “open source”?
No. IDA Free and Binary Ninja Free are gratis proprietary editions with use limits.
Can I use Ghidra at work?
Apache-2.0 allows using Ghidra itself commercially; still obey laws and target licenses.
Where is Hopper Free?
Not listed here — we only include tools whose free/OSS status we verified on the linked pages.
Malware analysis allowed?
Analyzing samples you are authorized to hold in a safe lab is a normal lawful use. Creating malware is not.