Open-source alternatives to IDA Pro
As of October 2026, the main open-source alternatives to IDA Pro are Ghidra 12.1.4, radare2 6.2.4 and Rizin 0.9.1 with its Cutter 2.5.0 GUI.
If you need open-source options instead of paying for IDA Pro, start with:
- Ghidra (Apache-2.0) — full SRE framework with decompiler; free.
- radare2 / Rizin + Cutter — scriptable frameworks; Cutter is the GUI powered by Rizin.
- For a free but not open-source safety valve: IDA Free (non-commercial only) or Binary Ninja Free — both proprietary.
Verified 2026-10-17 (UTC): Ghidra latest GitHub release Ghidra_12.1.4_build; radare2 6.2.4; Rizin v0.9.1; Cutter v2.5.0. IDA paid plans remain on hex-rays.com/pricing.
Comparison table
| Tool | License | Cost | Role | Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ghidra | Apache-2.0 | $0 | Interactive SRE + decompiler | https://ghidra-sre.org/ |
| radare2 | Mostly LGPLv3 (some GPL parts; --without-gpl option) | $0 | CLI RE framework | https://www.radare.org/ |
| Rizin | LGPL-3.0 | $0 | radare2 fork focused on usability/cleanliness | https://rizin.re/ |
| Cutter | GPL-3.0 | $0 | GUI powered by Rizin | https://cutter.re/ |
| IDA Free | Proprietary | $0 | Limited disasm/decompiler; non-commercial | https://hex-rays.com/ida-free |
| Binary Ninja Free | Proprietary | $0 | Free edition for evaluation/education | https://binary.ninja/purchase/ |
| IDA Pro | Proprietary | from €1,099/yr Essential (page, 2026-10-17 UTC) | Commercial Hex-Rays stack | https://hex-rays.com/pricing |
How to choose
| Situation | Lean toward |
|---|---|
| Need open source + GUI decompiler | Ghidra |
| Prefer CLI scripting | radare2 or Rizin |
| Want GUI on Rizin | Cutter |
| Employer pays Hex-Rays | Stay on IDA Pro (legal license) |
| Hobby only, OK with proprietary free | IDA Free or BN Free (read their terms) |
What “alternative” does not mean
- Feature parity is not guaranteed architecture-by-architecture.
- Scripts, FLIRT-like signatures and plugin ecosystems differ.
- Cracking IDA is not an alternative — it is theft and out of scope.
Related on BinBench
FAQ
Is Ghidra really free for commercial use?
Apache-2.0 permits commercial use of Ghidra itself. Your employer's policies and the license of software you analyze still apply.
Is IDA Free open source?
No. It is a proprietary gratis edition with non-commercial limits.
Does Rizin replace radare2?
Rizin is a fork with its own release train and Cutter GUI. Many teams still use radare2. Compare workflows rather than assuming a drop-in.
Where do prices come from?
Only vendor pages linked above, checked 2026-10-17 (UTC). Re-check before purchase.