Alternatives to radare2
Command-line reverse engineering framework and binary analysis toolkit. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
radare2
Command-line reverse engineering framework and binary analysis toolkit.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as radare2.
Ghidra
The NSA's reverse engineering framework, with a decompiler that turns machine code back into readable C.
Ghidra is a Java-based graphical framework from the NSA with a capable C-like decompiler and shared team projects, and it needs a JDK instead of a terminal workflow.
x64dbg
An open-source Windows debugger for reverse engineering, with an IDA-like interface, a built-in assembler and a decompiler.
x64dbg is a graphical Windows-only debugger with an IDA-like interface and built-in assembler, covering far fewer architectures and platforms than radare2.
Binary Ninja
An interactive disassembler, decompiler, debugger and binary analysis platform for reverse engineers, with a free edition.
Binary Ninja adds a graphical decompiler with C++, Python and Rust APIs and built-in debugging, but beyond its free edition it needs a commercial license.
IDA Free
The free, non-commercial edition of the IDA disassembler and decompiler for reverse engineering.
IDA Free offers the commercial IDA disassembler and an x86 decompiler at no cost, but it is closed source, non-commercial only and limited to x86 and x86-64.
Also worth comparing
These listings name radare2 as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.
Rizin
An open-source reverse engineering framework and command-line disassembler for analysing binaries.
radare2 is the upstream project Rizin forked from, with a famously steep command syntax, r2pipe scripting and plugins that carry different licences.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
capa
Identify likely capabilities inside executable files.
Frida
Dynamic instrumentation toolkit for inspecting and modifying running applications.
REMnux
Linux toolkit for reverse engineering and analysing malicious software.
YARA
Pattern-matching engine for identifying and classifying malware samples.
Volatility 3
Memory forensics framework for extracting artefacts from RAM images.
objection
Inspect mobile application behavior at runtime.
