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Developer Tools

Best Debuggers in 2026

When a program behaves unexpectedly, a debugger can help you pause execution and inspect what is happening. Compare supported languages and target platforms first, then consider conditional and exception breakpoints, remote debugging, and core dump debugging.

  1. 01 Black Magic Debug

    It suits embedded developers working with supported microcontrollers who want GDB-based debugging and control of their development setup.

    Free plan Windows · macOS · Linux
    8.7 Visit Specs
  2. 02 LLDB

    LLDB suits developers working with C-family languages who need a debugger for desktop or supported mobile targets.

    Free plan Windows · macOS · Linux · iOS
    8.6 Visit Specs
  3. 03 pyOCD

    pyOCD suits developers debugging or programming Arm Cortex-M devices from a command line, IDE, Python tool, or CI setup.

    Free plan Windows · macOS · Linux · API
    8.6 Visit Specs
  4. 04 FLEX

    FLEX is aimed at iOS developers debugging applications written in Objective-C or Swift.

    Free plan iOS
    8.5 Visit Specs
  5. 05 Perl Debugger

    It suits Perl developers who need interactive stepping, conditional breakpoints, watches, and variable inspection.

    Free plan Windows · macOS · Linux
    8.5 Visit Specs
  6. 06 IDA Pro

    IDA Pro suits analysts who need to disassemble, decompile or debug software across supported processor families.

    From $91.58/mo Free plan Windows · macOS · Linux
    8.4 Visit Specs
  7. 07 PonyDebugger

    It suits developers debugging native iOS applications who want network, Core Data, view hierarchy, and logging tools in Chrome Developer Tools.

    Free plan Web · macOS · iOS · Self-hosted
    8.2 Visit Specs
  8. 08 FlowStorm

    FlowStorm suits developers working in Clojure or ClojureScript who want to inspect recorded execution, including across threads.

    Free plan Windows · macOS · Linux · Self-hosted
    8.0 Visit Specs
  9. 09 GDB

    GDB suits developers who need to inspect and control programs running locally, remotely, or in a simulator.

    Free plan Windows · macOS · Linux
    8.0 Visit Specs
  10. 10 Delve
    Windows · macOS · Linux · API
    7.9 Visit Specs
  11. 11 dnSpyEx

    dnSpyEx suits developers inspecting or editing .NET assemblies without source code, including those working in C#, Visual Basic, or IL.

    Free plan Windows · Linux
    7.9 Visit Specs
  12. 12 OpenOCD

    OpenOCD suits embedded developers who need debug-adapter-based target debugging, programming, or boundary-scan testing and can configure their host system.

    Free plan Windows · macOS · Linux · Self-hosted
    7.8 Visit Specs
  13. 13 CUDA-GDB
    Linux · Self-hosted
    7.6 Visit Specs
  14. 14 Erlang Debugger

    It is for Erlang developers who need graphical process inspection, breakpoints, or remote-node debugging.

    Windows · macOS · Linux
    7.6 Visit Specs
  15. 15 Redbird
    Free plan Linux · API · Self-hosted
    7.6 Visit Specs
  16. 16 UDB
    Free trial Linux · Browser extension
    7.6 Visit Specs
  17. 17 OllyDbg

    OllyDbg suits Windows users analyzing 32-bit binaries without source code, including those needing breakpoints, tracing, patching, or plugins.

    Free plan Windows
    7.5 Visit Specs
  18. 18 RenderDoc

    RenderDoc suits graphics developers debugging their own programs on Windows, Linux, or Android.

    Free plan Windows · Linux · Android
    7.5 Visit Specs
  19. 19 SEGGER Ozone
    Windows · macOS · Linux
    7.5 Visit Specs
  20. 20 Ruby debug

    It suits Ruby developers working with MRI 2.7 or later who need console inspection, remote sessions, recording and replay, or editor frontends.

    Free plan Linux · Self-hosted
    7.3 Visit Specs
  21. 21 unittest

    It suits Python developers who need built-in unit-test organization, command-line discovery, assertions, mocks and CI integration across Linux, macOS or Windows.

    Free plan Windows · macOS · Linux
    7.3 Visit Specs
  22. 22 Xdebug

    Xdebug suits PHP developers who need interactive debugging, tracing, profiling, or code coverage.

    From £16.67/mo Web · Windows · macOS · Linux
    7.3 Visit Specs
  23. 23 TRACE32
    Windows · macOS · Linux
    7.1 Visit Specs
  24. 24 x64dbg
    Free plan Windows
    7.1 Visit Specs
  25. 25 rr
    Linux
    6.8 Visit Specs
How this list is ordered. Specifiction scores each tool on how fully its maker documents it, whether its prices are published, where the research puts it, the platforms it runs on and whether it can be tried for free (how we rank). Makers can also buy a numbered place (how Specifiction is paid for).

Time-travel debugging is another feature to check, alongside free-plan availability and paid-from pricing. LLDB and GDB appear at the start, with Xdebug and Delve among the early entries. The ranking offers one way to navigate the options; weigh it against the languages, targets, and debugging capabilities relevant to your work.

Compare Black Magic Debug and LLDB Get a place on this list

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