Apktool vs decompyle3
Apktool
apktool.orgdecompyle3
github.comSide by side
| Figure | Apktool | decompyle3 |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | — |
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | — |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 1 | 0 |
| Spec score · Reverse Engineering Tools | 8.1 (#12) | 6.4 (#45) |
| Command line | The official install guide provides wrapper-script installation steps for Windows, Linux, and Mac, and requires Java 8 or later. | The README shows running `decompyle3` on compiled `.pyc` or `.pyo` files and documents a `--syntax-verify` option. |
| Purpose | Apktool is a tool for reverse engineering Android APK files. | decompyle3 translates Python bytecode back into equivalent Python source code. |
| Support | The official site points users to GitHub Discussions, Stack Overflow, and IRC for community support. | The bug reporting guidance says fixes may take months or years and that the maintainer does not provide paid support as a regular service. |
Plans
In their own words
Apktool
Apktool is a command-line tool for reverse engineering Android APK files. It can disassemble an app’s resources into a form close to their original structure, then rebuild an app after changes such as translation or permission edits. Its analysis mode attempts to extract resources and the manifest for inspection without rebuilding. Apktool runs on Windows, Linux, and macOS; its official installation guide describes wrapper-script steps for those systems and requires Java 8 or later. Decode options include choosing resource-resolution behavior, skipping resources or source disassembly, and setting a framework directory. Build options include selecting an aapt2 binary, adding a generic Network Security Configuration file, and disabling APK repacking. The Apache license permits redistribution, modification, and integration into another project. Apktool is free, with no pricing tiers stated. Its FAQ says Android devices are not officially supported, and some OEM-modified “Magic APKs” may not decode or build. Builds are unsigned; copying a signature retains only the original APK signature v1 scheme.