GDB vs x64dbg
GDB
sourceware.orgx64dbg
x64dbg.comSide by side
| Figure | GDB | x64dbg |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · Debuggers | 8.0 (#9) | 7.1 (#24) |
| Distribution | Official releases are downloadable from GNU's HTTPS server and Sourceware's releases site, with signature verification through the GNU keyring. | The repository instructions say to download a snapshot, extract it to a location where the user has write access, and run the x32 or x64 debugger executable. |
| License | GDB is free software protected by the GNU General Public License, which permits copying, adapting, and redistributing copies with source access. | The maker says it provides both the executable and source under GPLv3. |
| Purpose | GDB lets users inspect what another program is doing while it executes or after it crashes. | x64dbg is an open-source debugger for Windows, optimized for reverse engineering and malware analysis. |
Plans
In their own words
GDB
GDB is a free debugger for inspecting a program as it runs or after it crashes. It can launch programs, stop execution under specified conditions, examine the stopped state, and change program state for experimentation. A target can run on the same machine, remotely, or in a simulator. GDB runs on popular UNIX variants, Microsoft Windows, and macOS, and supports languages including C, C++, Rust, Go, Ada, Fortran, Assembly, and others. Debugging options include conditional and exception breakpoints, core dump debugging, and record-and-replay with forward and reverse execution on supported platforms. For remote debugging, gdbserver connects a program to GDB. The console interpreter and GDB/MI are available, while Python extensions and the Debugger Adapter Protocol require Python support at build time. GDB is part of the GNU Project and is free software under the GNU General Public License, which allows copying, adaptation, and redistribution with source access. Official releases are available from GNU and Sourceware, with signature verification through the GNU keyring. Version 18.1 was released on September 25, 2026.