Ghidra vs radare2
Ghidra
github.comradare2
radare.orgSide by side
| Figure | Ghidra | radare2 |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | Yes | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · Reverse Engineering Tools | 8.7 (#5) | 7.6 (#31) |
| Extensibility | Users can develop Ghidra extensions and scripts using Java or Python. | The r2pm package manager can search, install, update, and uninstall plugins and tools. |
| License | The repository includes the Apache License, Version 2.0, which grants no-charge, royalty-free copyright and patent licenses subject to its terms. | Most of radare2 is licensed under LGPLv3, while dependencies and plugins may have different licenses. |
| Purpose | Ghidra is a software reverse engineering framework maintained by the NSA Research Directorate. | radare2 is a UNIX-like reverse engineering framework and command-line toolset. |
| Scripting | Users can create scripts and extension components in Java or Python. | The command-line tool supports scripting with an embedded JavaScript interpreter or through r2pipe. |
Plans
In their own words
Ghidra
Ghidra is a software reverse engineering framework maintained by the NSA Research Directorate. It analyzes compiled code with tools for disassembly, assembly, decompilation, graphing and scripting, and supports many processor instruction sets and executable formats. The framework can operate interactively or in automated workflows, including work intended to address team and scale needs in complex reverse engineering. Users can write extensions and scripts in Java or Python. Development options include a GhidraDev plugin for Eclipse and support for script editing and module projects in Visual Studio Code. The project describes compiled-code analysis on Windows, macOS and Linux. Installation requires a 64-bit JDK 25 and an official multi-platform release archive. Ghidra is free under the Apache License, Version 2.0, whose terms grant no-charge, royalty-free copyright and patent licenses. The repository warns that some versions have known security vulnerabilities and directs users to security advisories. Its policy directs vulnerability reports to GitHub private vulnerability reporting rather than public issues.
radare2
radare2 is a free, UNIX-like reverse-engineering framework and command-line toolset for working with binaries across many architectures. It can analyze, emulate, debug, modify, and disassemble binaries, as well as support firmware analysis and decompilation. The tools can edit local files, view kernel memory, and debug programs locally or through remote GDB and WinDbg servers. Scripting is available through an embedded JavaScript interpreter or r2pipe. Its r2pm package manager searches for, installs, updates, and uninstalls plugins and tools; listed plugins include r2ghidra, r2frida, r2yara, and r2pipe. The project identifies iaito, a Qt graphical interface, as its official GUI. Installation options include the Git repository, released binaries, Nix packaging, and source builds. Most of radare2 is licensed under LGPLv3, while dependencies and plugins may have different licenses. It supports operating systems including Windows, Linux, macOS, iOS, Android, BSD, and others, alongside a broad range of architectures.