Hex Fiend vs Hexinator
Hex Fiend
hexfiend.com
Hexinator
hexinator.comSide by side
| Figure | Hex Fiend | Hexinator |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | — |
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 2 |
| Spec score · Hex Editors | 7.5 (#16) | 7.9 (#10) |
| Large files | Hex Fiend can handle files as large as the user can create, and has been tested on files up to 118 GB. | The editor supports inserting, deleting, and changing bytes in files up to multiple gigabytes. |
| Purpose | Hex Fiend is a fast, clever open-source hex editor for macOS. | Hexinator is a desktop tool for analyzing, decoding, and editing binary files. |
| Security | Hex Fiend has been notarized for added security on macOS 10.14 and later. | The Windows page says its MSI, EXE, and DLL files are digitally signed with a Certum code signing certificate issued to Magic Man Go Global LLC. |
Plans
Hexinator
- Hexinator (academic/private use)$44.99, paid once
- Hexinator (commercial use)$89.99, paid once
In their own words
Hex Fiend
Hex Fiend is a free, open-source hex editor for macOS that can insert, delete, rearrange, and overwrite binary data. It can search large files and compare them while accounting for insertions and deletions. The editor does not keep files in memory or require a full file to be loaded. Its smart saving avoids rewriting unchanged portions and does not require temporary disk space. The maker says it can handle files as large as users can create and reports testing files up to 118 GB. A data inspector interprets values as signed or unsigned integers and floating-point numbers in big- or little-endian formats. Scripted binary templates visualize file structure, and an embeddable framework provides hex and data views under a permissive BSD-style license. The official site lists version 2.18.1 and requires macOS 10.14.6 or later. The Mac App Store distribution collects no data and makes no network requests; the direct-download distribution checks for updates without collecting or storing user data. Hex Fiend is notarized for macOS 10.14 and later.