The Best ROM Hacking Tools in 2026
We researched ROM hacking tools using official websites, including pricing pages, plan tables, and product documentation. Rankings focus on the core job of editing, creating, or applying ROM modifications, value for money, and features verified in vendor materials. The category covers ROM editors, graphics and tile editors, hex tools, and patch utilities.
Our top picks
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Top ranked
YY-CHR#1 of 498.4/10A focused Windows dot editor for viewing and editing graphics in retro-game ROMs.
Free plan
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Runner-up
NUPS#2 of 497.3/10A free Windows desktop utility focused on creating and applying UPS patches.
Free plan
-
Top-ranked free plan
HxD#3 of 497.2/10A broad Windows hex editor for binary work, rather than a ROM-specific hacking suite.
Free plan
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. How we rank.
The full ranking 49 tools, best first
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Best forEditing ROM graphics across multiple systems
A focused Windows dot editor for viewing and editing graphics in retro-game ROMs.
- Tile/sprite editing
- ROM editing
8.4/10★★★★☆Visit YY-CHR -
Best forApplying or creating UPS patches
A free Windows desktop utility focused on creating and applying UPS patches.
- ROM editing
7.3/10★★★★☆Visit Nintenlord -
Best forGeneral-purpose Windows hex editing
A broad Windows hex editor for binary work, rather than a ROM-specific hacking suite.
7.2/10★★★★☆Visit HxD -
Best forBroad Pokémon ROM editing and patching
A free, open-source toolkit for editing Pokémon GBA data, maps, graphics, scripts, and patches.
- Hex editor
- Tile/sprite editing
- ROM editing
7.1/10★★★★☆Try HexManiacAdvance -
Best forEditing Super Mario RPG ROM content
A free, game-specific toolkit for editing Super Mario RPG maps, graphics, scripts, audio, and data.
- Hex editor
- Tile/sprite editing
- ROM editing
7.0/10★★★★☆Visit Lazy Shell -
Best forEditing Pokémon Nintendo DS ROMs
A free, open-source toolkit for editing maps, scripts, events, and game data.
- ROM editing
6.9/10★★★☆☆Visit DSPRE -
Best forEditing supported NDS and GBA Castlevania ROMs
A free Windows editor for changing game data and testing modified Castlevania ROMs.
- Tile/sprite editing
- ROM editing
6.8/10★★★☆☆Visit DSVEdit -
Best forEditing maps, graphics, and scripts for Faxanadu
A focused desktop editor for changing Faxanadu maps, graphics, game data, and scripts.
- Tile/sprite editing
- ROM editing
6.7/10★★★☆☆Try Echoes of Eolis -
Best forEditing Super Metroid rooms and IPS patches
A focused Windows editor for Super Metroid rooms, game elements, and IPS patches.
- Tile/sprite editing
- ROM editing
6.6/10★★★☆☆Visit SMILE -
Best forEditing levels and assets for one game
A free desktop toolkit for editing Yoshi’s Island levels and assets across three operating systems.
- Tile/sprite editing
- ROM editing
6.5/10★★★☆☆Visit Shiny Egg -
Best forEditing configured games across several platforms
A desktop toolkit for editing configured games, with coverage that varies by game.
- Hex editor
- Tile/sprite editing
- ROM editing
6.4/10★★★☆☆Visit CadEditor -
Best forHex editing ROMs and managing script pointers
A focused desktop hex editor for ROM text, pointers, scripts, and IPS patches.
- Hex editor
- ROM editing
6.3/10★★★☆☆Visit RTHextion -
Best forCreating and applying IPS or BPS patches
A free desktop and command-line utility focused on creating and applying IPS and BPS patches.
6.2/10★★★☆☆Visit Flips -
Best forBrowser-based patch creation and application
A broad-format patcher for browser workflows, with checksum display and Node.js access.
6.1/10★★★☆☆Visit Rom Patcher JS -
Best forCross-platform patching with checksum checks
A free, cross-platform browser utility for patching ROMs and creating patch files.
6.0/10★★★☆☆Visit EZ ROM Patcher -
Best forPatching ROMs on Android
A free Android utility for applying and creating patches, with checksum and header tools.
- ROM editing
5.9/10★★★☆☆Visit UniPatcher -
Best forByte-level ROM editing and patch documentation
A free, cross-platform toolkit for byte-level ROM work and address notes.
- Hex editor
- Tile/sprite editing
- ROM editing
5.8/10★★★☆☆Visit Quote58 -
Best forEditing files inside NDS and DSi ROMs
A free desktop editor for inspecting and modifying NDS and DSi ROM contents.
- Hex editor
- Tile/sprite editing
- ROM editing
5.7/10★★★☆☆Visit TinkeDSi -
Best forEditing Pokémon ROM data in a self-hosted workflow
A focused, self-hosted editor for Pokémon Generation V game data and ROM-data export.
- ROM editing
5.6/10★★★☆☆Visit Pokeweb -
Best forEditing Pokémon game data and sprites
A free, focused editor for Pokémon ROM data and graphics, with Windows as its supported platform.
- Tile/sprite editing
- ROM editing
5.5/10★★★☆☆Visit Gamer2020 -
Best forEditing supported Final Fantasy ROMs
A free, browser-based editor for supported Final Fantasy ROMs, with focused editing tools.
- ROM editing
5.4/10★★★☆☆Visit FF6Tools -
Best forEditing rooms and sprites for one game
A focused desktop toolkit for editing Super Metroid rooms, sprites, enemies, and IPS patches.
- Tile/sprite editing
- ROM editing
5.3/10★★★☆☆Visit SMEDIT -
Best forEditing and testing levels for one game
A free, open-source desktop editor for shaping and testing Super Mario Bros. 3 levels.
- ROM editing
5.2/10★★★☆☆Visit SMB3 Foundry -
Best forEditing levels and overworlds for Wario Land 1
A focused editor for changing levels and overworld content in valid WL1 ROMs.
- Tile/sprite editing
- ROM editing
5.1/10★★★☆☆Visit WLEditor -
Best forEditing maps and data for Zelda II
An open-source desktop editor for Zelda II maps, palettes, and game data.
- ROM editing
5.0/10★★☆☆☆Visit GitHub -
Best forEditing and patching Solomon’s Key levels
A focused Windows editor for modifying Solomon’s Key levels and exporting ROM patches.
- ROM editing
4.9/10★★☆☆☆Visit site -
Best forEditing Final Fantasy IV game data
A free, game-specific editor for FF2US data, events, maps, and tilesets.
- Tile/sprite editing
- ROM editing
4.8/10★★☆☆☆Visit FF4kster -
Best forEditing Pokémon Generation III project maps
A focused desktop editor for maps and tilesets in supported Generation III projects.
- Tile/sprite editing
4.7/10★★☆☆☆Visit PoryMap -
Best forEditing tiles and palettes in a browser
A free browser editor for ROM graphics, palettes, and tile-associated bytes.
- Hex editor
- Tile/sprite editing
- ROM editing
4.6/10★★☆☆☆Visit TileBravo -
Best forEditing graphics in binary files across systems
A free, extensible desktop tool for editing graphics and palettes in binary files.
- Tile/sprite editing
- ROM editing
4.5/10★★☆☆☆Visit Tile Molester -
Best forCreating tilemaps for multiple console projects
A focused tilemap editor for multi-console projects, not a direct ROM editor.
- Tile/sprite editing
4.4/10★★☆☆☆Visit Tilemap Studio -
Best forCreating and inspecting ROM patches from data changes
A focused ROM-mapping and patch workflow, with a late-alpha project status and limited game maps.
- ROM editing
4.3/10★★☆☆☆Visit romtool -
Best forCommand-line patching with checksum validation
An open-source CLI patcher with broad format support and optional checksum validation.
4.2/10★★☆☆☆View Rompatcher -
Best forInspecting, converting, and applying patch formats
A focused patch utility for ROM workflows, not a game-data editor.
4.1/10★★☆☆☆Visit slap -
Best forApplying patches locally in a web browser
A free browser tool for applying ROM patches locally and downloading the result.
4.0/10★★☆☆☆Visit ROM Patcher -
Best forBuilding NES assets and ROM projects
A focused NES project builder with CHR, palette, metatile, plugin, and assembler tools.
- Tile/sprite editing
3.8/10★★☆☆☆Visit SpiderDave -
Best forCreating NES tilemaps and assets
Create NES tiles, maps, palettes, and sprites, then export a screen as a working ROM.
- Tile/sprite editing
3.7/10★★☆☆☆Visit nesrocks -
Best forSuper Mario World level and overworld designers
A free, game-specific editor for designing Super Mario World modifications on Windows.
- Tile/sprite editing
- ROM editing
3.6/10★★☆☆☆Visit Lunar Magic -
Best forModders creating or distributing game patches
A free, open-source patching tool with GUI, command-line, and web interfaces.
- ROM editing
3.5/10★★☆☆☆Visit GeckoPatcher -
Best forWindows modders editing Fire Emblem GBA releases
A free, open-source Windows editor focused on FE6, FE7, and FE8 ROMs.
- ROM editing
3.3/10★★☆☆☆Visit FEBuilderGBA -
Best forLinux users applying IPS or BPS patches
A free Linux patcher with graphical and command-line workflows for IPS and BPS files.
3.2/10★★☆☆☆Visit site -
Best forWindows users creating or applying IPS patches
A focused, free Windows tool for creating and applying IPS patches to ROM files.
3.1/10★★☆☆☆Visit Lunar IPS -
Best forWindows users focused on retro tile graphics
A free Windows utility for editing retro ROM tile graphics, with a focused graphics-only scope.
- Tile/sprite editing
- ROM editing
3.0/10★★☆☆☆Visit Tile Layer Pro -
Best forEarthBound players applying or creating patches
A free, open-source desktop utility focused on EarthBound EBP and IPS patches.
- ROM editing
3.0/10★★☆☆☆Visit site -
Best forWindows users editing Mega Man ZX ROM content
A free, open-source Windows editor for Mega Man ZX dialogue and ROM files.
- Tile/sprite editing
- ROM editing
3.0/10★★☆☆☆Visit site -
Best forRetro hackers assembling a package-based tool setup
An open-source framework for assembling tools to edit 8- and 16-bit game ROMs.
- ROM editing
3.0/10★★☆☆☆Visit RetroMole -
Best forUsers tracking a planned Super Mario World editor
An open-source Super Mario World editor project whose planned tools are not yet usable.
3.0/10★★☆☆☆View SMW Editor -
Best forDesktop users reducing microphone background noise
An open-source voice audio plugin—not a tool for editing or patching ROMs.
0.0/10☆☆☆☆☆View the project -
Best forAndroid users who want offline spoken reminders
A free Android spoken-reminder app, but not a ROM hacking tool.
0.0/10☆☆☆☆☆Visit SpeakAlert
No tools match those filters.
Compare at a glance
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | ROM editing | Patch formats | Tile/sprite editing | Hex editor | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | YY-CHR | Yes | None | Yes | — | Yes | — | 8.4 |
| 2 | NUPS | Yes | None | Yes | UPS | No | No | 7.3 |
| 3 | HxD | Yes | None | — | — | — | — | 7.2 |
| 4 | HexManiacAdvance | Yes | None | Yes | IPS, UPS | Yes | Yes | 7.1 |
| 5 | Lazy Shell | Yes | None | Yes | — | Yes | Yes | 7.0 |
| 6 | DSPRE | Yes | None | Yes | — | — | — | 6.9 |
| 7 | DSVEdit | Yes | None | Yes | — | Yes | — | 6.8 |
| 8 | Echoes of Eolis | Yes | None | Yes | IPS | Yes | — | 6.7 |
| 9 | SMILE | Yes | None | Yes | IPS | Yes | No | 6.6 |
| 10 | Shiny Egg | Yes | None | Yes | ASM and binary patches; imports existing patches (formats not specified) | Yes | — | 6.5 |
| 11 | CadEditor | Yes | None | Yes | — | Yes | Yes | 6.4 |
| 12 | RTHextion | Yes | None | Yes | IPS | No | Yes | 6.3 |
| 13 | Floating IPS (Flips) | Yes | None | — | IPS, BPS | — | — | 6.2 |
| 14 | Rom Patcher JS | Yes | None | — | IPS, UPS, APS, BPS, RUP, PPF, EBP, BSDiff, Paper Mario Star Rod, VCDiff | — | — | 6.1 |
| 15 | EZ ROM Patcher | Yes | None | — | IPS, BPS, UPS, APS, RUP, PPF, xdelta/VCDIFF, BSDiff, EBP, Star Rod .mod | — | — | 6.0 |
| 16 | UniPatcher | Yes | None | Yes | IPS, IPS32, UPS, BPS, APS (GBA), APS (N64), PPF, DPS, EBP, XDelta3 | No | No | 5.9 |
| 17 | The Hacker’s Notebook | Yes | None | Yes | — | Yes | Yes | 5.8 |
| 18 | TinkeDSi | Yes | None | Yes | — | Yes | Yes | 5.7 |
| 19 | Pokeweb | Yes | None | Yes | — | No | No | 5.6 |
| 20 | Pokemon Game Editor | Yes | None | Yes | — | Yes | — | 5.5 |
| 21 | FF6Tools | Yes | None | Yes | — | No | — | 5.4 |
| 22 | SMEDIT | Yes | None | Yes | IPS | Yes | — | 5.3 |
| 23 | SMB3 Foundry | Yes | None | Yes | — | — | — | 5.2 |
| 24 | WLEditor | Yes | None | Yes | — | Yes | — | 5.1 |
| 25 | Zelda II ROM Editor | Yes | None | Yes | — | — | — | 5.0 |
| 26 | Solomon's Keychain | Yes | None | Yes | IPS | — | — | 4.9 |
| 27 | FF4kster | Yes | None | Yes | — | Yes | — | 4.8 |
| 28 | PoryMap | Yes | None | No | — | Yes | — | 4.7 |
| 29 | TileBravo | Yes | None | Yes | — | Yes | Yes | 4.6 |
| 30 | Tile Molester | Yes | None | Yes | — | Yes | — | 4.5 |
| 31 | Tilemap Studio | Yes | None | No | — | Yes | No | 4.4 |
| 32 | romtool | Yes | None | Yes | IPS | No | No | 4.3 |
| 33 | Rompatcher | Yes | None | — | IPS, BPS, UPS, APS N64, APS GBA, EBP, RUP, PPF, xdelta, BDF | — | — | 4.2 |
| 34 | slap | Yes | None | No | APS-GBA, APS-N64, BPS, BSDiff, DPS, EBP, GDIFF, IPS, IPS32, NINJA1, NINJA2, PMSR, PPF1, PPF2, PPF3, PPF4, UPS, VCDIFF, xdelta1, xdelta3 | No | No | 4.1 |
| 35 | ROM Patcher | Yes | None | — | IPS, UPS, BPS, xdelta, APS, PPF, RUP | — | — | 4.0 |
| 36 | NES Builder | Yes | None | No | — | Yes | No | 3.8 |
| 37 | Nostalgic Assets Workshop (NAW) | Yes | $9.99 one-time | No | — | Yes | No | 3.7 |
| 38 | Lunar Magic | Yes | None | Yes | — | Yes | — | 3.6 |
| 39 | GeckoPatcher | Yes | None | Yes | custom ZIP-based patch format | — | — | 3.5 |
| 40 | FEBuilderGBA | Yes | None | Yes | — | — | — | 3.3 |
| 41 | ROM Bin Patcher (rombp) | Yes | None | — | IPS, BPS | — | — | 3.2 |
| 42 | Lunar IPS | Yes | None | — | IPS | — | — | 3.1 |
| 43 | Tile Layer Pro | Yes | None | Yes | — | Yes | No | 3.0 |
| 44 | EarthBound Patcher | Yes | None | Yes | EBP, IPS | No | No | 3.0 |
| 45 | Mega Man ZX Editor | Yes | None | Yes | — | Yes | — | 3.0 |
| 46 | RetroMole | Yes | None | Yes | — | — | — | 3.0 |
| 47 | SMW Editor | Yes | None | No | — | No | — | 3.0 |
| 48 | Noise Suppression for Voice | Yes | None | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 49 | SpeakAlert | Yes | None | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
Head-to-head All 28 comparisons →
- YY-CHR vs NUPS
- YY-CHR vs HxD
- YY-CHR vs HexManiacAdvance
- YY-CHR vs Lazy Shell
- YY-CHR vs DSPRE
- YY-CHR vs DSVEdit
- YY-CHR vs Echoes of Eolis
- NUPS vs HxD
- NUPS vs HexManiacAdvance
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How we rank ROM hacking tools
Every tool on this page was researched by iTechGuides Editors from its official website — pricing pages, plan tables and product documentation. We rank on how well each one does this category's core job, what the free or entry plan includes, and where it falls short. Where we have enough verified facts, the score out of 10 is a rubric — job fit, value and how much we could verify — shown with its breakdown on every tool's page; a tool we have not verified enough to score yet shows its rank without a number. Scores are re-checked when a product changes its plans. Read the full editorial policy, or submit a tool we missed.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update