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Head-to-head · Decompiler Software

Ghidra vs Recaf

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 6 checks side by side
Higher score Ghidra #1 in Decompiler Software 9.4/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 5 of 5 features Visit Ghidra
Recaf #8 in Decompiler Software 7.9/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 4 of 5 features Visit Recaf

Ghidra leads on 1 check, Recaf on 0, and 5 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 6 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreGhidra · 9.4/10
  • Free planboth
  • Most featuresGhidra · 5 of 5

Ghidra scores higher on our rubric for decompiler software: 9.4 against 7.9 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #8.

Ghidra offers native-code decompilation; Recaf doesn't.

Ghidra is the better fit for free, broad native and bytecode analysis. Recaf is the better fit for java and Android bytecode analysis.

  • Ghidra fits best

    Free, broad native and bytecode analysis

  • Recaf fits best

    Java and Android bytecode analysis

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Side by side

Feature Ghidra 9.4/10 Visit ↗ Recaf 7.9/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.4 7.9
Ranking #1 in Decompiler Software #8 in Decompiler Software
Best for Free, broad native and bytecode analysis Java and Android bytecode analysis
Pricing model Free Free
Starting price Free plan Free plan
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Desktop Desktop
Platforms Windows, Linux, macOS Windows, macOS, Linux
Support Docs, Community Docs
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Ghidra 5/5 · Recaf 4/5
Native-code decompilation ✓ (best) —
Bytecode decompilation ✓ ✓
Debugger integration ✓ ✓
Scripting API ✓ ✓
Plugin support ✓ ✓
Specs
License type Free Free
Our review
Pros
  • Free open-source framework for native-code disassembly and decompilation
  • Supports Java and DEX bytecode analysis alongside native architectures
  • Includes debugging, scripting, headless analysis, and plugin support
  • Edits bytecode and assembler, then recompiles changed classes
  • Combines decompilation, search, obfuscation analysis, and live patching
  • Free open-source desktop tool with Windows, macOS, Linux, and CLI support
Cons
  • Its broad feature set may require a technical reverse-engineering workflow
  • Plugin and scripting extensions add configuration choices to the environment
  • Focused on compiled-program analysis rather than general software development
  • Does not target native-code decompilation
  • Publishing currently centers on CI snapshots rather than regular independent releases
  • Its verified integration breadth is limited
Our verdict

Ghidra is an open-source software reverse-engineering framework created and maintained by the National Security Agency Research Directorate. It is designed for analysts, security researchers, and developers examining compiled programs…

Read the review →

Recaf is an open-source desktop tool for analyzing and editing compiled Java and Android applications. It is aimed at reverse engineering, malware analysis, Java modding, and other workflows involving JVM or Android bytecode. The product…

Read the review →
  1. GhidraDecompiler Software 9.4Free plan
  2. RecafDecompiler Software 7.9Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Ghidra — where it wins

    • Free open-source framework for native-code disassembly and decompilation
    • Supports Java and DEX bytecode analysis alongside native architectures
    • Includes debugging, scripting, headless analysis, and plugin support

    Where it doesn't

    • Its broad feature set may require a technical reverse-engineering workflow
    • Plugin and scripting extensions add configuration choices to the environment
    • Focused on compiled-program analysis rather than general software development

  • Recaf — where it wins

    • Edits bytecode and assembler, then recompiles changed classes
    • Combines decompilation, search, obfuscation analysis, and live patching
    • Free open-source desktop tool with Windows, macOS, Linux, and CLI support

    Where it doesn't

    • Does not target native-code decompilation
    • Publishing currently centers on CI snapshots rather than regular independent releases
    • Its verified integration breadth is limited

More comparisons

All decompiler software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update