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Head-to-head · Decompiler Software

Reko vs RetDec

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 4 checks side by side
Higher score Reko #5 in Decompiler Software 8.4/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 3 of 5 features Visit Reko
RetDec #7 in Decompiler Software 8.0/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 3 of 5 features Visit RetDec

Reko leads on 0 checks, RetDec on 0, and 4 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 4 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreReko · 8.4/10
  • Free planboth

Reko scores higher on our rubric for decompiler software: 8.4 against 8.0 out of 10; our editors rank them #5 and #7.

Reko is the better fit for free native decompilation across platforms. RetDec is the better fit for open-source executable analysis.

  • Reko fits best

    Free native decompilation across platforms

  • RetDec fits best

    Open-source executable analysis

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Side by side

Feature Reko 8.4/10 Visit ↗ RetDec 8.0/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.4 8.0
Ranking #5 in Decompiler Software #7 in Decompiler Software
Best for Free native decompilation across platforms Open-source executable analysis
Pricing model Free Free
Starting price Free plan Free plan
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Desktop, Self-hosted Self-hosted, Desktop
Platforms Windows, Linux, macOS Windows, Linux, macOS
Support Community, Docs Community, Docs
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Reko 3/5 · RetDec 3/5
Native-code decompilation ✓ ✓
Bytecode decompilation Not checked yet Not checked yet
Debugger integration Not checked yet Not checked yet
Scripting API ✓ ✓
Plugin support ✓ ✓
Specs
License type Free Free
Our review
Pros
  • Free and open source with no commercial plan structure
  • GUI, command-line, .NET API, and runtime library workflows
  • Supports multiple architectures, formats, scripts, and plugins
  • Analyzes ELF, PE, Mach-O, COFF, archives, Intel HEX, and raw machine code
  • Reconstructs C++ classes, symbols, types, functions, and higher-level constructs
  • Generates C or Python-like output, disassembly, call graphs, and control-flow graphs
Cons
  • Intended for users familiar with machine code or assembly
  • Debugger integration is not a stated strength
  • Focused on machine-code executables rather than bytecode
  • The official repository describes the project as being in limited maintenance mode
  • Locally installed workflows may require more technical setup than hosted tools
  • Its focus is executable analysis rather than an all-purpose reverse-engineering suite
Our verdict

Reko is an open-source toolchain for decompiling machine-code binary executables into higher-level output. It is aimed at reverse engineers, developers, and analysts who understand machine code or assembly language and need more than a…

Read the review →

RetDec is a locally installed, open-source machine-code decompiler based on LLVM for reverse engineers, security researchers, developers, and teams analyzing executable files. It supports ELF, PE, Mach-O, COFF, archives, Intel HEX, and raw…

Read the review →
  1. RekoDecompiler Software 8.4Free plan
  2. RetDecDecompiler Software 8.0Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Reko — where it wins

    • Free and open source with no commercial plan structure
    • GUI, command-line, .NET API, and runtime library workflows
    • Supports multiple architectures, formats, scripts, and plugins

    Where it doesn't

    • Intended for users familiar with machine code or assembly
    • Debugger integration is not a stated strength
    • Focused on machine-code executables rather than bytecode

  • RetDec — where it wins

    • Analyzes ELF, PE, Mach-O, COFF, archives, Intel HEX, and raw machine code
    • Reconstructs C++ classes, symbols, types, functions, and higher-level constructs
    • Generates C or Python-like output, disassembly, call graphs, and control-flow graphs

    Where it doesn't

    • The official repository describes the project as being in limited maintenance mode
    • Locally installed workflows may require more technical setup than hosted tools
    • Its focus is executable analysis rather than an all-purpose reverse-engineering suite

More comparisons

All decompiler software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update