GNU hexedit

Free plan Linux

What GNU hexedit is

GNU hexedit is a free Linux program for inspecting and editing file contents in a terminal. It displays data as hexadecimal values or ASCII, and lets users change and save files in either mode. It can also read a device piece by piece, search forward or backward for strings in either representation, and work with selected regions: mark, copy, paste, save a copied area to a file, or fill it with a string. The `--sector` option organizes the display into whole sectors and makes scrolling advance one sector at a time. Keyboard commands control the interface; color display depends on operating-system support. Changes remain in memory until saved, so large fill operations may prompt a warning. Read-only files cannot be edited, and the program reports when a file is non-writable. It is open source under the GNU General Public License and may be redistributed under that license. The maker page links to the 1.6 source archive; the repository README gives build steps for Git checkouts.

Who it suits

It suits Linux users who need to inspect or edit file bytes, search binary data, or examine device sectors. It is a terminal program controlled by keyboard commands.

What it does well

Edits and searches in hexadecimal or ASCII.
Reads a device piece at a time.
Supports sector-by-sector display and scrolling.
Can save copied regions to a file.
Free and redistributable under the GNU GPL.

What to know first

Linux platform only.
Read-only files cannot be edited.
Large fill operations may trigger a warning.
Color depends on operating-system support.

Plans

Plan	Billed and limits	Price
GNU hexedit	Open source · GNU GPL	Free

As rigaux.org lists them, read 7 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.

Getting started

Visit the maker website for the 1.6 source archive.
For a Git checkout, run `./autogen.sh`, `./configure`, and `make`.
Use the terminal interface and keyboard commands to inspect or edit files.

Verdict

GNU hexedit provides file and device inspection alongside byte-level editing and search in a keyboard-driven terminal interface. Its read-only file restriction and in-memory changes before saving are worth noting.

Questions

How much does GNU hexedit cost?

The listed plan is free.

Is GNU hexedit open source?

Yes. The author says it is open source and may be redistributed under the GNU General Public License.

What platform does it support?

Linux.

Can it edit disks or device data?

Disk editing is listed as supported, and the program can read a device a piece at a time.

Can it compare binaries or use templates and scripts?

Binary comparison, binary templates, scripting, and plugin support are listed as unavailable.

Facts from GNU hexedit's own pages

Device access: It can read a device a piece at a time. · rigaux.org, 7 Oct 2026
Download and build: The maker page links to the 1.6 source archive, and the repository README gives ./autogen.sh && ./configure && make as the build steps from Git. · github.com, 7 Oct 2026
Editing: Users can modify files in either ASCII or hexadecimal mode and save changes. · rigaux.org, 7 Oct 2026
Editing limit: Large fill operations may trigger a warning because modifications are kept in memory until saved. · rigaux.org, 7 Oct 2026
Intended users: The documented functions suit users who need to inspect or edit file bytes, search binary data, or work with device sectors. · rigaux.org, 7 Oct 2026
License: The author states that hexedit is open source and may be redistributed under the GNU General Public License. · rigaux.org, 7 Oct 2026
Purpose: GNU hexedit displays and edits files in hexadecimal and ASCII. · rigaux.org, 7 Oct 2026
Read-only files: A read-only file cannot be edited, and the program reports that it is non-writable. · rigaux.org, 7 Oct 2026
Search: It searches forward or backward for strings in ASCII or hexadecimal. · rigaux.org, 7 Oct 2026
Sector mode: The --sector option formats the display in whole sectors and changes scrolling to move sector by sector. · rigaux.org, 7 Oct 2026
Selection tools: Users can mark, copy, paste, save a copied region to a file, and fill a selected region with a string. · rigaux.org, 7 Oct 2026
Support: The author asks users to report problems and welcomes remarks of any kind. · rigaux.org, 7 Oct 2026
Terminal interface: The program uses a terminal display with keyboard commands, and its --color option works only when the operating system supports it. · rigaux.org, 7 Oct 2026

Where GNU hexedit stands on Freedom251

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