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Hex Fiend

Free plan Mac

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Hex Fiend's own site

What Hex Fiend is

Hex Fiend is a free, open-source hex editor for macOS that lets users inspect and change binary data. It supports inserting, deleting, rearranging and overwriting data, as well as searching large files. The editor does not keep files in memory or require a complete file load; the maker says it can handle files as large as users can create and reports testing up to 118 GB. Its binary comparison accounts for insertions and deletions. Smart saving avoids rewriting unchanged portions and does not require temporary disk space. A data inspector reads signed or unsigned integers and floating-point values in big- or little-endian formats. Scriptable 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 edition collects no data and makes no network requests; direct downloads use Sparkle for update checks without collecting or storing user data. Hex Fiend is notarized for macOS 10.14 and later.

Who it suits

It suits macOS users who need to inspect, search, compare or edit binary files, including very large ones. Its scripting and embeddable framework may also suit users building file-structure views into applications.

What it does well

  • Edits binary data by inserting, deleting and rearranging
  • Searches large files without loading them fully into memory
  • Compares files while accounting for insertions and deletions
  • Smart saving avoids temporary disk space

What to know first

  • Requires macOS 10.14.6 or later
  • Available for macOS only
  • The listed download is version 2.18.1

Limits

The listed version requires macOS 10.14.6 or later. The free plan is for macOS.

Plans

PlanBilled and limitsPrice
Hex FiendmacOS only · open source · BSD-style licenseFree

As hexfiend.com lists them, read 1 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.

Getting started

  1. Visit the Hex Fiend website.
  2. Choose the Mac App Store distribution or direct download.
  3. Use a Mac running macOS 10.14.6 or later.
  4. Open a binary file to inspect, search, compare or edit its data.

Verdict

Hex Fiend combines binary editing, search and comparison with tools for interpreting values and visualizing file structures. It is a macOS-only option, and the listed version requires macOS 10.14.6 or later.

Questions

Is Hex Fiend free?

Yes. Hex Fiend is free and open source under a BSD-style license.

Which platforms does Hex Fiend support?

Hex Fiend supports macOS. Version 2.18.1 requires macOS 10.14.6 or later.

Can Hex Fiend work with large files?

It does not require the entire file to be loaded into memory. The maker reports testing files up to 118 GB.

Can Hex Fiend compare binary files?

Yes. Its binary comparison accounts for insertions and deletions.

Does Hex Fiend collect data?

The Mac App Store distribution collects no data and makes no network requests. The direct-download version checks for updates without collecting or storing user data.

Who makes Hex Fiend?

The listed facts describe Hex Fiend and an announcement from its maker, but do not give the maker’s name.

Facts from Hex Fiend's own pages

Binary diff
It compares files while accounting for insertions and deletions. · github.com, 1 Oct 2026
Binary templates
Binary templates visualize file structure through scripting. · github.com, 1 Oct 2026
Current download
The official site lists Hex Fiend 2.18.1 and requires macOS 10.14.6 or later. · hexfiend.com, 1 Oct 2026
Data inspector
The data inspector interprets values as signed or unsigned integers and floating-point numbers in big- or little-endian formats. · hexfiend.com, 1 Oct 2026
Editing
It supports inserting, deleting, rearranging, and overwriting binary data. · github.com, 1 Oct 2026
Embeddable framework
Hex Fiend's framework lets applications embed hex and data views under a permissive BSD-style license. · hexfiend.github.io, 1 Oct 2026
Large files
Hex Fiend can handle files as large as the user can create, and has been tested on files up to 118 GB. · github.com, 1 Oct 2026
Memory use
It does not keep files in memory and does not require the entire file to be loaded. · hexfiend.github.io, 1 Oct 2026
Origin
The maker's 2006 announcement describes Hex Fiend as free and developed as an experiment in handling huge files. · ridiculousfish.com, 1 Oct 2026
Privacy
The Mac App Store distribution collects no data and performs no network requests. · hexfiend.com, 1 Oct 2026
Purpose
Hex Fiend is a fast, clever open-source hex editor for macOS. · hexfiend.com, 1 Oct 2026
Saving
Smart saving avoids rewriting unchanged portions and does not require temporary disk space. · hexfiend.github.io, 1 Oct 2026
Search
The editor provides fast searching through large files. · hexfiend.com, 1 Oct 2026
Security
Hex Fiend has been notarized for added security on macOS 10.14 and later. · hexfiend.github.io, 1 Oct 2026
Update checks
The direct-download distribution uses Sparkle to check for new versions without collecting or storing user data. · hexfiend.com, 1 Oct 2026

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