WinHex

Free trial Windows

What WinHex is

WinHex is a paid Windows hexadecimal editor for computer forensics, data recovery, low-level processing and IT security. Its disk editor works with hard disks, floppy disks, CD-ROM and DVD, ZIP, Smart Media and CompactFlash media. Native file-system support includes FAT12/16/32, exFAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, Next3, CDFS and UDF. The software provides recovery techniques, file analysis and comparison, flexible search and replace, binary comparison, binary templates and scripting support. A RAM editor accesses physical RAM and other processes’ virtual memory. WinHex can create drive images and backups, while DOS disk cloning is available through X-Ways Replica. Security features include 256-bit AES encryption, checksums, CRC32, hashes and secure erasure. It is portable, running from a USB stick or network drive without special installation. Pricing starts at $45.90, with a downloadable evaluation version and no free plan.

Who it suits

It suits Windows professionals handling binary data, disks, recovery, forensic work or IT security. Portability also fits workflows that run tools from removable or network storage.

What it does well

Supports many disk and file-system types
RAM editor for physical and virtual memory
Drive imaging and DOS cloning
Binary comparison, templates and scripting
Portable without special installation

What to know first

Paid software from $45.90
No free plan
Additional licenses needed for more computers
Disk-sector editing can alter evidence

Plans

Plan	Billed and limits	Price
WinHex Specialist	Price not stated on the opened page; base license, with updates included for at least 12 months. · Professional use · specialist features · additional licenses needed for additional computers	On request
WinHex Professional	Price not stated on the opened page; base license, with updates included for at least 12 months. · Permitted in any environment · scripting and API · additional licenses needed for additional computers	On request
WinHex Personal	Price not stated on the opened page; base license, with updates included for at least 12 months. · Personal use only · additional licenses needed for additional computers	On request

As x-ways.net lists them, read 8 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.

Verdict

WinHex brings disk, memory, recovery and security tools into a portable Windows hexadecimal editor. Its evaluation version can be converted with a license, but multi-computer use requires additional licensing.

Facts from WinHex's own pages

Disk editing: Its disk editor supports hard disks, floppy disks, CD-ROM and DVD, ZIP, Smart Media, and CompactFlash media. · x-ways.net, 8 Oct 2026
Evaluation: The maker offers a downloadable evaluation version that a license code can convert into the full version; the opened page does not state a trial duration. · x-ways.net, 8 Oct 2026
File systems: The site lists native support for FAT12/16/32, exFAT, NTFS, Ext2/3/4, Next3, CDFS, and UDF. · x-ways.net, 8 Oct 2026
Forensic limitation: WinHex allows disk-sector editing, while the maker says the separate X-Ways Forensics product opens evidence media in read-only mode to prevent accidental alteration. · x-ways.net, 8 Oct 2026
Founded: 2002 · x-ways.net, 28 Sept 2026
Headquarters: Bünde, Germany · x-ways.net, 28 Sept 2026
Imaging and cloning: The product can create drive images and backups, and offers disk cloning under DOS with X-Ways Replica. · x-ways.net, 8 Oct 2026
License limits: WinHex requires additional licenses for installation on more than one computer, and updates are included for at least 12 months after a base license order. · x-ways.net, 8 Oct 2026
Maker and headquarters: The maker is X-Ways Software Technology AG, which lists its legal headquarters in Bünde, Germany. · x-ways.net, 8 Oct 2026
Portability: WinHex is described as a portable Windows application that can run from a USB stick or network drive without special installation. · x-ways.net, 8 Oct 2026
Privacy: X-Ways says its website does not use third-party marketing or advertiser cookies or third-party tracking elements. · x-ways.net, 8 Oct 2026
Purpose: WinHex is a universal hexadecimal editor used for computer forensics, data recovery, low-level data processing, and IT security. · x-ways.net, 8 Oct 2026
RAM and memory: WinHex includes a RAM editor that provides access to physical RAM and other processes’ virtual memory. · x-ways.net, 8 Oct 2026
Recovery and analysis: Listed features include data recovery techniques, file analysis and comparison, and flexible search and replace. · x-ways.net, 8 Oct 2026
Security features: The product page lists 256-bit AES encryption, checksums, CRC32, hashes, and secure erasure features. · x-ways.net, 8 Oct 2026
Support: The product page links to a user forum and says program help and the manual are fully available in English and German. · x-ways.net, 8 Oct 2026

Where WinHex stands on Freedom251

Hex Editors#29 of 32