Best Regular Expression Testers in 2026
Updated
In short: RegexCraft is ranked #1 of 23 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of RegexPilot and Debuggex. The best-ranked option with a free plan is RegexPilot. The lowest first paid tier on this page is regex101 at €4.99/mo.
Regular expression testers help you write, inspect and debug patterns for matching text. Compare the regex flavors each supports, whether it explains patterns or offers a step-through debugger, and whether it can generate code or save patterns for later. Available platforms, free-plan availability and paid-from details add practical context as you compare options. The rankings start with regex101, RegexPilot and RegexCraft, followed by RegexStudio, Debuggex and AppTools Regex Tester. Consider which tools for understanding and testing patterns matter most for the work you need to do.
23 regular expression testers ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
6 of the 23 here have a free tier you can use, 0 have open-source code on record, and 0 have full bars: free, open, on most of your devices and documented.
| # | App | Signal | Free tier | Open code | Devices | From | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | RegexCraftWindows · Mac · Linux | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 2 | RegexPilotWeb · Mac · Extension | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 3 | DebuggexWeb | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | $5/mo | 6.4 | |
| 4 | regex101Web · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | €4.99/mo | 6.4 | |
| 5 | The Regex CoachWindows · Linux | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | |
| 6 | RegEx Visualizer & ExplainerWeb | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.3 | |
| 7 | RegexStudioWeb | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.4 |
| 8 | RegexoWindows · Mac · Linux | One bar | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 9 | AppTools Regex TesterWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 10 | Regex HeroWeb · Windows | No signal | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 11 | RegExrWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 12 | RegexRegexWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 13 | RegulexWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 14 | SK Play Labs Regex TesterWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 15 | Regex PlaygroundWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 16 | Regex ShuttleWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 17 | RegEx TesterWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 18 | Regex Tester ProNo platforms listed | No signal | — | — | 0 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 19 | RegexAssistantWindows | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 20 | RegexBuddyWindows · Linux | One bar | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 21 | RegexPlanetWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 22 | txtnode Regex TesterWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 23 | RetestLinux | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.0 |
Is your app on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which regular expression tester is ranked first on Freedom251?
RegexCraft is ranked #1 of 23 with a score of 6.5. RegexPilot is second and Debuggex third.
How many of these have a free plan?
6 of the 23 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, regex101 has the lowest first paid tier we found: €4.99/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked free-and-open first: a usable free tier and open-source code, then the platforms it runs on and its documentation. Paid placements never change a rank.