Side by side
Binwalk vs GNU Binutils
Both stand on reverse engineering tools. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan LinuxMacSelf-hosted+1
Binwalk provides signature scanning, extraction and entropy analysis for firmware work at no cost. Its official support is focused on 64-bit Linux, and findings depend on known signatures.
Visit Binwalk Free plan Open source APILinuxMac+2
GNU Binutils provides free, cross-platform static binary analysis with an extension point through its plugin API.
Visit GNU BinutilsThe facts
| Binwalk | GNU Binutils | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Yes |
| Runs on | Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Windows | API, Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Not published |
| Plans published | 1 | None |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | github.com | gnu.org |
| On reverse engineering tools | #7 of 73 | #3 of 73 |
Binwalk: what it does well
- Free under the MIT License.
- Documents 111 supported signatures, including 72 extractable.
- Can generate entropy graphs.
- Offers a Rust library for integration into other projects.
- Installation options include Docker and compiling from source.
What to know first
- Official support is for 64-bit Linux.
- Windows and macOS are largely untested.
- Results depend on recognized signatures.
- Analysis needs free memory at least equal to file size.
GNU Binutils: what it does well
- Free plan available
- Runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows
- Static analysis mode
- Plugin API for extensions
- Architecture list available with objdump -i
What to know first
- No decompiler
- No listed firmware-analysis capability
- Architecture support depends on build configuration
Alternatives to Binwalk Alternatives to GNU Binutils The whole list