Side by side
OpenAssetTools vs xEdit
Both stand on game modding tools. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan LinuxWindows
OAT provides separate tools for extracting some supported assets and building custom fastfiles, but its coverage remains incomplete and varies by game. Check build requirements and rights to game contents before using it.
Visit OpenAssetTools Free plan Windows
xEdit offers plugin editing, cleaning, and error-checking tools across a broad set of listed Bethesda game modes. Its one-file-at-a-time cleaning guidance is important to follow, and general usage questions need a channel other than the issue tracker.
Visit xEditThe facts
| OpenAssetTools | xEdit | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Linux, Windows | Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Not published | Free or on request |
| Plans published | None | 1 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | openassettools.dev | github.com |
| On game modding tools | #19 of 25 | #23 of 25 |
OpenAssetTools: what it does well
- Linker builds custom fastfiles from existing zone assets.
- Unlinker can run without the game running.
- Both tools offer command-line use.
- Supports Windows and Linux.
- Free source code licensed under GPLv3.
What to know first
- Project is incomplete and covers only a subset of modding features.
- Available dumped and disk-readable assets vary by game.
- Building requires Git and Premake.
- Extracting files does not grant rights to their contents.
xEdit: what it does well
- Free Windows tool for Bethesda game plugins.
- Can clean, repair, and merge plugins.
- Quick Auto Clean saves between steps.
- Cleaning can be configured with three named tools.
- Manual covers users and mod authors.
What to know first
- Windows is the only listed platform.
- Plugins should be cleaned one file at a time.
- GitHub issues are not for general usage support.
- Latest builds are shared through a Discord channel.
Alternatives to OpenAssetTools Alternatives to xEdit The whole list