Allatori

Overview

Allatori is a second-generation Java obfuscator, founded in 2006, built to protect software intellectual property by making compiled code harder to understand and reverse engineer. It works on compiled Java class files, so the original source code is not required. The product supports J2EE, J2SE and J2ME, as well as Android.

Allatori combines code transformation with optimization. The company says it aims to reduce application size and improve speed while obscuring code. Its reported typical size reduction is about 10–40%, with reductions sometimes reaching 60% in applications that include many third-party libraries. Those figures are company-reported, not a guarantee for a particular project.

The software is written entirely in Java and can technically run wherever a Java 1.4-or-later virtual machine is available. Allatori says it has been tested on Windows, Mac OS X and UNIX. Its listed platforms are Android, Linux, macOS and Windows, and its deployment model is desktop.

Key features

Allatori provides several layers of obfuscation rather than relying on renamed identifiers alone:

• Name obfuscation changes code names, while flow obfuscation makes program logic harder to follow.
• Debug-information obfuscation removes or obscures information that can help explain compiled code.
• String encryption encrypts string literals in class constant pools and decrypts them when the application runs.
• Watermarking and incremental obfuscation are also included.
• A decompiler-protection module transforms code to trigger fatal errors in decompilers during attempted decompilation.
• A stack-trace utility helps work with stack traces after obfuscation.
• Dedicated support is listed for J2ME and Android obfuscation.

Allatori is designed to fit into development workflows. Its command-line interface can be used in automated build scripts, and it provides Apache Ant and Maven integration. Android obfuscation can be integrated with Android Studio and Ant build projects. An Eclipse plugin adds an Allatori Builder that runs obfuscation when a clean rebuild is performed.

String encryption typically adds 1–2% to bytecode size, with an insignificant performance impact, according to the product information. Flow obfuscation can also slightly increase size and rarely reduce performance. There is an important caveat for software that uses native code: Allatori does not automatically rename native methods or the classes that contain them. Members accessed by native code must be explicitly excluded.

Pricing

Allatori is listed as freemium, with a free plan and paid options. The pricing note says paid plans start at $75/yr. Listed prices and terms include:

• Single Developer License Update: $75 a year, for annual support updates; includes email support, updates and upgrades for 12 months.
• Single Developer License — 1 license: $290, paid once; covers 1 developer and cannot be shared or used concurrently. Includes email support, updates and upgrades for 12 months.
• Single Developer License — 2-5 licenses: $260, paid once; includes a 10% volume discount and 12 months of email support, updates and upgrades.
• Single Developer License — 6-10 licenses: $230, paid once; includes a 20% volume discount and 12 months of email support, updates and upgrades.
• Single Developer License — 11+ licenses: $200, paid once; includes a 25% volume discount and 12 months of email support, updates and upgrades.
• Site License Update: $500 a year, for annual support updates; includes email support, updates and upgrades for 12 months.
• Business License Update: $750 a year, for annual support updates; includes email support, updates and upgrades for 12 months.
• Site License: $3,750, paid once; covers any number of developers at one company office or location, normally within 30 miles. Includes email support, updates and upgrades for 12 months.
• Business License: $4,850, paid once; covers any number of developers across company offices worldwide, without geographical restrictions within the juridical company’s borders. Includes email support, updates and upgrades for 12 months.

Platforms

Allatori targets Java class files for J2EE, J2SE and J2ME, along with Android. It is a desktop product with command-line build integration. Its runtime is Java-based and is described as technically compatible with platforms that support a 1.4-or-later virtual machine; Windows, Mac OS X and UNIX are named as tested systems. The directory’s platform listing is Android, Linux, macOS and Windows.

Who it's for

Allatori is aimed at developers and organizations that distribute Java or Android applications and want to make their compiled code more difficult to inspect or reverse engineer. Its class-file input model may suit teams that need to obfuscate build outputs without supplying source code to the tool. Command-line, Ant, Maven, Android Studio and Eclipse integrations give it several routes into established build processes.

License choice matters for teams: the single-developer option is restricted to one developer and cannot be shared or used concurrently, while site and business licenses cover multiple developers under different location scopes. Organizations using native methods should also account for the need to explicitly exclude members accessed by native code.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Broad obfuscation features, including flow changes, string encryption, watermarking, incremental processing and decompiler protection.
• Pros: Supports Java class-file workflows without requiring the original source code.
• Pros: Offers command-line, Ant, Maven, Android Studio and Eclipse integration.
• Pros: Paid licenses include email support, updates and upgrades for 12 months.
• Cons: Native methods and their containing classes are not renamed automatically, and native-accessed members need explicit exclusions.
• Cons: Some obfuscation can increase bytecode or application size; flow obfuscation can rarely reduce performance.

Alternatives

For other tools in the category, see Code Obfuscation Software. The listed alternatives include ProGuard, another option associated with Java code protection, alongside tools such as ByteHide Shield, JS-Confuser, JavaScript Obfuscator, Obfuscator.io, Skater .NET Obfuscator, Obfuscar and yEd Graph Editor.

Verdict

Allatori is a feature-rich option for protecting compiled Java and Android applications, with practical integrations for common build tools and IDEs. Its range spans identifier and control-flow obfuscation, encrypted strings, watermarking and decompiler protection, while its class-file input removes the need to provide original source code. Its clearest trade-offs are the need to manage native-code exclusions and the possibility of modest size or performance changes from some transformations. The free plan offers an entry point, while paid licensing scales from an individual developer to company-wide coverage.