BinEd

Overview

BinEd is a free, open-source binary and hex viewer and editor written in Java. It is also available as a component. Its central purpose is to display and modify binary data, with file contents shown as hexadecimal values alongside text. The display can also represent codes in binary, octal, or decimal.

The project is licensed under Apache License 2.0, though the manual notes that additional addons may use different licenses. BinEd is offered for desktop systems and Android, and the editor page also links to a browser demo that runs using CheerpJ by Leaning Technologies. The Android privacy policy says the app obtains no information, does not require registration, and shares no collected data with third parties.

For more options in this category, browse Hex Editors.

Key features

BinEd brings together several ways to inspect data and a set of editing controls:

• Multiple data views: See hexadecimal codes and text, or switch code representation to binary, octal, or decimal.
• Character sets: Unicode and other charsets are supported.
• Editing modes: Insert and overwrite modes are available.
• Search: Search for text or hexadecimal values, with matching results highlighted. Search and replace is listed as partially available in the editor application.
• Undo and redo: Revert or restore editing steps.
• Large-file support: The maker says the editor supports files up to exabytes. The Android app qualifies this with partial file mode.
• Byte comparison: Byte-for-byte comparison is marked as complete in the feature list.
• Scripting and plugins: Both scripting support and plugin support are listed.

The download page lists integrations for NetBeans, IntelliJ, Eclipse, JDeveloper, BlueJ, jEdit, Autopsy, and Ghidra. These provide routes to use BinEd alongside a range of development and analysis tools.

Pricing

BinEd is free and open source. The listed BinEd plan costs 0.00 USD per free. There is no free trial because the software is already available on a free plan; the Android app is described as a free service.

Platforms

BinEd supports Android, Linux, macOS, Windows, and web. The desktop Java application runs on systems supporting Java 8 or later; the manual includes Windows, macOS, Linux variants, and BSD among the supported environments. The download page offers Windows and macOS installers, a ZIP for other platforms, and an Android APK. A browser demo is also linked from the editor page.

Who it's for

BinEd is suited to people who need to inspect or edit binary files in a hex-oriented interface, including users who want text and numeric code views, character-set support, or insert and overwrite editing. Its platform range may be useful for people moving between desktop, Android, and browser-based access. Integrations with editors, IDEs, and tools such as Autopsy and Ghidra may also fit workflows that already use those applications.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Free and open source under Apache License 2.0.
• Offers hexadecimal, text, binary, octal, and decimal views, plus Unicode and other charset support.
• Provides search with highlighted matches, undo and redo, and insert and overwrite modes.
• Available across desktop platforms, Android, and as a browser demo.
• Lists byte-for-byte comparison, scripting, plugin support, and multiple integrations.

Cons

• The Android version's large-file capability is qualified as partial file mode.
• The maker lists possible freezes from Java heap space after many large modifications, possible corruption in delta mode if other applications modify the same files simultaneously, and memory leaks.
• Search and replace is only marked as partially available in the editor application.
• Additional addons may use licenses different from Apache License 2.0.

Alternatives

Other options in the category include REHex, ImHex, wxHexEditor, Hex Editor Neo, Hex Fiend, HexEd.it, dhex, and 010 Editor.

Verdict

BinEd is a broad, free option for binary inspection and editing, with several data representations, text search, editing modes, and platform choices. Its integrations and scripting and plugin support add flexibility for users working within supported tools. The maker's cautions around memory, large modifications, and delta mode are worth weighing for demanding editing tasks, and Android users should note the partial-file-mode qualification on large files.