Hex Fiend
- Android app
- Not listed
- Free plan
- Yes
- Runs on
- Mac
Summary
Hex Fiend is a free, open-source hex editor for macOS that lets users inspect and change binary data. It supports inserting, deleting, rearranging, and overwriting bytes, as well as searching large files. Its binary comparison accounts for insertions and deletions. The editor does not load an entire file into memory, and smart saving avoids rewriting unchanged portions or requiring temporary disk space. The maker says it can handle files as large as users can create and reports tests on files up to 118 GB. A data inspector reads values as signed or unsigned integers and as floating-point numbers in big- or little-endian formats. Scripted binary templates can visualize file structure, and an embeddable framework provides hex and data views under a permissive BSD-style license. The official site lists version 2.18.1 and requires macOS 10.14.6 or later. The Mac App Store version collects no data and makes no network requests; the direct download checks for updates without collecting or storing user data. Hex Fiend is notarized for macOS 10.14 and later.
Who it is for
Hex Fiend suits macOS users who need to inspect, search, compare, or edit binary files. Its templates and embeddable framework may also suit people building scripted file views or applications with hex and data views.
What is good
- Edits binary data without loading the whole file into memory.
- Compares files while accounting for insertions and deletions.
- Smart saving avoids rewriting unchanged portions.
- Data inspector supports multiple numeric formats and byte orders.
- Free and open source under a BSD-style license.
What to know first
- Requires macOS 10.14.6 or later.
- Available only for macOS.
- The direct-download version checks for updates.
Verdict
Hex Fiend offers binary editing, searching, comparison, and inspection tools for macOS, including for very large files. Check the listed macOS requirement before choosing it.
Hex Fiend plans and pricing
All plansCompared on hex editors
- Free plan
- Yeshexfiend.com
- Supported platforms
- macOShexfiend.com
- Binary comparison
- Yeshexfiend.com
- Binary templates
- Yeshexfiend.com
- Scripting support
- Yeshexfiend.com
- Disk editing
- Yeshexfiend.com
Facts
- Purpose
- Hex Fiend is a fast, clever open-source hex editor for macOS.hexfiend.com · 1 Oct 2026
- Editing
- It supports inserting, deleting, rearranging, and overwriting binary data.github.com · 1 Oct 2026
- Large files
- Hex Fiend can handle files as large as the user can create, and has been tested on files up to 118 GB.github.com · 1 Oct 2026
- Memory use
- It does not keep files in memory and does not require the entire file to be loaded.hexfiend.github.io · 1 Oct 2026
- Search
- The editor provides fast searching through large files.hexfiend.com · 1 Oct 2026
- Binary diff
- It compares files while accounting for insertions and deletions.github.com · 1 Oct 2026
- Saving
- Smart saving avoids rewriting unchanged portions and does not require temporary disk space.hexfiend.github.io · 1 Oct 2026
- Data inspector
- The data inspector interprets values as signed or unsigned integers and floating-point numbers in big- or little-endian formats.hexfiend.com · 1 Oct 2026
- Embeddable framework
- Hex Fiend's framework lets applications embed hex and data views under a permissive BSD-style license.hexfiend.github.io · 1 Oct 2026
- Current download
- The official site lists Hex Fiend 2.18.1 and requires macOS 10.14.6 or later.hexfiend.com · 1 Oct 2026
- Privacy
- The Mac App Store distribution collects no data and performs no network requests.hexfiend.com · 1 Oct 2026
- Update checks
- The direct-download distribution uses Sparkle to check for new versions without collecting or storing user data.hexfiend.com · 1 Oct 2026
- Security
- Hex Fiend has been notarized for added security on macOS 10.14 and later.hexfiend.github.io · 1 Oct 2026
- Origin
- The maker's 2006 announcement describes Hex Fiend as free and developed as an experiment in handling huge files.ridiculousfish.com · 1 Oct 2026
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Where it ranks on Everything Xiaomi
- Best Hex Editors in 2026#6 of 31
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Sources
- hexfiend.com· checked 1 Oct 2026
- github.com/HexFiend/HexFiend· checked 1 Oct 2026
- hexfiend.github.io/HexFiend/docs/· checked 1 Oct 2026
- hexfiend.com/privacy.html· checked 1 Oct 2026
- hexfiend.github.io/HexFiend/ReleaseNotes.html· checked 1 Oct 2026
- ridiculousfish.com/blog/posts/hex-fiend.html· checked 1 Oct 2026