Hex
Hex is a package manager for the BEAM ecosystem, including Elixir and Erlang.
What Hex is
Hex is a package manager for the BEAM ecosystem, including Elixir and Erlang. Its services include an HTTP API, website, package and index repository, HexDocs, Mix integration, and other components. Packages are supported by Mix, Rebar, and erlang.mk, and the site provides Gleam usage guidance. Developers can fetch dependencies without creating an account. Organizations can publish and retrieve private packages and control user access. Free organizations can publish public dependency policies; paid organizations can keep policies private and apply them to public and private packages. A private package can depend only on packages in its own organization repository and the global hexpm repository. Hex documentation also explains how to build and serve a package repository on infrastructure an organization operates. The Open Source plan is free. Private Packages cost $9 / user / month, or $90 / per user / per year for the annual option; Enterprise pricing is available by contacting sales. Hex source code is licensed under the Apache 2 License.
Good
- Dependency fetching does not require an account.
- Packages work with Mix, Rebar, and erlang.mk.
- Organizations can manage private package access.
- Free organizations can publish public dependency policies.
- Self-hosting documentation is available.
Watch out
- Private packages have restricted dependency sources.
- Enterprise pricing requires contacting sales.
- Private Packages are priced per user.
Who it suits
Hex suits developers using Elixir, Erlang, or other BEAM ecosystem tools. Organizations that need private packages can use access controls, while teams needing repository hosting on their own infrastructure can consult its self-hosting documentation.
Verdict
Hex covers package discovery and management across the BEAM ecosystem, with public and private organization options. The private-package dependency restriction and per-user pricing are worth considering.
Plans and prices
From Hex's own pricing page, checked 28 Sep 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Private Packages | $9 a month | Unlimited private packages · Private package documentation · Republish and delete packages · Private dependency policies · $9 / user / month |
| Open Source | Free | Unlimited public packages · Public package documentation · Multiple package owners · Public dependency policies · $0 / user / month |
| Private Packages (annual) | $90 a year | Unlimited private packages · Private package documentation · Private dependency policies · $90 / per user / per year |
| Enterprise | Priced on request | Run your own infrastructure · Mirror hex.pm packages · Whitelist allowed and vetted packages · Apply Security Packages · Custom |
The facts
Each one read from Hex's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Build tools
- Hex packages are supported by Mix, Rebar, and erlang.mk, and the site also provides Gleam usage guidance.checked 28 Sep 2026
- Components
- Hex consists of an HTTP API, website, package and index repository, HexDocs, Mix integration, and other services.checked 28 Sep 2026
- Dependency fetching
- Users can fetch dependencies from Hex without creating an account.checked 28 Sep 2026
- Dependency policies
- Free organizations can publish public dependency policies, while paid organizations can publish private policies that govern public and private packages.checked 28 Sep 2026
- Notable limit
- A private package can depend only on packages in its own organization repository and the global hexpm repository.checked 28 Sep 2026
- Private packages
- Organizations can publish and fetch private packages and control which users have access.checked 28 Sep 2026
- Security
- Hex supports organization authentication keys for CI, and its About page directs security vulnerability reports to [email protected].checked 28 Sep 2026
- Self hosting
- The documentation explains how to build and serve a Hex package repository on infrastructure you operate.checked 28 Sep 2026
- Source license
- Hex source code is licensed under the Apache 2 License and maintained by the Hex core team.checked 28 Sep 2026
- Support
- Hex directs users to [email protected] for direct contact with the core team and general support.checked 28 Sep 2026
- What it does
- Hex is a package manager for the BEAM ecosystem, including languages such as Elixir and Erlang.checked 28 Sep 2026
The company
- Company
- Hex is operated by Swedish limited company Six Colors AB, which supports its development and runs its services.checked 28 Sep 2026
- Founded
- 2014checked 28 Sep 2026
Money
- Free plan
- Yeschecked 20 Sep 2026
