In this guide, we’ll walk you through some of the best hex editors for PC that you need to know about. We’ll cover what they are and their key features and capabilities so that you can make an informed choice.

Why do I need a hex editor?

Modern computers are complex machines, and it’s not uncommon for them to have problems. If you’re having trouble with your computer, or if you just want to see what makes it tick, you might want to look at the files that make up your operating system.  These files are stored on your hard drive in binary format, and they’re not easy for humans to understand. This is where a hex editor comes in. A hex editor lets users open and edit binary files. It works by translating those binary files into text that can be read by humans. This is important because you can use a hex editor to fix errors in your operating system or other programs. You can also use it — as long as you know what you’re doing — to change some details about how your computer operates. Other benefits of using a hex editor include:

Viewing and editing binary files – You can view and edit binary files, such as executable files, Microsoft Office documents, PDF documents, MP3 files, and so on. Searching specific data in a file – If you are looking for a specific string of text in a file, then it will be easier to find it using a hex editor than any other tool. Deleting unwanted data from a file – If you want to remove unwanted data from an executable program, you can do so with a hex editor. Modifying executable programs – You can modify an executable program by changing its code or its data with the help of a hex editor.

What is the best free hex editor?

You have plenty of options if you’re looking for the best hex editor. We’ve shared information about our top picks here, and provided you with an overview for each. Hopefully, these reviews have given you a good sense of which option is likely to work best for your needs, and why. The program has all the features you’d expect from a hex editor: searching for specific values in a file, changing data, copying data to another location, etc. Additional features include:

Comes as a portable and installable file Large file support Can save files in multiple formats Free of charge

⇒ Get HxD Easy to use, fast and flexible, WinHex is the ideal tool for Windows users who need to work with raw disk sectors, device drivers, or other binary data files. Additional features include:

Extremely fast Supports disk cloning Equipped with data recovery techniques

⇒ Get WinHex The interface is very clean and easy to understand. It includes all the basic functions you would expect from a hex editor — editing and modifying data, copying and pasting, comparing files, and more. You can also create new files and folders, as well as delete them if needed. Additional features include:

Data interpretation feature Drag and drop for easier editing Supports third-party apps

⇒ Get Hex Workshop It makes it a great tool for developers who are working on projects that involve multiple files, as it makes it easier for them to see how changes affect different parts of a file at once. Additional features include:

Minimal system requirements Large file support Supports video text mode

⇒ Get uHex The program has some basic features such as searching, replacing, and inserting text into a file. In addition to editing files in hexadecimal format, it also supports editing files in ASCII and Unicode formats. Additional features include:

Lightweight software No file size limit Supports encryption and decryption of data

⇒ Get Hackman Suite SPONSORED It also includes a built-in FTP client that allows you to edit files on remote web servers without needing to use your browser or any other third-party application. Additional features include:

Serves as a text editor too Customizable keyboard shortcuts Supports major programming languages

⇒ Get UltraEdit If you are looking for an advanced hex editor that offers many options for editing binary files, this could be the right choice for you. Additional features include:

Fast data processing Portable format available Customizable user interface

⇒ Get Hex Editor Neo It has features like file upload, edit, and download, text search and replace, multiple undo, etc. The program allows you to edit files of any size directly in the browser without downloading anything. Additional features include:

Supports uploading of files Can edit offline Supports multiple languages

⇒ Get HexEd.it Hexplorer provides many useful features including a binary file viewer, hexadecimal viewer, filter, and compare tools. Additional features include:

Allows text filter Unlimited undo function Supports multiple formats

⇒ Get Hexplorer This software supports the editing of files up to 2 GB in size and allows inserting and deleting data from files. It also allows searching for and replacing specific data within the file. The software has an intuitive user interface, which makes it easy to use even by inexperienced users. Additional features include:

Data inspector Drag and drop feature Supports plugins

⇒ Get Cygnus Features are important and there’s no point in having a super fast hex editor if it doesn’t have some useful options. The top-ranked editors in our list had a pleasing combination of speed, bug-free coding, and a good range of options to edit files. We also share the best website design software if you’d like to start your coding journey. If you don’t fancy downloading programs, we also have a list of the best browsers for developers so be sure to check that out too. If you are using a hex editor, we’d love to know which one and why it’s your pick. Start us off in the comment section below.

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