Ghidra vs IDA Pro: license, price and when to pick each
Ghidra 12.1.4 (released September 21, 2026) is a free, open-source reverse-engineering suite from the U.S. National Security Agency under Apache-2.0, while IDA Pro from Hex-Rays is commercial, starting from €1 099 per year for IDA Pro Essential on the official pricing page (checked October 17, 2026 (UTC)). If you need a capable no-cost decompiler for authorized work, start with Ghidra. If your team already budgets for Hex-Rays or needs its ecosystem (Lumina, Teams, headless fleets), evaluate IDA on its official terms.
- Ghidra: $0, Apache-2.0, Windows/macOS/Linux, decompiler included.
- IDA: Free (non-commercial, x86/x64) → Home from $365/year (non-commercial) → Pro from €1 099/year (commercial use).
What each tool is
| Ghidra | IDA (Hex-Rays) | |
|---|---|---|
| Publisher | U.S. National Security Agency (open source) | Hex-Rays (commercial) |
| Home | ghidra-sre.org · repository | hex-rays.com |
| Latest version checked | 12.1.4 (September 21, 2026 UTC) | See Hex-Rays product pages |
| Core job | Disassembly, decompilation and scripting in one framework | Disassembly and decompilation with Hex-Rays' debugger and plugin ecosystem |
License
| Tool | License / use terms | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Ghidra | Apache-2.0 (open source) | GitHub repository |
| IDA Free | Free download; non-commercial use only | hex-rays.com/ida-free |
| IDA Home | Paid; for individual, non-commercial use | hex-rays.com/pricing |
| IDA Pro | Paid; commercial use allowed under the plan | hex-rays.com/pricing |
Read the vendor's license terms before any commercial use. BinBench does not resell licenses.
Price comparison (official pages, October 17, 2026 UTC)
| Plan | Price shown | Notes from the page |
|---|---|---|
| Ghidra | $0 | Open source (Apache-2.0) |
| IDA Free | Free | x86-32/x86-64 disassembly, cloud-based x86 decompilers, non-commercial |
| IDA Home | Starting from $365 per year | 1 disassembler family of your choice + 2 cloud-based decompilers from the same family; non-commercial |
| IDA Pro Essential | Starting from €1 099 per year | 2 cloud-based decompilers from the same family; 60+ processor families |
| IDA Pro Expert | Starting from €4 999 per year | 2, 4 or 6 local decompilers of your choice; price depends on selection |
| IDA Pro Ultimate | Starting from €8 599 per year | All local decompilers |
| IDA Pro with Classroom discount | Starting from $330 per year | Education providers |
| Optional add-ons (Pro) | Private Lumina + €299 · Teams + €999 (USD add-on block also shows $299→$100 and $999→$333 with struck list prices) | Floating licenses cost extra |
The Hex-Rays FAQ states payments are annual only (1-year minimum, with discounted 2- or 3-year terms); there is no monthly option.
Side-by-side snapshot
| Dimension | Ghidra | IDA |
|---|---|---|
| Cash cost | $0 | Free (limited) → from $365/yr Home → from €1 099/yr Pro |
| License | Apache-2.0 | Proprietary (Free / Home / Pro terms) |
| Commercial use | Allowed | Pro plans only |
| Decompiler | Built in | Cloud or local Hex-Rays decompilers by plan |
| Source code | Public | Closed |
| Typical user | Students, labs, open-source-friendly teams | Professionals and companies standardized on Hex-Rays |
When to choose which
- Choose Ghidra if you need a free interactive decompiler for authorized research, education or software you own, and you are comfortable installing a JDK.
- Choose IDA Pro if your organization needs a commercially licensed tool with vendor support, Teams or Lumina, or already standardizes on Hex-Rays decompilers.
- Choose IDA Free or Home if you are learning on your own for non-commercial purposes and want the IDA interface; check the architecture limits first.
- Try both if you are setting up a lab: open the same authorized sample in each and compare the workflow.
FAQ
Is Ghidra as good as IDA Pro?
There is no single answer. Results depend on the architecture, file format, scripts and analyst experience. Compare both on samples you are authorized to analyze; BinBench records licenses, versions and published prices.
Can I use IDA Free at work?
No. Hex-Rays' IDA Free FAQ says it is dedicated to non-commercial use only and that commercial use (earning money) needs a paid plan.
How much does IDA Pro cost in 2026?
On October 17, 2026 (UTC) the Hex-Rays pricing page listed IDA Pro Essential starting from €1 099 per year, IDA Pro Expert starting from €4 999 per year and IDA Pro Ultimate starting from €8 599 per year, billed annually. IDA Home started from $365 per year for individual, non-commercial use.
Is Ghidra really free?
Yes. Ghidra is released under the Apache-2.0 license by the U.S. National Security Agency and costs nothing; you need a compatible JDK to run it.
Does BinBench explain how to crack IDA?
No. Use IDA Free or a paid plan under Hex-Rays' terms. Cracked copies and key sharing are illegal and out of scope here.