Hopper vs Ghidra — license, price and when each fits
Hopper Disassembler from Cryptic Apps is a commercial, Mac-native (plus Linux) disassembler/decompiler with a free time-limited demo, while Ghidra 12.1.4 (released September 21, 2026) is a free Apache-2.0 suite from the U.S. National Security Agency. If you want a polished Cocoa UI for Mach-O / iOS-oriented work on hardware you control, evaluate Hopper's demo. If you need $0 multi-platform open source with a large public ecosystem, start with Ghidra.
- Ghidra: $0, Apache-2.0, Windows/macOS/Linux (Java), decompiler included.
- Hopper: proprietary perpetual license (Personal or Computer) + 1 year of updates; demo 30-minute sessions, no save/export, debugger disabled (download page).
Authorized analysis only. Use either tool only on software you own or are explicitly allowed to examine.
What each tool is
License
| Tool | License / use terms | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Ghidra | Apache-2.0 (open source) | GitHub |
| Hopper demo | Free evaluation; 30-minute sessions; no save/export; debugger off | Download |
| Hopper Personal | Perpetual; tied to a person; commercial use allowed | FAQ · EULA |
| Hopper Computer | Perpetual; tied to a computer; commercial use allowed | Same |
Hopper FAQ: after the update year, the license still works but is limited to versions available during the paid update plan. Renewal of updates is available from inside the app at a reduced price (vendor statement).
Price notes (checked 2026-10-18 UTC)
| Plan | Price shown | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ghidra | $0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Hopper demo | Free | 30 min / session; no save/export; no debugger |
| Hopper Personal | See official checkout | Per user; commercial OK (FAQ) |
| Hopper Computer | See official checkout | Per computer; commercial OK (FAQ) |
Ghidra never charges a product license. Your only cash costs are hardware, JDK and staff time.
Side-by-side
| Dimension | Hopper | Ghidra |
|---|---|---|
| Cash cost | Demo free → paid perpetual + updates | $0 |
| License | Proprietary | Apache-2.0 |
| Commercial use | Allowed (FAQ) | Allowed under Apache-2.0 |
| Primary platforms | macOS 12.4+; Linux x86_64 packages | Windows, macOS, Linux (Java) |
| Windows GUI | Windows edition in standby (FAQ) | yes |
| UI style | Native Cocoa (Mac) | Java Swing-based |
| Decompiler | Built-in C-like pseudocode | Built-in |
| Processors (vendor FAQ) | Intel 32/64, ARM/ARM64, PowerPC (+ SDK) | Broad multi-arch (see Ghidra docs) |
| Formats (FAQ) | Mach-O, PE, ELF | Broad (PE/ELF/Mach-O and more) |
| Source code | Closed | Public |
| Typical fit | Mac/iOS-focused solo or small teams | Labs, education, OSS-friendly orgs |
When to choose which
- Choose Ghidra if you need a free multi-platform decompiler for authorized research, education or owned software, and you can install a compatible JDK.
- Choose Hopper if you work mainly on macOS/Linux Intel targets, want a Mac-native UI, and will buy a legal Personal or Computer license after the demo.
- Try both if you are authorized to open the same sample: compare pseudocode quality and workflow on your binaries, not marketing claims.
- Do not use either tool to bypass DRM, circumvent licenses or analyze software without permission.
Related on BinBench
- Ghidra vs IDA Pro · Free RE tools · OSS IDA alternatives · Beginner tool choice · Cutter getting started
FAQ
Is Hopper cheaper than IDA Pro?
Hopper is sold as a perpetual Personal or Computer license with one year of updates (FAQ). Exact checkout prices are shown on hopperapp.com at purchase time (EUR/USD/GBP including taxes per Terms). Re-check before you buy; BinBench does not cache a static list price.
Can I use Hopper commercially?
Yes. The Hopper FAQ states there are no restrictions on commercial or professional usage of Hopper. Personal vs Computer only differs in who/which machine the license is tied to.
Does Hopper run on Windows?
The FAQ says a Windows edition is currently in standby. Official downloads focus on macOS (Universal) and Linux (Intel 64-bit packages for tested distros).
Is Ghidra free for commercial work?
Ghidra is Apache-2.0 open source at $0. Your organization still needs a compatible JDK and must follow your own compliance rules for analyzing third-party software.
Does BinBench explain how to remove FairPlay DRM?
No. Hopper's FAQ notes App Store FairPlay-protected apps cannot be read as-is and that DRM removal is the user's responsibility. BinBench covers authorized analysis only and does not document DRM bypass.