Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Cutter VS Ghidra

Compare Cutter VS Ghidra and see what are their differences

Cutter logo Cutter

Open Source RE Platform powered by radare2.

Ghidra logo Ghidra

Software Reverse Engineering (SRE) Framework
  • Cutter Landing page
    Landing page //
    2020-01-30
  • Ghidra Landing page
    Landing page //
    2019-08-25

Cutter features and specs

  • Open Source
    Cutter is an open-source tool, which means it is freely available for use and modification by the community. This allows for community-driven development and bug fixing.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    Cutter offers a graphical user interface that is more intuitive and accessible compared to command-line based reversing tools. This makes it easier for beginners to get started with reverse engineering.
  • Cross-Platform
    Cutter is available on multiple operating systems including Windows, Linux, and macOS, making it a versatile tool for users on different platforms.
  • Integration with Rizin
    Cutter integrates with Rizin, a powerful reverse engineering framework, providing advanced disassembly, decompilation, and analysis features.
  • Active Community and Development
    Cutter has an active community of developers and users, which means it receives regular updates, new features, and community support.

Possible disadvantages of Cutter

  • Steep Learning Curve
    Despite having a GUI, Cutter still requires a significant understanding of reverse engineering concepts and techniques, which can be challenging for beginners.
  • Performance Issues
    Depending on the size of the binary being analyzed, Cutter can experience performance slowdowns, particularly during disassembly and analysis.
  • Incomplete Documentation
    Users may find the documentation to be incomplete or not sufficiently detailed, which can hinder the learning process and the effective use of the tool.
  • Dependency on Rizin
    While integration with Rizin is a pro, it is also a con as any limitations or issues in Rizin can directly affect Cutter’s performance and capabilities.
  • Fewer Features Compared to Commercial Tools
    Compared to some commercial reverse engineering tools, Cutter may have fewer advanced features or plugins available.

Ghidra features and specs

  • Free and Open Source
    Ghidra is free to use and its source code is publicly available, allowing users to modify and enhance the tool to suit their needs.
  • Multi-platform Support
    Ghidra is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux, making it accessible to a wide range of users regardless of their operating system.
  • Powerful Disassembly
    It comes with a powerful disassembly engine that supports multiple architectures, enabling in-depth analysis of binary code.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The tool features a graphical user interface (GUI) that simplifies navigation and enhances user experience, especially for those who may not be comfortable with command-line tools.
  • Collaboration Features
    Ghidra allows multiple users to collaborate on the same project in real-time, facilitating team efforts in reverse engineering tasks.
  • Scripting Support
    It supports scripting in both Python and Java, allowing users to automate repetitive tasks and extend the functionality of the tool.
  • Extensive Documentation
    Ghidra has comprehensive documentation and an active community, providing users with resources and support to get started and troubleshoot issues.

Possible disadvantages of Ghidra

  • Learning Curve
    Due to its extensive features and capabilities, there can be a steep learning curve for new users, requiring time and practice to master.
  • Performance
    Some users have reported performance issues, such as slow loading times and lag, particularly when working with large binaries.
  • Limited Debugging Features
    Ghidra’s debugging features are not as comprehensive as those offered by some other reverse engineering tools, potentially limiting its utility for certain tasks.
  • Java Dependency
    Ghidra requires a Java Runtime Environment (JRE) to run, which may be a drawback for users who prefer or require environments that do not support Java.
  • Complex Installation
    The installation and setup process can be complex and may require additional configuration, which can be daunting for beginners.
  • Less Intuitive for Certain Tasks
    While the GUI is user-friendly for many tasks, some users find it less intuitive for specific, advanced reverse engineering functions compared to other specialized tools.

Cutter videos

Imperial Cutter "review" [Elite Dangerous]

More videos:

  • Review - The Imperial Cutter [Elite Dangerous] | The Pilot Reviews
  • Review - Should you buy a CUTTER? - Elite Dangerous - Imperial Cutter Review

Ghidra videos

NSA Ghidra, A game changer ?

More videos:

  • Review - Ghidra Review
  • Tutorial - Ghidra quickstart & tutorial: Solving a simple crackme

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Cutter and Ghidra)
IDE
27 27%
73% 73
Software Development
27 27%
73% 73
Decompiler
30 30%
70% 70
Developer Tools
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Cutter and Ghidra

Cutter Reviews

We have no reviews of Cutter yet.
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Ghidra Reviews

Reverse engineering tools review
It may not be entirely up to the functionality of HexRays at the moment (remember that Ghidra is a new project), but tools such as decompilers require a lot of work and it is rare to see a new product that someone offers for free.
Source: www.pelock.com
The 5 Best Reverse Engineering Software for 2022
Ghidra's graphical user interface (GUI) is built on Java's Swing framework with a decompiler written in C++ and plugins written in Python. Besides its reverse engineering capabilities, Ghidra features powerful debugging features for both Windows and Linux.6
Source: online.yu.edu

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Ghidra should be more popular than Cutter. It has been mentiond 65 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Cutter mentions (13)

  • NSA Ghidra open-source reverse engineering framework
    Rizin[1]/Cutter[2] projects are stored like text files that work well with git, you could try those tools. [1] https://rizin.re [2] https://cutter.re. - Source: Hacker News / 7 months ago
  • The Hiew Hex Editor
    Everything Hiew can do, Rizin[1] can do too, and is completely free and open source[2] under LGPL3 license. Moreover, it supports more architectures, platforms, and file formats, as well as GUI in Qt - Cutter[3][4]. If something is missing in Rizin but presented in Hiew, please let us know by opening the issue with details. [1] https://rizin.re [2] https://github.com/rizinorg/rizin [4] - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • Veles – A new age tool for binary analysis
    In Cutter[1][2] we have an idea to implement thes same feature[3] as a plugin, but our priorities lie elsewhere die to the lack of enough hands. Contributions are welcome. [1] https://cutter.re [2] https://github.com/rizinorg/cutter. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Debugger Ghidra Class
    You might want to check Cutter[1][2] also. Our release builds come with decompiler included. [1] https://cutter.re [2] https://github.com/rizinorg/cutter. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Fq: Jq for Binary Formats
    For this kind of task, using low-level debugger tools is probably better. Rizin[1][2]/Cutter[3][4] could help. We also have GSoC participant this year who works hard on improving debuginfo and debugging support[5]. I personally also like Binary Ninja, they recently made their debugger stable enough[6]. [1] https://rizin.re/ [2] https://github.com/rizinorg/rizin [4] https://github.com/rizinorg/cutter [5]... - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
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Ghidra mentions (65)

  • Ask HN: How are you using LLMs for traversing decompiler output?
    I've only played a with this, but it was impressive. https://ghidra-sre.org/. - Source: Hacker News / 6 days ago
  • I've figured out what 13 of the 16 enemy flags mean in Ultima V. Help me figure out the last three.
    I've got no experience with reverse-engineering executables, but I got a bunch of code-like stuff showing up when I fed ULTIMA.EXE to Ghidra and told it to analyze it with all the flags set. Source: over 1 year ago
  • Modding SH2
    The whole game is written in C++ (game logic intertwined with graphics). Ghidra can help you deconstruct the game binaries, but you need to put in a GREAT great effort to even get a starting point. Cheat Engine has been successful for some purposes, including an AI enabling utility for multiplayer (use with great care!). Source: over 1 year ago
  • You have probably heard of Temu right?
    What I think you’re talking about is reverse engineering. It’s basically taking a program and analysing the compiled code to attempt to find out how it works. It’s a fairly expansive topic, and fairly tricky to do but look at anything to do with Ghidra to get started. Source: over 1 year ago
  • Asking for clarification ... How is learning C beneficial for becoming a Cyber security expert
    Oh also just as an aside Ghidra is a really cool free tool developed by the NSA which can reverse engineer software by looking at its executable and recreating the C code from the instructions and static data within. It's another way to get familiarized with the relationship between C code and the instructions it compiles to. Source: over 1 year ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Cutter and Ghidra, you can also consider the following products

IDA - The best-of-breed binary code analysis tool, an indispensable item in the toolbox of world-class software analysts, reverse engineers, malware analyst and cybersecurity professionals.

OllyDbg - OllyDbg is a 32-bit assembler level analysing debugger.

Binary Ninja - A reverse engineering platform and GUI

X64dbg - X64dbg is a debugging software that can debug x64 and x32 applications.

Immunity Debugger - Immunity Debugger is a powerful new way to write exploits, analyze malware, and reverse engineer...

GNU Project Debugger - GNU Project Debugger, or gdb, is a command-line, source-level debugger for programs that were...