Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Cutter VS IDA

Compare Cutter VS IDA and see what are their differences

Cutter logo Cutter

Open Source RE Platform powered by radare2.

IDA logo 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.
  • Cutter Landing page
    Landing page //
    2020-01-30
  • IDA Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-11-11

A powerful disassembler and a versatile debugger IDA Pro as a disassembler is capable of creating maps of their execution to show the binary instructions that are actually executed by the processor in a symbolic representation (assembly language). Advanced techniques have been implemented into IDA Pro so that it can generate assembly language source code from machine-executable code and make this complex code more human-readable.

The debugging feature augmented IDA with the dynamic analysis. It supports multiple debugging targets and can handle remote applications. Its cross-platform debugging capability enables instant debugging, easy connection to both local and remote processes and support for 64-bit systems and new connection possibilities.

Cutter

Website
cutter.re
$ Details
Platforms
-
Release Date
-

IDA

$ Details
-
Platforms
Windows Linux Mac OSX
Release Date
1991 May

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.

IDA features and specs

  • Powerful Disassembler
    IDA Pro is renowned for its powerful disassembly capabilities, which can reverse-engineer complex binaries for various architectures.
  • Interactive Graphical Interface
    The tool provides an intuitive and interactive GUI, complete with various graph views, that helps users visualize control flow and analyze code more efficiently.
  • Plugin Ecosystem
    IDA Pro supports an extensive range of plugins, allowing users to extend its functionality and tailor it to specific needs.
  • Scriptable
    It supports multiple scripting languages, such as IDC, Python, and others, enabling automation of repetitive tasks and custom analysis routines.
  • Cross-Platform Support
    IDA Pro is available on multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, and Linux, making it versatile for different operating environments.
  • Extensive Documentation
    IDA Pro comes with comprehensive documentation and active community support, helping users in learning and troubleshooting.

Possible disadvantages of IDA

  • High Cost
    IDA Pro is known for its high price, which might be prohibitive for small businesses, hobbyists, or independent security researchers.
  • Steep Learning Curve
    The tool is highly complex and may require significant time and effort to master, especially for beginners in reverse engineering.
  • Resource Intensive
    IDA Pro can be resource-intensive, requiring robust system specifications to function smoothly, particularly when dealing with large binaries.
  • Licensing Restrictions
    The licensing terms can be restrictive, limiting the ability to transfer licenses between different users or systems easily.
  • Limited Dynamic Analysis
    While IDA Pro is excellent for static analysis, its capabilities for dynamic analysis are somewhat limited compared to specialized dynamic analysis tools.
  • Comparison with Free Tools
    There are free alternatives available, such as Ghidra and Radare2, which offer comparable capabilities without the high cost.

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

IDA videos

Mark Kermode reviews Ida

More videos:

  • Review - My Review for IDA (non-spoiler)
  • Review - The New Canon: 'Ida'

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Cutter and IDA)
IDE
18 18%
82% 82
Software Development
19 19%
81% 81
Decompiler
22 22%
78% 78
OS & Utilities
100 100%
0% 0

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 IDA

Cutter Reviews

We have no reviews of Cutter yet.
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IDA Reviews

Reverse engineering tools review
IDA that is Interactive DisAssembler in an undpisupted king among tools used in reverse engineering. IDA is a disassembler and debugger with built-in code analysis for over 60 types of processors. It has its own script language, large base of signatures of the most popular programming libraries as well as support for plug-ins that additionally enhance functionality e.g. by...
Source: www.pelock.com
The 5 Best Reverse Engineering Software for 2022
The interactive nature of the IDA Pro disassembler means you can change elements of the displayed data in real-time, including functions, variables, names, and library functions. It's written in C++ and runs on Microsoft Windows, OS X, and Linux. The IDA Pro platform benefits from several plugins, the most notable of which is the Hex-Rays decompiler. With this tool, software...
Source: online.yu.edu

Social recommendations and mentions

Cutter might be a bit more popular than IDA. We know about 13 links to it since March 2021 and only 12 links to IDA. 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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IDA mentions (12)

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What are some alternatives?

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

Ghidra - Software Reverse Engineering (SRE) Framework

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

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

Binary Ninja - A reverse engineering platform and GUI

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

WinHex - WinHex hex editor, disk editor, RAM editor. Binary editor for files, disks, and RAM. Download HEX EDITOR. Sector editor. Drive editor.