# Hex Fiend for Mac

> A fast hex editor for enormous files.

Open multi-gigabyte files instantly, compare binaries and define templates. Hex Fiend is free and open source.

## Facts

- Price: Free and open source
- Developer: Ridiculous Fish
- Category: Developer Tools
- Website: https://hexfiend.com/
- Homebrew cask: hex-fiend
- Source code: https://github.com/HexFiend/HexFiend
- License: BSD-2-Clause
- GitHub stars: 5.9k
- Last commit: 2025-06-29
- Facts checked: 2026-10-19
- MacWorthy page: https://macworthy.com/apps/hex-fiend/

## Install

Homebrew:

```sh
brew install --cask hex-fiend
```

## Questions

### Is Hex Fiend free?

Yes. Hex Fiend is free and open source under the BSD-2-Clause license. The source code is on GitHub at HexFiend/HexFiend.

### Where can I download Hex Fiend for Mac?

Download Hex Fiend from the developer's website (hexfiend.com) and GitHub. MacWorthy links only to official sources.

### Can I install Hex Fiend from the Terminal?

Yes. With Homebrew, run `brew install --cask hex-fiend`.

### What are good alternatives to Hex Fiend?

Other developer tools apps for Mac worth a look are Zed (open source), Ghostty (open source), iTerm2 (open source) and Sequel Ace (open source).

## Alternatives in Developer Tools

- [Zed](https://macworthy.com/apps/zed/): A code editor that runs at the speed of thought. (Open source)
- [Ghostty](https://macworthy.com/apps/ghostty/): A fast, feature-rich, truly native terminal. (Open source)
- [iTerm2](https://macworthy.com/apps/iterm2/): The terminal that taught macOS new tricks. (Open source)
- [Sequel Ace](https://macworthy.com/apps/sequel-ace/): The free MySQL and MariaDB client. (Open source)
- [CodeEdit](https://macworthy.com/apps/codeedit/): A native, open-source code editor in Swift. (Open source)
- [Cork](https://macworthy.com/apps/cork/): A friendly face for Homebrew. (Open source)
- [Xcodes](https://macworthy.com/apps/xcodes/): Install and switch Xcode versions painlessly. (Open source)
- [Lunavect](https://macworthy.com/apps/lunavect/): Your Claude Code and Codex sessions, watched from the menu bar. (Open source)

Tags: hex, binary, open source