IDA Plugin Contest
We're back with a new submission process and expanded prizes - read the full update below.
Contest overview
Every year, Hex-Rays celebrates innovation in the IDA community with a contest honoring the most creative, useful, and technically impressive extensions of IDA or the Hex-Rays Decompiler. Reverse-engineering software can be complex, even with all the built-in power that IDA offers—that’s why we love seeing how users extend IDA to fit their workflow, automate tedious tasks, and add missing functionality.
Whether you prefer scripting in Python, building C/C++ plugins, or experimenting with the newer idalib introduced in IDA 9.0, there’s room to make IDA your own.
Here are some examples of the kinds of plugins that catch our eye, but the sky’s the limit.
Automate
repetitive or time-consuming analysis tasks
Enhance
visualization, navigation, or collaboration
Integrate
IDA with other tools, languages, or ecosystems
Support
new architectures, processors, or formats
Leverage
AI or advanced techniques for smarter analysis
This year’s contest accepts submissions from 15 October 2025 to 15 January 2026, with winners announced the week of 24 March 2026.
Contest rewards
1st Place
- $5,000 USD
- A conference pass to a Hex-Rays-sponsored event
- A free IDA Pro Expert-2 license, upgrade or renewal*
2nd Place
- $2,500 USD
- A free IDA Pro Expert-2 license, upgrade or renewal*
3rd Place
- $1,000 USD
- A free IDA Pro Expert-2 license, upgrade or renewal*
*License rewards may vary depending on eligibility.
How to participate
1
Create an innovative and useful extension for IDA and/or the Decompiler
- Supported languages: C, C++, or Python
- Plugins must be compatible with IDA 9.1 or 9.2
- Side applications using idalib are also welcome and encouraged
2
Ensure you meet the requirements
- You must own the copyright or be authorized to submit the code.
- You must not appear on any international sanction list.
- Hex-Rays employees and their families are not eligible to enter.
3
Note: It generally takes 24 hours after you submit your plugin to the repo for it to be published.
Submit and publish to the new Plugin Repo
This year, all plugins must be published on our official plugin repository. To do so, click the Submit plugins & apps button on the top right of the webpage. After you login into the Hex-Rays portal, click My plugins under the SERVICES tab where you will find the Submit a plugin button on the top right of the page.
Your submission must include:
- A link to a GitHub repository
- A README.md file that provides
- An overview - what your plugin does and why it matters. Your overview doesn’t have to be long, but please make it helpful to the person who will be reviewing and testing it - take away the guess work for them.
- Installation instructions and usage examples
- Credit information - how you’d like the authors to be listed (e.g., individual names, company, or university).
- A ida-plugin.json file - define metadata such as version, category, etc. Refer to the docs for details.
Note: It generally takes 24 hours after you submit your plugin to the repo for it to be published.
4
2025 Plugin Contest Submission
Once your plugin is published and available in the Hex-Rays plugin repository, you can officially submit it for the contest. To finalize your contest entry simply complete the form below.
Payment & KYC
- Winners must submit valid identification (ID card, passport, or driver’s license) and bank details within 30 days of notification of winning.
- Prizes will be transferred within two weeks after verification.
- Collective entries are allowed; the team must designate a single recipient for the prize.
- Winners will be listed on the official Hex-Rays Contest page (you may request to withhold your real name).
Timeline
Contest opens: 15 October 2025
Submissions close: 15 January 2026
Review & Voting: 16 January – 14 March 2026
Winners announced: Week of 24 March 2026
Winners from previous years
Year
Name of Winner Plugin
Link to the full list
Beta Program
Users with active IDA licenses can join our Beta program to get early access to new features and improvements.
How to Join
Log into the portal and click the Subscribe button within the Beta Program Access module
Beta access
Receive email invitations to upcoming Beta sessions
Requirements
Active IDA license required for participation
Security Bug Bounty
Help us make IDA and the Decompiler more secure by reporting security vulnerabilities and earn cash rewards.
Cash Rewards
Up to 3000 USD bounty for validated security bugs
Impact Focus
High and critical impact vulnerabilities are eligible
Active Program
Ongoing program with undetermined duration
Still have questions?
Do you need advice in selecting the right plan or managing your account?
Products
Case studies
Resources
Connect with the community on
© 2025 Copyright Hex-Rays