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. Reverse-engineering software can be complex, even with all the built-in power that IDA offers, and that is exactly 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, working with the higher-level IDA Domain API for cleaner and more readable automation, or experimenting with idalib introduced in IDA 9.0, there is room to make IDA your own.
Here are some examples of the kinds of plugins that catch our eye, but the sky is 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
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
- Supported languages: C, C++, or Python.
- Plugins must be compatible with the latest version of IDA.
- Side applications using idalib are also welcome and encouraged.
- The plugins sourcecode need to be accessible.
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
Keep in mind that the README is the front door to your plugin: it is often the first thing a user sees, it is how the judges review and test your work, and it is how every future user discovers your plugin and decides whether to install it.
Note: It generally takes 24 hours after you submit your plugin to the repo for it to be published.
Publish your plugin in the Plugin Repo
All plugins must be published on our official plugin repository. To do so, here the guideline to publish you plugin: https://docs.hex-rays.com/developer/publishing-plugins
Your plugin repo must include:
- A link to a GitHub repository
- A README.md file that provides at minimun
- An overview - what your plugin does and why it matters.
- 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.
Keep in mind that the README is the front door to your plugin: it is often the first thing a user sees, it is how the judges review and test your work, and it is how every future user discovers your plugin and decides whether to install it.
Note: It generally takes 24 hours after you submit your plugin to the repo for it to be published.
4
2026 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).
2026 Timeline
- Submission deadline: November 30th, 2026
- Winners announced: Mid-January 2027
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?
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