Oxid Inspect
Know what's inside before you open it.
Oxid Inspect shows what any file is and what it holds, without opening or running it. Archives are free for ever; Pro reads Mac apps, installer packages and disk images down to their signatures.
Or get Oxid Inspect and 13 more apps for $99 in the Value Pack
300+
file types recognised
Free
archive work, for ever
$29
once for Pro
Feature 01
Every archive, nested, opened safely.
ZIP, 7z, RAR, tar, XAR, cpio and the compressors, including archives inside archives, browsed like folders. Extraction refuses names that would escape the folder, keeps links inside it, and carries a download's quarantine over, the way Archive Utility does. Free, for ever.
Feature 02
Apps and installers, down to the signature.
Code signatures checked with Apple's own Security framework, entitlements, notarization tickets, architectures, linked libraries. Installer packages show their scripts, every file they install, and whether the signature still matches the package.
Feature 03
Compare, audit, and check before you ship.
See what changed between two versions of an app: signer, entitlements, versions, files. Audit a folder of apps, or run a release check in CI with SARIF output, from the app, the command line or an MCP server for coding agents.
Gallery
Take a look.
Watch
See it in action.
How it compares
One app for archives, apps, packages and disk images.
| Oxid Inspect | Apparency | Suspicious Package | MacPacker | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Archives free; Pro $29 once | No charge | Free | Free, open source (GPL v3) |
| Browse and extract archives, nested ones too | ||||
| Mac apps: signature, entitlements, notarization | Pro | |||
| Installer packages: scripts, files, signature | Pro | Opens .pkg as an archive | ||
| Disk images | Hidden read-only mount (Pro) | Not listed | Only those inside macOS installers | Browses DMG, ISO and VM disk formats |
| Compare two versions | Built in (Pro) | Packages, through an external diff tool | ||
| Audit a folder, release checks, SARIF | Pro | Issue review per package | ||
| Command-line tool | Pro | appy | spkg | Not listed |
| Quick Look extension | ||||
| MCP server for coding agents | Pro | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Create or edit archives | Not yet | Edits ZIP in place |
Competitor details checked October 4, 2026. Full comparison, with sources
Nothing is uploaded
Files are read on your Mac. Online checks happen only when you ask.
Nothing runs
Inspecting never launches what's inside, and disk images mount hidden and read-only.
Apple's own verdict
Signatures are judged by macOS's Security framework, not guessed from the bytes.
Finder and Quick Look
Press Space to preview an archive; Inspect and Extract Here are in the context menu.
System Requirements
macOS 14 Sonoma or later, on Apple silicon or Intel.
Frequently asked
Got questions?
What is free, and what needs Pro?
Identifying files, browsing archives (nested ones too), previews, safe extraction, hashes, and Finder and Quick Look are free for ever. Pro adds apps, packages, disk images, signatures, compare, audit, reports, the command line and the MCP server.
Does it upload my files?
No. Everything is read on your Mac. Apple's notarization lookup runs only when you ask, and sends a hash of the code, never the file.
Is it safe to open a suspicious file with it?
Inspect never runs what it reads. Files are parsed in a sandboxed helper process, and disk images mount hidden and read-only.
Is it an antivirus?
No. It shows what a file is, what it contains and who signed it; it does not scan for malware.
Can it create archives?
Not yet. It reads and extracts; creating archives is planned for a later release.
Is it a subscription?
No. Pro is $29 once, for one Mac.
Best value
Want more than Oxid Inspect?
The Oxid Value Pack includes Oxid Inspect and every other app we make — 14 in total, worth $516 bought separately. One licence, paid once.
