FastIR Collector vs libregf: Side-by-Side Comparison (2026)
Features, pricing, ratings, and pros & cons — compared head-to-head.
FastIR Collector is a free digital forensics and incident response tool. libregf is a free digital forensics and incident response tool. Compare features, ratings, integrations, and community reviews side by side to find the best digital forensics and incident response fit for your security stack.
CST VerdictBased on our analysis of available product data, here is our conclusion:
Incident response teams who need to pull forensic artifacts from Windows machines before an attacker covers their tracks should start with FastIR Collector; it's free, lightweight enough to run on suspect systems without heavy agent deployment, and built specifically for live acquisition rather than post-mortem analysis. The 519 GitHub stars and active maintenance signal real adoption among practitioners doing hands-on IR work. Skip this if your team needs cross-platform coverage or automated collection at scale; FastIR is a manual pull tool for Windows boxes, not a deployed sensor strategy.
Forensic examiners and incident responders who need to programmatically parse Windows Registry hives will find libregf invaluable for automation; it's the rare free tool that handles REGF format parsing at the library level rather than forcing you into a GUI or proprietary SDK. The 132 GitHub stars and active use in major DFIR frameworks like The Sleuth Kit demonstrate it's stable enough for case work. Skip this if your team exclusively uses commercial Registry analysis tools like Registry Recon or you need GUI-driven triage instead of integration into custom workflows.
