Regex101 vs RegExr
Regex101 and RegExr are the go-to sites for building and testing regular expressions. Both highlight matches live and explain each part of your pattern.
Regex101 is the more powerful choice, especially if you work outside JavaScript or need to debug slow patterns. RegExr is lighter and a little friendlier for learning the basics.
Side by side
| Regex101 | RegExr | |
|---|---|---|
| Regex flavors | PCRE, JavaScript, Python, Go, Java, .NET, Rust | JavaScript and PCRE |
| Explanation | Detailed step-by-step explanation | Hover explanations |
| Debugger | Yes, with step counts | No |
| Community patterns | Yes | Yes |
| Code generator | Yes, for many languages | No |
| Category | Developer | Developer |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Account | Not required | Not required |
| Works locally | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | No | Yes |
| Mobile friendly | No | No |
Choose Regex101 if
You need many flavors and a debugger.
Choose RegExr if
You are learning regex in JavaScript.
Regex101 pros and cons
- Best-in-class explanations
- Supports the flavor you actually use
- Great for learning and debugging
- Saving to a personal library needs an account
- The dense interface takes a moment to learn
RegExr pros and cons
- Great for learning regex
- Clean and friendly
- Lots of reusable examples
- Only JavaScript and PCRE flavors
- No step-by-step debugger
Regex101 vs RegExr FAQ
Is Regex101 better than RegExr?
Regex101 is the more powerful choice, especially if you work outside JavaScript or need to debug slow patterns. RegExr is lighter and a little friendlier for learning the basics.
Are Regex101 and RegExr free?
Regex101 is free with no account needed for testing. Saved regex can be shared by link. RegExr is free and open source with no account needed to test.
Do Regex101 and RegExr need an account?
No. Regex101 works without signing up, so you can open regex101.com and start using it right away. No. RegExr works without signing up, so you can open regexr.com and start using it right away.