Is SVGX Free, Open Source, and Safe to Download?

SVGX is free to download and use, but it is not open source, and because it is distributed outside the official Apple and Microsoft stores, it is unsigned and unverified — so you should verify the download yourself before installing. The site provides SHA256 checksums for exactly that purpose.

What SVGX costs

According to the SVGX site's FAQ, the app is free of charge:

"Yes, you may download and use SVGX free of charge."

The site lists two downloads, both at version 1.2.0:

The only paid element mentioned on the page is source code access, not the app itself.

Is SVGX open source?

No — at least not in the usual sense. The FAQ states plainly: "At this time, SVGX is not open source."

It follows what the developer calls a Gitware distribution model: the compiled app is free, but you can purchase access to the source code on GitHub. So "free app" and "open source" are two separate things here. If having readable, modifiable source matters to you, the free download alone does not give you that.

Why the download is unsigned

The developer explains the reasoning directly: since SVGX will likely generate little-to-no revenue, they are not paying for Apple and Microsoft developer accounts. Without those accounts:

• The app cannot be distributed through the official Apple or Microsoft stores.
• It cannot be signed or verified by Apple or Microsoft.

This is a common situation for small indie tools, but it has a real consequence: your operating system will likely warn you when you try to open it, and you cannot rely on store-level vetting as a safety signal.

How to check your download

Because the app is unsigned, the checksums on the download page are the practical way to confirm the file you received matches what was published. The page lists SHA256 values for both the zip archives and the extracted installers:

Mac

• SVGX-1.2.0.dmg.zip — 97d63a47328999f844b1988c5e0c2a489af34178fd42d4607e83db2c950cc7ea
• SVGX-1.2.0.dmg — d9f59e30a9326adb6d7aaab795d4de9fadc6f1e54d33f2afb027f240482ef537

Windows

• SVGX-1.2.0-Setup.exe.zip — d14a83d8b8fa3d3452e9b4f88903fbcf0b587cc19d3c321f3a9c71fbd64197ae
• SVGX-1.2.0-Setup.exe — 9d45a307d355dace0ef01809ff505cecdd3544bccb9316e318470dcfa996d0db

To verify on macOS or Linux, run shasum -a 256 <filename> in Terminal and compare the output to the value above. On Windows, use certutil -hashfile <filename> SHA256 in Command Prompt or PowerShell. If the strings match exactly, the file is intact and unmodified from what was published; if they differ, do not install it.

What this means for your decision

• If you just want a free SVG asset manager: SVGX qualifies. It is a desktop tool for Mac and PC that searches nested folders for SVG files, previews and zooms them, supports inline markup editing, copies SVG markup, URL-encoded code, and CSS background-image code, handles background repeat/position/size previews, runs SVGO optimization, and exports as SVG or PNG.
• If you need open source: look elsewhere, or plan to buy the GitHub source access.
• If you are cautious about unsigned executables: the checksum lets you confirm integrity, but it does not tell you what the code does. The developer's own FAQ acknowledges this: "Downloading anything off the internet should be approached carefully. If in doubt…" — the page's guidance stops there, so the judgment call is yours.

A reasonable middle path: download from the official svgx.app page only, verify the SHA256, and if you want extra assurance, run the app in a sandboxed or non-critical environment first.