Rtools is a toolchain bundle used for building R packages from source (those that need compilation of C/C++ or Fortran code) and for building R itself.
Publisher’s description
What is Rtools?
Rtools by The R Foundation is open-source Windows software in the science & maths category. It ranks 26th by popularity among science & maths in this catalogue.
Installation and requirements
The publisher provides EXE (Inno Setup) installers for 64-bit and ARM64 Windows. The main installer is 483.1 MB. Installation asks for administrator rights. A silent install is possible with the installer’s documented switches.
Updates and version history
The current version is 4.5.6768, released on February 7, 2026. The version history goes back to February 6, 2022: 7 releases, all linked to the official files. That is about 1.7 releases a year.
Popularity and file types
The Chocolatey package has been downloaded 581,092 times. Similar programs include Stellarium, KiCad and Quarto.
Pros / Cons
Pros
- Open source: the code can be inspected and built by anyone
- Native ARM64 build for Windows on Arm
- Documented silent install
Cons
- Installation needs administrator rights
- Large download (483.1 MB)
In short: Rtools is an open-source science & math tool for 64-bit and ARM64 PCs. Administrators can deploy it unattended.
Is Rtools safe to download?
- The file is served by cloud.r-project.org, the publisher’s own domain
- The download link uses HTTPS
- A SHA256 hash is published, so you can verify the file:
614C7378150A012E70B16EDCFE5236DCEAD47F491F1F54203EA8D451C7743A75· Open the VirusTotal report for this hash - The link answered when we last checked it (October 22, 2026)
- The source code is public
- ExeAtlas does not host, wrap or modify installers
Related guide: How to check a file’s SHA256 hash on Windows
Recent versions
All 7 versions ›7 versions over 4 years · about 1.7 a year
| Version | Date | Size | Files |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.5.6768Latest | February 7, 2026 | 561.6 MB | 64-bit EXE (Inno Setup)ARM64 EXE (Inno Setup) |
| 4.5.6691 | October 31, 2025 | — | ARM64 EXE (Inno Setup)64-bit EXE (Inno Setup) |
| 4.5.6608 | June 11, 2025 | — | ARM64 EXE (Inno Setup)64-bit EXE (Inno Setup) |
| 4.4.6459 | February 27, 2025 | 486.6 MB | 64-bit EXE (Inno Setup)ARM64 EXE (Inno Setup) |
| 4.3.5958 | February 21, 2024 | — | 64-bit EXE (Inno Setup) |
| 4.2 | January 8, 2023 | 482.1 MB | 64-bit EXE (Inno Setup) |
| 4.0 | February 6, 2022 | — | 64-bit EXE (Inno Setup) |
Install from the command line
Silent install ›winget install --id RProject.Rtools -echoco install rtools -yscoop install main/rtoolsrtools45-6768-6492.exe /VERYSILENT /SUPPRESSMSGBOXES /NORESTART /SP-Related guide: How to use winget: install and update apps
Information
- Publisher
- The R Foundation
- Category
- Science & maths
- Licence
- Apache-2.0
- Price
- Free
- Source code
- cran.r-project.org
- Requires
- Windows 11 / 10
- Architecture
- 64-bit, ARM64
- Installer
- EXE (Inno Setup)
- Version
- 4.5.6768
- Released
- February 7, 2026
- Added to the catalogue
- June 8, 2021
- Versions listed
- 7
- Updates / year
- 1.7
- Chocolatey downloads
- 581,092
- Website
- cloud.r-project.org
- winget ID
- RProject.Rtools
- Chocolatey package
- rtools
- Scoop package
- main/rtools
Ratings and reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to rate it.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Rtools free?
Yes. Rtools is open-source software under the Apache-2.0 licence.
Is Rtools safe to download?
The download comes from cloud.r-project.org, which belongs to the publisher; ExeAtlas does not host or change the file. Compare its SHA256 hash with the one shown here, or open the VirusTotal report for that hash.
How do I install Rtools with winget?
Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal and run the winget command shown on this page. winget downloads the official installer and checks its SHA256 hash before running it.
Can Rtools be installed silently?
Yes. The silent install page lists the exact command for each installer.
Does Rtools run on ARM (Windows on Arm)?
Yes, there is a native ARM64 installer.
Where can I download an older version of Rtools?
The versions page lists all 7 versions with links to their official installer files, back to February 6, 2022.
What are alternatives to Rtools?
Stellarium, KiCad, Quarto, JASP and Qalculate!. The alternatives page compares them.
