Best Network Packet Analyzer Software in 2026
Updated
In short: NETCAP is ranked #1 of 33 as of 7 October 2026, ahead of PacketSafari and Scapy. The best-ranked option with a free plan is PacketSafari. The lowest first paid tier on this page is NETCAP at $548/mo.
Network packet analyzers help you examine traffic, whether you are working with live capture or files saved for later review. Compared on capture file formats, command-line tool, live capture, operating systems, protocol dissectors, traffic decryption, free plan, and paid from, the entries cover both analysis features and practical setup considerations. NETCAP, PacketSafari, and Scapy are among the options shown. Think about where your captures come from, which protocols or formats you need to inspect, and whether decryption or command-line access matters to your workflow. Operating-system support and listed cost details can help you compare possible fits.
33 network packet analyzer software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
14 of the 25 here have a free tier you can use, 0 have open-source code on record, and 0 have full bars: free, open, on most of your devices and documented.
| # | App | Signal | Free tier | Open code | Devices | From | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NETCAPWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | $548/mo | 6.6 | |
| 2 | PacketSafariWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | Free | 6.6 | |
| 3 | ScapyWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | Free | 6.6 | |
| 4 | NetworkMinerWindows · Mac · Linux | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 5 | SniffnetWindows · Mac · Linux | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 6 | tcpdumpWindows · Mac · Linux | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 7 | TSharkWindows · Mac · Linux | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 8 | WiresharkWindows · Mac · Linux | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 9 | XplicoWeb · Linux · Self-hosted | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 10 | ZuiWindows · Mac · Linux | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 11 | ArkimeWeb · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | |
| 12 | BruteSharkWindows · Linux | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | |
| 13 | Colasoft CapsaWindows | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | |
| 14 | PCAPdroidAndroid | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | |
| 15 | MalcolmWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Two bars | — | — | 4 of 6 | — | 5.7 |
| 16 | PcapAIWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux | One bar | — | — | 4 of 6 | — | 5.4 |
| 17 | WhatInStartupWindows | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.4 |
| 18 | GL PacketScanWeb · Windows · Linux | One bar | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 19 | SmartSniffWindows | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 20 | CapAnalysisWeb · Linux | No signal | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 21 | PacketSnitchWindows · Mac · Linux | One bar | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 22 | netsniff-ngLinux | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 23 | NetWitness PlatformWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 24 | PAL (Pcap Analysis Library)No platforms listed | No signal | — | — | 0 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 25 | termsharkWindows · Mac · Linux · Android | One bar | — | — | 4 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
Compare all 25 in a table
| # | App | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Live capture | Command-line tool |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NETCAP | 6.6 | Free plan | $548/mo | Yes | — | — | — |
| 2 | PacketSafari | 6.6 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | No | Yes |
| 3 | Scapy | 6.6 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 4 | NetworkMiner | 6.5 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 5 | Sniffnet | 6.5 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 6 | tcpdump | 6.5 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 7 | TShark | 6.5 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 8 | Wireshark | 6.5 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 9 | Xplico | 6.5 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 10 | Zui | 6.5 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 11 | Arkime | 6.4 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 12 | BruteShark | 6.4 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 13 | Colasoft Capsa | 6.4 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 14 | PCAPdroid | 6.4 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | — |
| 15 | Malcolm | 5.7 | No | — | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 16 | PcapAI | 5.4 | No | — | Yes | — | No | Yes |
| 17 | WhatInStartup | 5.4 | No | — | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 18 | GL PacketScan | 5.3 | No | — | — | — | — | — |
| 19 | SmartSniff | 5.3 | No | — | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 20 | CapAnalysis | 5.2 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 21 | PacketSnitch | 5.2 | No | — | — | — | — | — |
| 22 | netsniff-ng | 5.1 | No | — | Yes | — | Yes | — |
| 23 | NetWitness Platform | 5.1 | No | — | — | — | — | — |
| 24 | PAL (Pcap Analysis Library) | 5.1 | No | — | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 25 | termshark | 5.1 | No | — | — | — | — | — |
Is your app on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored, and a sponsored row is labelled as paid.
Questions about this list
Which network packet analyzer software is ranked first on Freedom251?
NETCAP is ranked #1 of 33 with a score of 6.6. PacketSafari is second and Scapy third.
How many of these have a free plan?
14 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, NETCAP has the lowest first paid tier we found: $548/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked free-and-open first: a usable free tier and open-source code, then the platforms it runs on and its documentation.