Side by side
Arkime vs PcapAI
Both stand on network packet analyzer software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan Open source APILinuxSelf-hosted+1
Arkime offers session search, packet inspection, and flexible packet retention without license fees. It requires an OpenSearch or Elasticsearch deployment, so teams should account for that dependency and its operation.
Visit Arkime Free plan Open source APILinuxMac+3
PcapAI combines security findings with packet evidence and network troubleshooting indicators in downloadable reports. The free upload option has no account requirement, while report limits and file-size caps depend on the paid plan selected.
Visit PcapAIThe facts
| Arkime | PcapAI | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Yes | Yes |
| Runs on | API, Linux, Self-hosted, Web | API, Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Web, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Starter yearly: $114 a year |
| Plans published | 1 | 13 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | arkime.com | pcapai.com |
| On network packet analyzer software | #1 of 32 | #4 of 32 |
Arkime: what it does well
- Stores full packets in standard PCAP format.
- Supports metadata-only capture with traffic selection rules.
- Exports search results as PCAP or CSV.
- Capture can scale with more machines, CPU, or disk.
- Authentication options include OIDC.
What to know first
- Requires OpenSearch or Elasticsearch for session metadata.
- Phone indicator enrichment is limited to the U.S.
- Anonymous authentication is not recommended.
PcapAI: what it does well
- Analyzes PCAP and PCAPNG captures.
- Reports map findings to MITRE ATT&CK techniques.
- PDFs include packet evidence and remediation steps.
- Free upload is available without an account.
- Local MCP Server keeps packet data on-device, according to the maker.
What to know first
- Compressed archives are unsupported.
- File-size limits vary by plan.
- Single Report permits one upload and analysis.
- Live capture is not available.
Alternatives to Arkime Alternatives to PcapAI The whole list