Side by side
Caligare Flow Inspector vs nfdump
Both stand on network traffic analysis software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Flow Inspector provides network visibility from NetFlow exports, with the free edition covering basic monitoring and a narrow device and history allowance. Commercial use and extended analysis features are listed for the Professional and Enterprise editions.
Visit Caligare Flow InspectorPick nfdump if you need a free Linux suite for collecting and analyzing network flow data, with several protocols and output formats. It also supports enrichment and metric export through documented tools. Look elsewhere if you need built-in access control for nfcapd or do not want to manage a self-hosted deployment.
Visit nfdumpThe facts
| Caligare Flow Inspector | nfdump | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Linux, Self-hosted, Web | Linux, Self-hosted |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 3 | 1 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | caligare.com | github.com |
| On network traffic analysis software | #4 of 26 | #8 of 26 |
Caligare Flow Inspector: what it does well
- Analyzes exports from existing routers without probes.
- Provides real-time network analysis.
- Free edition supports five listed NetFlow versions.
- Includes LDAP and external authentication options.
- A 30-day trial license can be requested.
What to know first
- Free edition is non-commercial only.
- Free edition allows up to two devices.
- Free edition keeps 24-hour history.
- Latest version requires MySQL 5.1 or newer.
nfdump: what it does well
- Collects NetFlow, IPFIX, and sFlow data.
- Converts live or PCAP traffic into flow data.
- Supports filtering, custom aggregation, and flow statistics.
- Exports text, CSV, JSON, and user-defined formats.
- BSD-licensed and free to use.
What to know first
- Linux and self-hosted deployment are the listed platform options.
- nfcapd has no built-in access control.
- Legacy nfdump 1.6.x files may need conversion for 1.7.x.
Alternatives to Caligare Flow Inspector Alternatives to nfdump The whole list