Side by side
Colasoft Capsa vs Wireshark
Both stand on network troubleshooting software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan Windows
Capsa combines packet inspection, network diagnosis, security analysis, and reporting in a Windows desktop tool. Check the edition limits and listed prices against the scale and type of monitoring you need.
Visit Colasoft Capsa Free plan Open source APILinuxMac+2
Wireshark provides broad protocol inspection and analysis tools at no license fee, with both graphical and terminal interfaces. Capture visibility depends on the system and network setup, so it may not show every packet on a switched network.
Visit WiresharkThe facts
| Colasoft Capsa | Wireshark | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | No | Yes |
| Runs on | Windows | API, Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Capsa Standard: $295, paid once | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 4 | 1 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | colasoft.com | wireshark.org |
| On network troubleshooting software | #3 of 18 | #1 of 18 |
Colasoft Capsa: what it does well
- Analyzes more than 1,800 protocols and sub-protocols.
- Diagnoses network problems and suggests solutions.
- Detects several listed attacks and suspicious conversations.
- Schedules capture once, daily, or weekly.
- Includes email or sound alarm notifications.
What to know first
- Windows platform only.
- Free edition does not monitor WiFi connections.
- Free sessions time out after four hours.
- Professional costs $695, paid once.
Wireshark: what it does well
- Free full version under GNU General Public License version 2.
- Supports live capture and offline analysis.
- Inspects hundreds of protocols.
- Reads and writes pcap and pcapng formats.
- Includes both graphical and terminal tools.
What to know first
- Windows live capture requires Npcap.
- Visible traffic depends on network and capture configuration.
- Switched networks may hide unicast traffic between other ports.
- Display-filter syntax differs from capture-filter syntax.
Alternatives to Colasoft Capsa Alternatives to Wireshark The whole list