Side by side
EtherApe vs termshark
Both stand on network protocol analyzers. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Choose EtherApe if you want a free Linux network monitor with visual traffic views, filters, and live or saved capture support. It is a poor fit when you need remote capture or broad visibility across a switched network without mirrored traffic or gateway placement.
Visit EtherApeChoose termshark if you want a free terminal tool for packet capture analysis, especially on a remote machine where copying a pcap is unnecessary. Look elsewhere if you need tshark functionality that termshark does not expose or cannot provide the required tshark dependency.
Visit termsharkThe facts
| EtherApe | termshark | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Linux | Android, Linux, Mac, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | etherape.sourceforge.io | github.com |
| On network protocol analyzers | #10 of 30 | #14 of 30 |
EtherApe: what it does well
- Shows traffic volume and protocol use visually.
- Offers network, IP, and TCP port views.
- Reads live traffic and saved tcpdump captures.
- Filters traffic using pcap syntax.
- Exports node statistics as XML or JSON.
What to know first
- Binary distributions are available for Linux only.
- On switched networks, visibility is generally local or broadcast traffic.
- Remote capture is not supported.
termshark: what it does well
- Reads pcap files and can sniff live interfaces when tshark is permitted.
- Applies Wireshark display filters to captures.
- Reassembles TCP and UDP streams and groups conversations by protocol.
- Searches packet lists, structures, and bytes in several formats.
- Free and MIT licensed, with builds for multiple platforms.
What to know first
- Packet analysis requires tshark in the PATH.
- Some tshark features are not exposed by termshark.
- Live interface capture depends on tshark being permitted.
Alternatives to EtherApe Alternatives to termshark The whole list