Side by side
Malcolm vs netsniff-ng
Both stand on network packet capture software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan APILinuxMac+3
Malcolm combines trace and live-traffic analysis with session search, visualizations, and enrichment. Its resource requirements and self-managed deployment make it a better fit for teams prepared to operate dedicated infrastructure.
Visit Malcolm Free plan Linux
netsniff-ng brings capture, filtering, protocol analysis, and trace replay into a Linux toolkit. Note that two utilities are marked experimental and the project does not guarantee bug-free tools.
Visit netsniff-ngThe facts
| Malcolm | netsniff-ng | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | API, Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Web, Windows | Linux |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | cisagov.github.io | netsniff-ng.org |
| On network packet capture software | #5 of 22 | #9 of 22 |
Malcolm: what it does well
- Accepts PCAP files, Zeek logs, and Suricata alerts.
- Supports live capture forwarded by lightweight sensors.
- Adds GeoIP and JA4 fingerprinting to session data.
- Offers LDAP and Keycloak authentication options.
- Free under the Apache License 2.0.
What to know first
- Requires at least 8 CPU cores and 24 GB RAM.
- Requires self-hosted container deployment.
- No free cloud plan is listed.
netsniff-ng: what it does well
- Free and open source under GNU GPL 2.0.
- Supports live capture and offline trace analysis.
- Reads several pcap formats.
- Includes low- and high-level packet filters.
What to know first
- Available for Linux only.
- Mausezahn and curvetun are experimental.
- The project gives no bug-free guarantee.
Alternatives to Malcolm Alternatives to netsniff-ng The whole list