The Best Honeypot Software in 2026
Beelzebub is the top-ranked honeypot software of the 21 we ranked (9.4/10, free plan), best for broad, adaptive self-hosted deception. Cowrie is the runner-up (9.2/10), and T-Pot is the next highest-ranked option with a free plan (9.0/10). We researched honeypot software through official websites, including pricing pages, plan tables, and product documentation. Products are ranked on their core deception and detection capabilities, value for money, and verified features for attracting and investigating unauthorized activity.
Our top picks
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Top ranked
Beelzebub#1 of 219.4/10A flexible self-hosted honeypot runtime with adaptive interactions and deep security integrations.
Free plan
-
Runner-up
Cowrie#2 of 219.2/10A mature, deep SSH and Telnet honeypot for self-hosted threat monitoring.
Free plan
-
Top-ranked free plan
T-Pot#3 of 219.0/10A broad self-hosted honeypot platform for teams that want many decoys and built-in analysis.
Free plan
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
The full ranking 21 tools, best first
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Best forBroad, adaptive self-hosted deception
A flexible self-hosted honeypot runtime with adaptive interactions and deep security integrations.
- Cloud decoys
- Credential lures
9.4/10★★★★★Visit Beelzebub -
Best forMature SSH and Telnet monitoring
A mature, deep SSH and Telnet honeypot for self-hosted threat monitoring.
- Credential lures
9.2/10★★★★★Visit Cowrie -
Best forMaximum honeypot breadth in one platform
A broad self-hosted honeypot platform for teams that want many decoys and built-in analysis.
9.0/10★★★★☆Visit T-Pot -
Best forCloud-native tokens and credential lures
A free, cloud-based token platform for broad deception and intrusion detection.
- Cloud decoys
- Credential lures
8.8/10★★★★☆Visit Canarytokens -
Best forFree multi-protocol network deception
A free self-hosted honeypot for detecting interaction across many network services.
- Credential lures
8.6/10★★★★☆Visit OpenCanary -
Best forManaged enterprise deception
A broad deception platform for enterprise teams that need managed, multi-layer Canaries.
- Cloud decoys
- Credential lures
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit Thinkst Canary -
Best forThreat-intelligence-rich enterprise deception
A broad deception platform for organizations that need attacker context across complex environments.
- Cloud decoys
- Credential lures
8.3/10★★★★☆Visit CounterCraft -
DentiGridVerified
Best forAffordable hybrid deception and MSSP use
A hybrid honeypot platform with layered decoys, telemetry, and security-operations integrations.
- Cloud decoys
- Credential lures
8.2/10★★★★☆Visit DentiGrid -
Best forMulti-service self-hosted deception
A self-hosted framework for combining, redirecting, monitoring, and logging honeypots.
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit Honeytrap -
Best forICS and SCADA honeypots
A configurable, self-hosted honeypot for industrial protocol emulation and attack logging.
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit Conpot -
Best forWindows network monitoring teams
A feature-rich Windows honeypot for teams that need detailed detection and centralized sensor management.
7.7/10★★★★☆Visit KFSensor -
Best forCredential-catching across many protocols
A free, open-source network honeypot with broad protocol coverage and focused reporting.
- Credential lures
7.6/10★★★★☆Visit Heralding -
Best forVirtual network hosts and topologies
A Linux-only honeypot daemon for simulating hosts, services, and network topologies.
7.5/10★★★★☆Visit Honeyd -
Best forLow-interaction malware capture
A focused, self-hosted honeypot for observing attacks on network-facing services.
7.4/10★★★★☆Visit DinoTools -
Best forDynamic web application deception
An open-source web honeypot component for analyzing requests and emulating application vulnerabilities.
7.3/10★★★★☆Visit TANNER -
Best forCloned web application attack surfaces
A focused, self-hosted sensor for turning cloned websites into application attack surfaces.
7.2/10★★★★☆Visit SNARE -
Best forCatch-all network traffic capture
A focused Linux honeypot for capturing and routing broad network traffic.
7.1/10★★★★☆Visit MushMush -
Best forSMTP credential and message capture
A focused, open-source SMTP decoy for capturing credentials, messages, and session data.
- Credential lures
6.9/10★★★☆☆Visit Mailoney -
Best forHealthcare protocol deception
A focused healthcare protocol honeypot for monitoring and research.
6.8/10★★★☆☆Visit MedPot -
Best forAndroid Debug Bridge deception
A focused, self-hosted sensor for observing exposed ADB activity.
6.7/10★★★☆☆Visit ADBHoney -
Best forSimple SSH scanner diversion
A focused, self-hosted SSH diversion tool for slowing automated scanners.
6.6/10★★★☆☆Visit Endlessh
No tools match those filters.
Compare at a glance
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Deployment model | Decoy scope | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beelzebub | Yes | Free | Self-hosted | Multi-layer | 9.4 |
| 2 | Cowrie | Yes | Free | Self-hosted | Multi-layer | 9.2 |
| 3 | T-Pot | Yes | Free | Self-hosted | Multi-layer | 9.0 |
| 4 | Canarytokens | Yes | Free | Cloud | Multi-layer | 8.8 |
| 5 | OpenCanary | Yes | Free | Self-hosted | Network | 8.6 |
| 6 | Thinkst Canary | No | Hybrid | Multi-layer | 8.5 | |
| 7 | CounterCraft The Platform | Hybrid | Multi-layer | 8.3 | ||
| 8 | DentiGrid | Hybrid | Multi-layer | 8.2 | ||
| 9 | Honeytrap | Yes | Free | Self-hosted | Multi-layer | 7.9 |
| 10 | Conpot | Yes | Free | Self-hosted | Network | 7.8 |
| 11 | KFSensor | No | Self-hosted | Multi-layer | 7.7 | |
| 12 | Heralding | Yes | Free | Self-hosted | Network | 7.6 |
| 13 | Honeyd | Yes | Free | Self-hosted | Network | 7.5 |
| 14 | Dionaea | Free | Self-hosted | Network | 7.4 | |
| 15 | TANNER | Free | Self-hosted | Application | 7.3 | |
| 16 | SNARE | Free | Self-hosted | Application | 7.2 | |
| 17 | Glutton | Free | Self-hosted | Network | 7.1 | |
| 18 | Mailoney | Free | Self-hosted | Application | 6.9 | |
| 19 | MedPot | Free | Self-hosted | Application | 6.8 | |
| 20 | ADBHoney | Free | Self-hosted | Endpoint | 6.7 | |
| 21 | Endlessh | Free | Self-hosted | Network | 6.6 |
Head-to-head All 28 comparisons →
- Beelzebub vs Cowrie
- Beelzebub vs T-Pot
- Beelzebub vs Canarytokens
- Beelzebub vs OpenCanary
- Beelzebub vs Thinkst Canary
- Beelzebub vs CounterCraft The Platform
- Beelzebub vs DentiGrid
- Cowrie vs T-Pot
- Cowrie vs Canarytokens
Buyer's guide
Which honeypot software products have a free plan? 9 of the 21 we ranked list one. The highest-ranked are Beelzebub (9.4/10), Cowrie (9.2/10) and T-Pot (9.0/10).
Which features set honeypot software products apart? Cloud decoys: 5 of 21, including Beelzebub (9.4/10), Canarytokens (8.8/10) and Thinkst Canary (8.5/10). Credential lures: 9 of 21, including Beelzebub (9.4/10), Cowrie (9.2/10) and Canarytokens (8.8/10).
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How we rank honeypot software
Every tool on this page was researched by iTechGuides Editors from its official website — pricing pages, plan tables and product documentation. We rank on how well each one does this category's core job, what the free or entry plan includes, and where it falls short. Where we have enough verified facts, the score out of 10 is a rubric — job fit, value and how much we could verify — shown with its breakdown on every tool's page; a tool we have not verified enough to score yet shows its rank without a number. Scores are re-checked when a product changes its plans. Read the full editorial policy, or submit a tool we missed.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Nov 2026
Last updated · How we research and update