The Best Network Packet Capture Software in 2026
We researched network packet capture software from official websites, including pricing pages, plan tables, and product documentation. Products are ranked on packet-analysis capabilities, value for money, and verified features for troubleshooting connectivity, latency, protocol, and application issues.
Our top picks
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Top ranked
Wireshark#1 of 229.4/10A broad packet analysis toolkit with live capture, deep inspection, filtering, and TShark.
Free plan
-
Runner-up
TShark#2 of 229.1/10A free, open-source CLI analyzer for scripted capture, filtering, and protocol inspection.
Free plan
-
Top-ranked free plan
Malcolm#3 of 229.0/10A broad, free toolkit for live capture, PCAP analysis, and security-focused traffic investigation.
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 22 tools, best first
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Best forBroad professional packet analysis
A broad packet analysis toolkit with live capture, deep inspection, filtering, and TShark.
9.4/10★★★★★Visit Wireshark -
Best forAutomation-focused packet analysis
A free, open-source CLI analyzer for scripted capture, filtering, and protocol inspection.
9.1/10★★★★★Visit TShark -
Best forFree full-stack network monitoring
A broad, free toolkit for live capture, PCAP analysis, and security-focused traffic investigation.
- Command-line capture
- Offline trace analysis
- Display filters
9.0/10★★★★☆Visit Malcolm -
Best forSearchable server-side packet capture
A self-hosted choice for searchable sessions, retained PCAP, and server-side packet analysis.
8.8/10★★★★☆Visit Arkime -
Best forReliable command-line capture
Free, open-source capture and analysis for command-line network workflows.
8.6/10★★★★☆Visit tcpdump -
Best forTelecom and 5G packet analysis
A telecom-focused analyzer for live, offline, and decoded 4G, 5G, voice, and signaling traffic.
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit GL PacketScan -
Best forEnterprise always-on packet recording
Enterprise packet recording with broad deployment options and quote-based pricing.
- Protocol decryption
- Offline trace analysis
- Display filters
8.4/10★★★★☆Visit Endace -
Best forLarge-scale high-speed retention
A high-capacity packet capture platform for retrospective network and security analysis.
- Offline trace analysis
- Display filters
- Live capture
8.3/10★★★★☆Visit VIAVI -
Best forCloud packet investigations with detection
Full packet capture and detection for cloud-based network investigations.
- Offline trace analysis
- Display filters
- Live capture
8.2/10★★★★☆Visit PacketWatch -
Best forLong-term forensic packet retention
A forensic packet capture platform built for long-term retention and retrospective investigation.
- Offline trace analysis
- Display filters
- Live capture
8.1/10★★★★☆Visit SentryWire -
Best forHistorical traffic troubleshooting
A continuous packet-capture system for investigating historical network and application behavior.
- Offline trace analysis
- Display filters
- Live capture
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit Colasoft -
Best forWindows wireless and voice analysis
A Windows packet analyzer with remote capture, wireless analysis, and voice troubleshooting.
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit Omnipeek -
Best forWindows capture with built-in diagnosis
A Windows-focused analyzer with broad capture and diagnosis features, but costly paid tiers.
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit Colasoft Capsa -
Best forSimple cross-platform packet monitoring
A free, open-source packet monitor with live capture and offline PCAP analysis.
- Command-line capture
- Offline trace analysis
- Display filters
7.7/10★★★★☆Visit Sniffnet -
Best forPCAP forensics and asset discovery
A focused PCAP forensics tool with broad artifact extraction and a free edition.
7.6/10★★★★☆Visit NetworkMiner -
Best forInteractive terminal packet analysis
A free, open-source choice for interactive packet analysis in the terminal.
- Command-line capture
- Offline trace analysis
- Display filters
7.5/10★★★★☆Visit Termshark -
Best forHigh-performance Linux capture
A free, open-source Linux toolkit for capture, analysis, filtering, replay, and traffic redirection.
- Command-line capture
- Offline trace analysis
- Display filters
7.4/10★★★★☆Visit netsniff-ng -
Best forAndroid device traffic capture
A capable open-source Android traffic analyzer with capture, filtering, and export tools.
- Protocol decryption
- Command-line capture
- Offline trace analysis
7.3/10★★★★☆Visit PCAPdroid -
Best forHistorical packet investigation
A focused interface for searching and analyzing historical packet data across EndaceProbes.
- Protocol decryption
- Display filters
7.1/10★★★★☆Visit Endace -
Best foriOS wireless sensor capture
A focused iOS tool for remote wireless captures through Linux-based sensors.
- Live capture
6.9/10★★★☆☆Visit Airtool Pi -
Best forMac Wi-Fi, Zigbee, and BLE capture
A focused macOS capture tool with Wireshark workflows and remote sensor support.
- Live capture
6.8/10★★★☆☆Visit Airtool 2 -
Best forBasic video editing on desktop systems
A free open-source video editor, not a fit for network packet capture.
6.0/10★★★☆☆Visit Avidemux
No tools match those filters.
Compare at a glance
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Live capture | Offline trace analysis | Display filters | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wireshark | Yes | Free | 9.4 | |||
| 2 | TShark | Yes | Free | 9.1 | |||
| 3 | Malcolm | Yes | Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9.0 |
| 4 | Arkime | Yes | Free | 8.8 | |||
| 5 | tcpdump | Yes | Free | 8.6 | |||
| 6 | GL PacketScan | 8.5 | |||||
| 7 | EndaceProbe | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.4 | ||
| 8 | Observer GigaStor | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.3 | ||
| 9 | PacketWatch | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.2 | |
| 10 | SentryWire | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.1 | ||
| 11 | nChronos | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.0 | ||
| 12 | Omnipeek | No | 7.9 | ||||
| 13 | Colasoft Capsa | Yes | $695 one-time | 7.8 | |||
| 14 | Sniffnet | Yes | Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.7 |
| 15 | NetworkMiner | Yes | $1,300/user one-time | 7.6 | |||
| 16 | Termshark | Yes | Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.5 |
| 17 | netsniff-ng | Yes | Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.4 |
| 18 | PCAPdroid | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.3 | |
| 19 | EndaceVision | Yes | 7.1 | ||||
| 20 | Airtool Pi | No | Yes | No | 6.9 | ||
| 21 | Airtool 2 | No | $39.99 one-time | Yes | 6.8 | ||
| 22 | Avidemux | Yes | Free | 6.0 |
Head-to-head All 18 comparisons →
- Wireshark vs Malcolm
- Wireshark vs EndaceProbe
- Wireshark vs Observer GigaStor
- TShark vs Malcolm
- TShark vs EndaceProbe
- TShark vs Observer GigaStor
- Malcolm vs Arkime
- Malcolm vs tcpdump
- Malcolm vs GL PacketScan
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How we rank network packet capture 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 Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update