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Head-to-head · Network Protocol Analyzers

Arkime vs CloudShark

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 6 checks side by side
Higher score Arkime #6 in Network Protocol Analyzers 8.7/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 4 of 5 features Visit Arkime
CloudShark #16 in Network Protocol Analyzers 7.6/10 Pricing on request ✓ 3 of 5 features Visit CloudShark

Arkime leads on 1 check, CloudShark on 1, and 4 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 6 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreArkime · 8.7/10
  • Free planonly Arkime
  • Most featuresArkime · 4 of 5

Arkime scores higher on our rubric for network protocol analyzers: 8.7 against 7.6 out of 10; our editors rank them #6 and #16.

Arkime offers free plan; CloudShark doesn't. CloudShark offers traffic decryption; Arkime doesn't.

Arkime is the better fit for searchable, server-based packet investigations. CloudShark is the better fit for managed enterprise packet analysis.

  • Arkime fits best

    Searchable, server-based packet investigations

  • CloudShark fits best

    Managed enterprise packet analysis

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.

Side by side

Feature Arkime 8.7/10 Visit ↗ CloudShark 7.6/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.7 7.6
Ranking #6 in Network Protocol Analyzers #16 in Network Protocol Analyzers
Best for Searchable, server-based packet investigations Managed enterprise packet analysis
Pricing model Free Paid
Starting price Free plan —
Free plan ✓ (best) —
Free trial — —
Deployment Self-hosted Self-hosted
Platforms Web, Linux Web
Support Community, Docs Docs
Integrations 2 integrations 8 integrations
Built for Mid-market, Enterprise Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Arkime 4/5 · CloudShark 3/5
PCAP support ✓ ✓
Traffic decryption — ✓ (best)
CLI tools ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Remote capture ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Flow analysis ✓ ✓
Specs
Deployment Server Server
Capture sources Both Both
Our review
Pros
  • Combines live capture with offline PCAP import and processing
  • Searches session metadata and protocol fields through a web interface
  • Supports PCAP retention, export, flow views, and remote capture
  • Wireshark-compatible viewing with familiar display filters
  • Deep search, large PCAP processing, and centralized capture analysis
  • Zeek, Suricata, REST API, and enterprise integrations
Cons
  • Requires server deployment and self-hosted operation
  • Encrypted TLS traffic is indexed as ciphertext without decryption support
  • OpenSearch or Elasticsearch is required for indexed session data
  • No free plan for smaller or exploratory deployments
  • Enterprise pricing requires a sales conversation
  • Self-hosted server deployment requires infrastructure management
Our verdict

Arkime is a self-hosted, open-source network analysis and session search system for security teams and network operators. It runs on Linux with web, API, and server deployment options. The system can capture traffic from live network…

Read the review →

CloudShark Enterprise is a self-hosted packet-capture analysis platform for network operations, security, and engineering teams. It runs through web and API interfaces, supports PCAP capture sources, and provides a browser-based packet…

Read the review →
  1. ArkimeNetwork Protocol Analyzers 8.7Free plan
  2. CloudSharkNetwork Protocol Analyzers 7.6Pricing on request

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Arkime — where it wins

    • Combines live capture with offline PCAP import and processing
    • Searches session metadata and protocol fields through a web interface
    • Supports PCAP retention, export, flow views, and remote capture

    Where it doesn't

    • Requires server deployment and self-hosted operation
    • Encrypted TLS traffic is indexed as ciphertext without decryption support
    • OpenSearch or Elasticsearch is required for indexed session data

  • CloudShark — where it wins

    • Wireshark-compatible viewing with familiar display filters
    • Deep search, large PCAP processing, and centralized capture analysis
    • Zeek, Suricata, REST API, and enterprise integrations

    Where it doesn't

    • No free plan for smaller or exploratory deployments
    • Enterprise pricing requires a sales conversation
    • Self-hosted server deployment requires infrastructure management

More comparisons

All network protocol analyzers comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update