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Head-to-head · Network Protocol Analyzers

Arkime vs Zui

  • 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
Zui #14 in Network Protocol Analyzers 7.8/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 3 of 5 features Visit Zui

Arkime leads on 0 checks, Zui on 0, and 6 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 planboth
  • Most featuresArkime · 4 of 5

Arkime scores higher on our rubric for network protocol analyzers: 8.7 against 7.8 out of 10; our editors rank them #6 and #14.

On deployment, Zui gives you Both where Arkime offers Server. On capture sources, Arkime gives you Both where Zui offers Local.

Arkime is the better fit for searchable, server-based packet investigations. Zui is the better fit for PCAP investigations with Zeek and Suricata.

  • Arkime fits best

    Searchable, server-based packet investigations

  • Zui fits best

    PCAP investigations with Zeek and Suricata

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Side by side

Feature Arkime 8.7/10 Visit ↗ Zui 7.8/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.7 7.8
Ranking #6 in Network Protocol Analyzers #14 in Network Protocol Analyzers
Best for Searchable, server-based packet investigations PCAP investigations with Zeek and Suricata
Pricing model Free Free
Starting price Free plan Free plan
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Self-hosted Desktop, Self-hosted
Platforms Web, Linux Windows, macOS, Linux
Support Community, Docs Community, Docs
Integrations 2 integrations 6 integrations
Built for Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business, Mid-market
Features Arkime 4/5 · Zui 3/5
PCAP support ✓ ✓
Traffic decryption — Not checked yet
CLI tools ✓ ✓
Remote capture ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Flow analysis ✓ ✓
Specs
Deployment Server Both
Capture sources Both Local
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
  • Correlates Zeek events with Suricata alerts
  • Includes flow diagrams, pivots, queries, and PCAP export
  • Runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux at no cost
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
  • Network capture is limited to local data
  • The release is described as legacy
  • Remote Zed access is not remote interface capture
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 →

Zui is a free desktop application for exploring, querying, and analyzing Zed lakes and packet-capture data. It is aimed at analysts investigating PCAP files with Zeek and Suricata, as well as teams working with local or remote Zed lake…

Read the review →
  1. ArkimeNetwork Protocol Analyzers 8.7Free plan
  2. ZuiNetwork Protocol Analyzers 7.8Free plan

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

  • Zui — where it wins

    • Correlates Zeek events with Suricata alerts
    • Includes flow diagrams, pivots, queries, and PCAP export
    • Runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux at no cost

    Where it doesn't

    • Network capture is limited to local data
    • The release is described as legacy
    • Remote Zed access is not remote interface capture
  • Arkime8.7/10 · Free plan

    A server-based Arkime system for searchable packet investigations and session analysis.

    Visit ArkimeFull verdict →
  • Zui7.8/10 · Free plan

    A free, cross-platform desktop analyzer for PCAP, Zeek, Suricata, and Zed lakes.

    Visit ZuiFull verdict →

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