Head-to-head · Honeypot Software
Cowrie vs T-Pot
Cowrie leads on 0 checks, T-Pot on 0, and 2 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 2 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.
Our verdict
- Highest scoreCowrie · 9.2/10
- Free planboth
- Most featuresCowrie · 1 of 2
Cowrie scores higher on our rubric for honeypot software: 9.2 against 9.0 out of 10; our editors rank them #2 and #3.
Cowrie is the better fit for mature SSH and Telnet monitoring. T-Pot is the better fit for maximum honeypot breadth in one platform.
- Cowrie fits best
Mature SSH and Telnet monitoring
- T-Pot fits best
Maximum honeypot breadth in one platform
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Side by side
| Feature | Cowrie 9.2/10 Visit ↗ | T-Pot 9.0/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 9.2 | 9.0 |
| Ranking | #2 in Honeypot Software | #3 in Honeypot Software |
| Best for | Mature SSH and Telnet monitoring | Maximum honeypot breadth in one platform |
| Pricing model | Free | Free |
| Starting price | Free plan | Free plan |
| Free plan | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Deployment | Self-hosted | Self-hosted, Cloud, Desktop |
| Platforms | Linux | Linux, macOS, Windows |
| Support | Email, Community, Docs | Community, Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise | Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise |
| Features Cowrie 1/2 · T-Pot 0/2 | ||
| Credential lures | ✓ (best) | Not checked yet |
| Cloud decoys | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Specs | ||
| Deployment model | Self-hosted | Self-hosted |
| Decoy scope | Multi-layer | Multi-layer |
| Maximum decoys | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Data retention | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Our review | ||
| Pros |
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| Cons |
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| Our verdict | Cowrie is an open-source SSH and Telnet honeypot for security researchers, CERTs, defenders, and other operators. It runs on Linux in self-hosted environments and emulates a Unix-like system with a configurable fake filesystem. The product… Read the review → |
T-Pot is a self-hosted, open-source honeypot platform for security monitoring, deception, and research environments. It brings more than 20 honeypots into one deployment, with Elastic Stack event storage, ingestion, and dashboards… Read the review → |
Strengths and trade-offs
Cowrie — where it wins
- Detailed SSH and Telnet session logging, replay, and file capture
- Configurable Unix shell and fake filesystem for layered decoys
- Broad integrations across SIEMs, databases, messaging, and threat intelligence
Where it doesn't
- Self-hosted deployment requires Linux-based operational ownership
- Primary monitoring scope centers on SSH and Telnet activity
- Experimental LLM backend may not suit production-critical workflows
T-Pot — where it wins
- More than 20 honeypots bundled in one platform
- Elastic dashboards, attack maps, and network monitoring included
- Supports standalone Hive or distributed Hive and Sensor deployments
Where it doesn't
- Self-hosted deployment requires infrastructure and administration
- macOS and Windows support is limited to Docker Desktop deployments
- Stored honeypot logs are persisted for 30 days
- Cowrie9.2/10 · Free plan
A mature, deep SSH and Telnet honeypot for self-hosted threat monitoring.
Visit CowrieFull verdict → - T-Pot9.0/10 · Free plan
A broad self-hosted honeypot platform for teams that want many decoys and built-in analysis.
Visit T-PotFull verdict →
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Nov 2026
Last updated · How we research and update