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Head-to-head · Network Protocol Analyzers

Scapy vs CloudShark

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 6 checks side by side
Higher score Scapy #3 in Network Protocol Analyzers 9.0/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 5 of 5 features Visit Scapy
CloudShark #16 in Network Protocol Analyzers 7.6/10 Pricing on request ✓ 3 of 5 features Visit CloudShark

Scapy leads on 1 check, CloudShark on 0, and 5 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 scoreScapy · 9.0/10
  • Free planonly Scapy
  • Most featuresScapy · 5 of 5

Scapy scores higher on our rubric for network protocol analyzers: 9.0 against 7.6 out of 10; our editors rank them #3 and #16.

Scapy offers free plan; CloudShark doesn't. On deployment, Scapy gives you Both where CloudShark offers Server.

Scapy is the better fit for programmable packet crafting and analysis. CloudShark is the better fit for managed enterprise packet analysis.

  • Scapy fits best

    Programmable packet crafting and analysis

  • CloudShark fits best

    Managed enterprise packet analysis

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Side by side

Feature Scapy 9.0/10 Visit ↗ CloudShark 7.6/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.0 7.6
Ranking #3 in Network Protocol Analyzers #16 in Network Protocol Analyzers
Best for Programmable packet crafting and analysis Managed enterprise packet analysis
Pricing model Free Paid
Starting price Free plan —
Free plan ✓ (best) —
Free trial — —
Deployment Desktop, Self-hosted Self-hosted
Platforms Windows, macOS, Linux Web
Support Docs Docs
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Scapy 5/5 · CloudShark 3/5
PCAP support ✓ ✓
Traffic decryption ✓ ✓
CLI tools ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Remote capture ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Flow analysis ✓ ✓
Specs
Deployment Both Server
Capture sources Both Both
Our review
Pros
  • Build and send custom packets with Python or the interactive shell.
  • Decode protocols and import or export PCAP files.
  • Analyze flows and support remote capture through Wireshark extcap.
  • Wireshark-compatible viewing with familiar display filters
  • Deep search, large PCAP processing, and centralized capture analysis
  • Zeek, Suricata, REST API, and enterprise integrations
Cons
  • Its workflow centers on Python and an interactive shell.
  • TLS decryption requires available session secrets.
  • It is a toolkit, not a hosted SaaS service.
  • No free plan for smaller or exploratory deployments
  • Enterprise pricing requires a sales conversation
  • Self-hosted server deployment requires infrastructure management
Our verdict

Scapy is an open-source Python program and library for sending, sniffing, dissecting, forging, and analyzing network packets. It is aimed at users who need programmable control over packet construction and inspection rather than a fixed…

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. ScapyNetwork Protocol Analyzers 9.0Free plan
  2. CloudSharkNetwork Protocol Analyzers 7.6Pricing on request

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Scapy — where it wins

    • Build and send custom packets with Python or the interactive shell.
    • Decode protocols and import or export PCAP files.
    • Analyze flows and support remote capture through Wireshark extcap.

    Where it doesn't

    • Its workflow centers on Python and an interactive shell.
    • TLS decryption requires available session secrets.
    • It is a toolkit, not a hosted SaaS service.

  • 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
  • Scapy9.0/10 · Free plan

    A free, programmable toolkit for crafting, capturing, decoding, and analyzing packets.

    Visit ScapyFull verdict →
  • CloudShark7.6/10 · Pricing on request

    Enterprise packet analysis with Wireshark compatibility, automation, and deep search.

    Visit CloudSharkFull 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