Scapy vs Ettercap

Scapy9.0Visit Ettercap8.6Visit

Higher score Scapy #3 in Network Protocol Analyzers 9.0/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 5 of 5 features Visit Scapy

vs

Ettercap #7 in Network Protocol Analyzers 8.6/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 5 of 5 features Visit Ettercap

• Scapy fits best

  Programmable packet crafting and analysis

• Ettercap fits best

  Traffic interception and Wi-Fi decryption

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Side by side

Feature	Scapy 9.0/10 Visit ↗	Ettercap 8.6/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.0	8.6
Ranking	#3 in Network Protocol Analyzers	#7 in Network Protocol Analyzers
Best for	Programmable packet crafting and analysis	Traffic interception and Wi-Fi decryption
Pricing model	Free	Free
Starting price	Free plan	Free plan
Free plan	✓	✓
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Desktop, Self-hosted	Desktop
Platforms	Windows, macOS, Linux	Linux, macOS
Support	Docs	Email, Docs
Built for	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Solo, Small business, Mid-market
Features Scapy 5/5 · Ettercap 5/5
PCAP support	✓	✓
Traffic decryption	✓	✓
CLI tools	✓	✓
Remote capture	✓	✓
Flow analysis	✓	✓
Specs
Deployment	Both	Desktop
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.	Free and open source with no commercial pricing tier Supports SSL interception and WEP/WPA Wi-Fi packet decryption Combines live sniffing, PCAP handling, filtering, and plugins
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.	Desktop deployment limits it to local analyzer workflows Platform support is focused on Linux and macOS Packet modification and interception require authorized security work
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 →	Ettercap is an open-source network security suite for authorized traffic inspection and man-in-the-middle testing. It is aimed at security professionals and network administrators who need to inspect live traffic, analyze protocols, work… Read the review →

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.

• Ettercap — where it wins

  • Free and open source with no commercial pricing tier
  • Supports SSL interception and WEP/WPA Wi-Fi packet decryption
  • Combines live sniffing, PCAP handling, filtering, and plugins

  Where it doesn't

  • Desktop deployment limits it to local analyzer workflows
  • Platform support is focused on Linux and macOS
  • Packet modification and interception require authorized security work

• Scapy9.0/10 · Free plan

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

  Visit ScapyFull verdict →
• Ettercap8.6/10 · Free plan

  A free desktop analyzer for traffic interception, PCAP work, and Wi-Fi decryption.

  Visit EttercapFull verdict →