Head-to-head · Network Protocol Analyzers
Wireshark vs Zui
Wireshark 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 scoreWireshark · 9.4/10
- Free planboth
- Most featuresWireshark · 5 of 5
Wireshark scores higher on our rubric for network protocol analyzers: 9.4 against 7.8 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #14.
On deployment, Zui gives you Both where Wireshark offers Desktop. On capture sources, Wireshark gives you Both where Zui offers Local.
Wireshark is the better fit for broad, free desktop packet analysis. Zui is the better fit for PCAP investigations with Zeek and Suricata.
- Wireshark fits best
Broad, free desktop packet analysis
- Zui fits best
PCAP investigations with Zeek and Suricata
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Side by side
| Feature | Wireshark 9.4/10 Visit ↗ | Zui 7.8/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 9.4 | 7.8 |
| Ranking | #1 in Network Protocol Analyzers | #14 in Network Protocol Analyzers |
| Best for | Broad, free desktop packet analysis | PCAP investigations with Zeek and Suricata |
| Pricing model | Free | Free |
| Starting price | Free plan | Free plan |
| Free plan | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Deployment | Desktop | Desktop, Self-hosted |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Support | Community, Docs | Community, Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise | Solo, Small business, Mid-market |
| Features Wireshark 5/5 · Zui 3/5 | ||
| PCAP support | ✓ | ✓ |
| Traffic decryption | ✓ (best) | Not checked yet |
| CLI tools | ✓ | ✓ |
| Remote capture | ✓ (best) | Not checked yet |
| Flow analysis | ✓ | ✓ |
| Specs | ||
| Deployment | Desktop | Both |
| Capture sources | Both | Local |
| Our review | ||
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| Cons |
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| Our verdict | Wireshark is an open-source network protocol analyzer for capturing, browsing, filtering, and inspecting network traffic. It is designed for network professionals, security experts, developers, and educators who need to examine live… 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 → |
Strengths and trade-offs
Wireshark — where it wins
- Live capture and offline analysis support
- Deep inspection, filtering, decryption, and PCAP support
- Includes TShark and remote capture over SSH
Where it doesn't
- Desktop deployment may not fit hosted or browser-based workflows
- Remote capture is provided through SSH
- Its extensive feature set is focused on technical packet analysis
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
- Wireshark9.4/10 · Free plan
A broad, free desktop analyzer for live captures, PCAP files, filtering, and protocol inspection.
Visit WiresharkFull verdict → - Zui7.8/10 · Free plan
A free, cross-platform desktop analyzer for PCAP, Zeek, Suricata, and Zed lakes.
Visit ZuiFull verdict →
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All network protocol analyzers comparisons → · Full ranking →
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update