Ettercap
Ettercap: A free desktop analyzer for traffic interception, PCAP work, and Wi-Fi decryption. Ranked #7 of 30 in Network Protocol Analyzers by our editors (8.6/10); pricing: Free plan; best for traffic interception and Wi-Fi decryption.
At a glance
- Editor score8.6 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forTraffic interception and Wi-Fi decryption
- Free planYes
- Paid fromFree
- DeploymentDesktop
- Facts checked20 Sep 2026
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
Our verdict on Ettercap
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 with PCAP files, or examine hosts on a network. The project provides text, GTK, and ncurses interfaces, giving users several ways to access its packet-analysis and interception features on Linux and macOS desktops.
Pricing is straightforward: Ettercap is free and open source, with no commercial plan structure described. That makes the full feature set available without a paid tier separating core analysis from advanced capabilities. Its published functionality includes live traffic sniffing, active and passive protocol dissection, PCAP import and export, SSL traffic interception and decryption, WEP/WPA Wi-Fi packet decryption, content filtering, packet modification, packet dropping, passive OS fingerprinting, host profiling, and plugin support. For teams evaluating tools by licensing cost, the absence of a paid upgrade path is a clear strength.
Ettercap’s strongest fit is a focused interception and analysis workflow rather than a hosted monitoring service. It supports both capture sources, PCAP handling, decryption, flow analysis, command-line tools, and remote capture through tunnels and route mangling; that remote-capture capability is not presented as a hosted remote-sensor service. The tool also gathers information about operating systems, services, ports, and network adapter vendors. Choose Ettercap when traffic interception, protocol dissection, Wi-Fi decryption, and packet manipulation are central requirements. Choose another product when you need a broader platform beyond desktop deployment or a hosted remote-sensor model.
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Ettercap pricing
Ettercap fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| Deployment | Desktop |
| Capture sources | Both |
| PCAP support | Yes |
| Traffic decryption | Yes |
| CLI tools | Yes |
| Remote capture | Yes |
| Flow analysis | Yes |
| Deployment | Desktop |
| Platforms | Linux, macOS |
| Support | Email, Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market (editorial estimate) |
| Pricing | Free plan |
| Website | ettercap-project.org |
| Facts checked | 20 Sep 2026 |
Alternatives to Ettercap
- WiresharkA broad, free desktop analyzer for live captures, PCAP files, filtering, and protocol inspection.9.4
- TSharkA free, scriptable Wireshark-based analyzer for live captures, PCAP files, and protocol workflows.9.2
- ScapyA free, programmable toolkit for crafting, capturing, decoding, and analyzing packets.9.0
See all Ettercap alternatives →
Ettercap vs the competition
- Ettercap vs Wireshark
- Ettercap vs TShark
- Ettercap vs Scapy
- Ettercap vs Kismet
- Ettercap vs tcpdump
- Ettercap vs Arkime
Compare Ettercap with any tool side by side →
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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