Little Snitch
Little Snitch: Detailed application connection controls for privacy-conscious Mac users. Ranked #31 of 36 in Network Firewall Software by our editors (7.6/10); pricing: 30-day trial; best for mac users controlling application connections.
At a glance
- Editor score7.6 / 10
- Pricing30-day trial
- Best forMac users controlling application connections
- Free planNo
- Paid from€59 one-time
- Founded2004 · Vienna, Austria
- Facts checked21 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Detailed rules for apps, domains, ports and protocols
- Real-time monitoring with traffic volumes and historical charts
- Profiles, blocklists and encrypted DNS support
Where it doesn't
- macOS-only, with no coverage for other platforms
- No free plan; the license costs €59 one-time
- Narrower scope than broader network firewall products
Our verdict on Little Snitch
Little Snitch is a macOS application firewall and network monitor from Objective Development Software GmbH. It is designed for privacy-conscious Mac users, technical enthusiasts and administrators who want to understand and control which applications connect to the network. Connection alerts provide allow or deny controls, while rules can be organized around applications, domains, ports and protocols. The product is focused on endpoint network access rather than broad, multi-platform firewall management.
Its strongest area is the depth of connection visibility and control. Little Snitch shows real-time network activity, connection details such as server locations and traffic volumes, and interactive charts for historical analysis. Profiles can switch automatically based on network environments, and users can apply curated or IP-based blocklists. Encrypted DNS is available through DoH, DoT or DoQ. Command-line administration, rule export and cryptographic process identification add useful options for technical users and administrators who need more than basic allow-or-deny prompts.
The published plan is a Single License priced at €59 as a one-time purchase, with validity for Little Snitch 6 and Little Snitch 5. A 30-day free trial is available; the demo provides three hours of firewall functionality per session, while Network Monitor access expires after 30 days. Little Snitch is a strong fit for Mac users who value detailed application-level oversight and historical network analysis. Organizations or individuals needing coverage beyond macOS, or a broader network firewall product, should choose an alternative with wider platform and network scope.
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Little Snitch pricing
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Little Snitch fact sheet
| Free plan | No |
|---|---|
| Paid from | €59 one-time |
| Deployment model | Not verified |
| Intrusion prevention | Not verified |
| SSL inspection | Not verified |
| Site-to-site VPN | Not verified |
| Firewall throughput | Not verified |
| Concurrent connections | Not verified |
| Free trial | 30 days |
| Deployment | Desktop |
| Platforms | macOS |
| Support | Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Pricing | 30-day trial (source) |
| Website | obdev.at |
| Facts checked | 21 Sep 2026 |
Alternatives to Little Snitch
- Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation FirewallAn enterprise firewall family combining application control, threat prevention and centralized management.9.4
- FortiGateA broad hybrid firewall platform for enterprises that need integrated network security and automation.9.3
- Check Point Quantum Security GatewayA broad network security platform for enterprises that need clustered, policy-driven gateways.9.2
See all Little Snitch alternatives →
Also Ranked In
Little Snitch is ranked in 2 of our directories.
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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