NetHogs

At a glance

• Editor score
  6.0 / 10
• Pricing
  Free plan
• Best for
  Linux process-level bandwidth inspection
• Free plan
  Yes
• Paid from
  Free
• Application monitoring
  Yes
• Facts checked
  21 Sep 2026

• Where it wins

  • Groups sent and received network throughput by process
  • Monitors selected devices or all active interfaces
  • Supports TCP/UDP capture, trace mode, and PID filtering

• Where it doesn't

  • Primarily designed for Linux and terminal-based workflows
  • macOS shows connections rather than processes
  • No verified history, alerts, SNMP, or integrations

Our verdict on NetHogs

NetHogs is an open-source, terminal-based bandwidth monitor for identifying which processes consume network traffic on a machine. It is primarily suited to Linux users who need live, local process-level visibility rather than a broad monitoring platform. The tool groups bandwidth by process instead of protocol or subnet, displays sent and received throughput, and can monitor selected network devices or all active interfaces. macOS builds are supported, but they show connections rather than processes.

Its feature depth is concentrated in live inspection. NetHogs reports total traffic in multiple units, including bytes, kB, MB, and GB/s, and supports configurable refresh intervals for adjusting how frequently the display updates. TCP and UDP capture, trace mode, and filtering by process ID give technical users several ways to narrow an investigation. The experimental libnethogs library also provides a route for using the project beyond its terminal interface, although the library is identified as experimental.

NetHogs is free and open source, making it a practical fit for users who want a focused local utility without a commercial plan structure. Its narrow scope is also the main boundary: the published positioning does not include verified traffic history, alerts, SNMP, integrations, or broad platform coverage. Choose NetHogs when the priority is seeing which Linux processes are sending and receiving traffic in real time. Choose an alternative when you need retained visibility, centralized monitoring, alerting, network-management protocols, or process-level behavior on macOS.

Your product? Our editors can test NetHogs in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →

NetHogs pricing

NetHogs fact sheet

Alternatives to NetHogs

• ntopngA broad self-hosted toolkit for real-time, historical, and infrastructure visibility.9.4
• ManageEngine NetFlow AnalyzerA broad flow-monitoring suite for enterprise networks, with free and scalable paid editions.9.2
• Progress FlowmonA broad hybrid monitoring platform for teams needing flow, topology, performance and security analysis.9.0

See all NetHogs alternatives →

Featured on iTechGuides

NetHogs is listed in our Bandwidth Monitoring Software directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.

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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

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Last updated 7 Oct 2026 · How we research and update