NetHogs review

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

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.

NetHogs pros and cons

• 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

NetHogs fact sheet, pricing and score →

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Last updated 7 Oct 2026 · How we research and update