Netperf

At a glance

• Editor score
  6.8 / 10
• Pricing
  Open source
• Best for
  Low-level protocol benchmarking
• Paid from
  Free
• Deployment
  Self_hosted
• Facts checked
  20 Sep 2026

• Where it wins

  • Covers TCP, UDP, SCTP, XTI, DLPI and Unix domain sockets
  • Supports IPv4 and IPv6 testing for documented TCP and UDP scenarios
  • Runs concurrent and bidirectional tests with optional histograms

• Where it doesn't

  • Requires self-hosted client-server deployment with netperf and netserver
  • Does not provide documented scheduling, visualization or integrations
  • Formal Hewlett-Packard support channels do not cover the software

Our verdict on Netperf

Netperf is a command-line network performance benchmark for engineers who need low-level measurements of unidirectional throughput and end-to-end request/response latency. Its client-server model uses the netperf and netserver programs, and it is distributed primarily as source code. The published platform details cover Windows, macOS and Linux, with Unix-like system support also described. Netperf is best suited to infrastructure, networking and systems teams that want direct protocol benchmarks rather than a managed testing workspace.

Its main strength is protocol and test-method breadth within a focused benchmarking tool. Netperf supports bulk data-transfer tests, request/response tests, TCP and UDP over IPv4 and IPv6, plus SCTP stream and request/response scenarios. It also documents XTI TCP and UDP tests, link-level DLPI tests and Unix domain socket testing where available. Concurrent and bidirectional execution extend the tool beyond single-flow measurements, while optional interim-result reporting and histograms help inspect results during or after a run. This makes Netperf a practical fit for comparing throughput and latency across protocol paths and execution patterns.

Netperf’s trade-off is its narrow, self-hosted operating model. Teams must work with command-line execution and the netperf/netserver pairing, while scheduling, visualization and integrations are not part of its documented focus. The software is maintained informally and is not covered by Hewlett-Packard formal support channels, so organizations that require vendor-backed support, centralized test management or built-in reporting should choose a broader network testing platform instead. Choose Netperf when protocol-level control and source-distributed benchmarking matter most; avoid it when the priority is an integrated operational workflow.

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

Netperf pricing

Netperf fact sheet

Alternatives to Netperf

• Cisco ThousandEyesBroad enterprise coverage for testing networks, applications, traffic, routes, DNS, and topology.9.4
• NetBeezA wide-ranging platform for continuous, scheduled, and Wi-Fi network monitoring.9.2
• Forward EnterpriseA strong choice for modeling network behavior, testing changes, and tracing dependencies.9.0

See all Netperf alternatives →

Featured on iTechGuides

Netperf is listed in our Network Testing Software directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.

<a href="https://www.itechguides.com/products/netperf/"><img src="https://www.itechguides.com/best/badge/netperf.svg" alt="Featured on iTechGuides" width="230" height="46"></a>

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Last updated 7 Oct 2026 · How we research and update