PCAPdroid

At a glance

• Editor score
  7.3 / 10
• Pricing
  Free plan
• Best for
  Android device traffic capture
• Free plan
  Yes
• Display filters
  Yes
• Facts checked
  20 Sep 2026

• Where it wins

  • Captures Android traffic without root through Android VpnService
  • Exports PCAP and Pcapng files for Wireshark analysis
  • Combines app-aware filtering, TLS decryption, and firewall rules

• Where it doesn't

  • Its primary supported platform is Android
  • Paid features are available, but their prices are not published
  • Advanced analysis depends on Android-specific workflows and controls

Our verdict on PCAPdroid

PCAPdroid is an open-source Android application for monitoring, analyzing, and blocking network connections made by device apps. It captures traffic without root through Android’s VpnService, processes data locally, and supports both user and system app connections. Its audience includes Android users, privacy analysts, application troubleshooters, reverse engineers, and anyone who needs device-level packet captures without rooting the phone.

The product’s strongest area is the depth of its Android traffic workflow. Connections can be filtered by IP address, host, protocol, app name, UID, and status, while HTTP requests and replies can be inspected and exported to HAR. PCAPdroid also supports HTTPS/TLS decryption and can export decrypted capture data. PCAP and Pcapng export provides a direct path into Wireshark, making the app useful when Android traffic needs deeper desktop analysis. Firewall rules can block apps, domains, or IP addresses, and third-party blacklists can help detect malicious connections.

PCAPdroid is distributed through Google Play, F-Droid, and GitHub builds, with API access and Android command-line control through adb for automated or developer-oriented workflows. The published offering is freemium with a free plan, while paid features are also available. Its main limitation is platform scope: Android is the primary supported platform, so it is not a general-purpose packet capture tool for desktops, servers, or other mobile operating systems. Choose PCAPdroid for Android-focused capture, inspection, filtering, and export; choose another product when broad multi-platform coverage is the priority.

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

PCAPdroid pricing

PCAPdroid fact sheet

PCAPdroid integrations

PCAPdroid lists 3 integrations on its own site.

• Wireshark
• F-Droid
• Google Play

Alternatives to PCAPdroid

• WiresharkA broad packet analysis toolkit with live capture, deep inspection, filtering, and TShark.9.4
• TSharkA free, open-source CLI analyzer for scripted capture, filtering, and protocol inspection.9.1
• MalcolmA broad, free toolkit for live capture, PCAP analysis, and security-focused traffic investigation.9.0

See all PCAPdroid alternatives →

Featured on iTechGuides

PCAPdroid is listed in our Network Packet Capture 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