Wireshark
Wireshark: A broad, free desktop analyzer for live captures, PCAP files, filtering, and protocol inspection. Ranked #1 of 30 in Network Protocol Analyzers by our editors (9.4/10); pricing: Free plan; best for broad, free desktop packet analysis.
At a glance
- Editor score9.4 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forBroad, free desktop packet analysis
- Free planYes
- Paid fromFree
- DeploymentDesktop
- Founded1998
- Facts checked20 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Live capture and offline analysis support
- Deep inspection, filtering, decryption, and PCAP support
- Includes TShark and remote capture over SSH
Where it doesn't
- Desktop deployment may not fit hosted or browser-based workflows
- Remote capture is provided through SSH
- Its extensive feature set is focused on technical packet analysis
Our verdict on Wireshark
Wireshark is an open-source network protocol analyzer for capturing, browsing, filtering, and inspecting network traffic. It is designed for network professionals, security experts, developers, and educators who need to examine live traffic or work with existing capture files. The desktop application runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux, and combines graphical analysis with command-line access through TShark.
Its feature depth is the main reason to consider it. Wireshark can inspect hundreds of protocols, apply display and capture filters, read and write PCAP and PCAPNG files, and provide conversation, endpoint, and other traffic statistics. It also supports protocol decryption for SSL/TLS, IPsec, WEP, and WPA/WPA2. That combination makes it suitable for investigations that require more than basic packet viewing, including detailed protocol dissection and flow analysis across live and offline captures.
Wireshark also extends beyond local interactive analysis. TShark provides command-line packet analysis, while remote capture over SSH supports traffic collection from another system. The product is free and open source, with no paid tier to evaluate or upgrade into. It is a strong choice for technical users who want broad packet-analysis capabilities across major desktop operating systems. Organizations seeking a hosted, browser-based, or narrowly focused monitoring tool may prefer a product built around those deployment models instead.
Your product? Our editors can test Wireshark in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →
Wireshark pricing
Wireshark fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| Deployment | Desktop |
| Capture sources | Both |
| PCAP support | Yes |
| Traffic decryption | Yes |
| CLI tools | Yes |
| Remote capture | Yes |
| Flow analysis | Yes |
| Deployment | Desktop |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Support | Community, Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Pricing | Free plan |
| Website | wireshark.org |
| Facts checked | 20 Sep 2026 |
Alternatives to Wireshark
- TSharkA free, scriptable Wireshark-based analyzer for live captures, PCAP files, and protocol workflows.9.2
- ScapyA free, programmable toolkit for crafting, capturing, decoding, and analyzing packets.9.0
- KismetA flexible, free toolkit for wireless capture, monitoring, analysis, and distributed sensors.8.9
See all Wireshark alternatives →
Wireshark vs the competition
- Wireshark vs TShark
- Wireshark vs Scapy
- Wireshark vs Kismet
- Wireshark vs tcpdump
- Wireshark vs Arkime
- Wireshark vs Ettercap
Compare Wireshark with any tool side by side →
Also Ranked In
Wireshark is ranked in 4 of our directories.
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Featured on iTechGuides
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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