Best Network Packet Analyzer Software in 2026

In short: NETCAP is ranked #1 of 33 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of PacketSafari and Scapy. The best-ranked option with a free plan is PacketSafari. The lowest first paid tier on this page is NETCAP at $548/mo.

Network packet analyzers are used to examine network traffic, whether you are working with a live capture or a saved file. Compared on capture file formats, live capture, protocol dissectors, and traffic decryption, the entries also specify operating systems and whether a command-line tool is available. Free-plan status and paid starting prices provide cost details. NETCAP, PacketSafari, and Scapy are among the tools to consider for your analysis workflow. Compare how each handles the traffic and protocols you need to inspect, along with the platforms and command-line options that fit the way you collect and review data.

33 network packet analyzer software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.

33ranked
13free plans on this page
$548/molowest paid tier
4 Oct 2026last checked
Input list Network Packet Analyzer Software 25 channels on this page · 103 of 200 spec lines stated by the makers
Ch Tool Free planPaid fromLive captureCommand-line toolTraffic decryptionOperating systemsCapture file formatsProtocol dissectors Spec sheet Score
01 NETCAP Free planYesPaid fromnot statedLive capturenot statedCommand-line toolnot statedTraffic decryptionnot statedOperating systemsnot statedCapture file formatsnot statedProtocol dissectorsnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 7.7
02 PacketSafari Free planYesPaid fromnot statedLive captureNoCommand-line toolYesTraffic decryptionYesOperating systemsLinux, macOS, WindowsCapture file formats.pcap, .pcapng, .capProtocol dissectorsYes 7/8spec lines stated 7.4
03 Scapy Free planYesPaid fromnot statedLive capturenot statedCommand-line toolnot statedTraffic decryptionYesOperating systemsnot statedCapture file formatsnot statedProtocol dissectorsnot stated 2/8spec lines stated 7.4
04 NetworkMiner Free planYesPaid fromnot statedLive capturenot statedCommand-line toolnot statedTraffic decryptionNoOperating systemsnot statedCapture file formatsnot statedProtocol dissectorsnot stated 2/8spec lines stated 7.3
05 Malcolm Free planYesPaid fromnot statedLive captureYesCommand-line toolYesTraffic decryptionnot statedOperating systemsLinux, macOS, WindowsCapture file formatsPCAPProtocol dissectorsYes 6/8spec lines stated 7.2
06 Sniffnet Free planYesPaid fromnot statedLive captureYesCommand-line toolYesTraffic decryptionNoOperating systemsWindows, macOS, LinuxCapture file formatsPCAP (read/write), PCAPNG (read), CAP (read)Protocol dissectorsYes 7/8spec lines stated 7.1
07 Xplico Free planYesPaid fromnot statedLive captureYesCommand-line toolYesTraffic decryptionNoOperating systemsLinux and Unix-like operating systemsCapture file formatsPCAPProtocol dissectorsYes 7/8spec lines stated 7.1
08 Zui Free planYesPaid fromnot statedLive capturenot statedCommand-line toolnot statedTraffic decryptionnot statedOperating systemsnot statedCapture file formatsnot statedProtocol dissectorsnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 7.1
09 Arkime Free planYesPaid fromnot statedLive capturenot statedCommand-line toolnot statedTraffic decryptionNoOperating systemsnot statedCapture file formatsnot statedProtocol dissectorsnot stated 2/8spec lines stated 7.0
10 tcpdump Free planYesPaid fromnot statedLive capturenot statedCommand-line toolnot statedTraffic decryptionYesOperating systemsnot statedCapture file formatsnot statedProtocol dissectorsnot stated 2/8spec lines stated 7.0
11 TShark Free planYesPaid fromnot statedLive capturenot statedCommand-line toolnot statedTraffic decryptionYesOperating systemsnot statedCapture file formatsnot statedProtocol dissectorsnot stated 2/8spec lines stated 7.0
12 Wireshark Free planYesPaid fromnot statedLive capturenot statedCommand-line toolnot statedTraffic decryptionYesOperating systemsnot statedCapture file formatsnot statedProtocol dissectorsnot stated 2/8spec lines stated 7.0
13 BruteShark Free planYesPaid fromnot statedLive captureYesCommand-line toolYesTraffic decryptionnot statedOperating systemsWindows and LinuxCapture file formatsPCAP and PCAPNGProtocol dissectorsYes 6/8spec lines stated 6.9
14 PCAPdroid Free planYesPaid fromnot statedLive captureYesCommand-line toolnot statedTraffic decryptionYesOperating systemsAndroidCapture file formatsPCAP, PCAPNGProtocol dissectorsYes 6/8spec lines stated 6.9
15 PcapAI Free planYesPaid fromnot statedLive captureNoCommand-line toolYesTraffic decryptionnot statedOperating systemsWindows, macOS, LinuxCapture file formatsPCAP, PCAPNGProtocol dissectorsYes 6/8spec lines stated 6.4
16 VIAVI Observer Analyzer Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedLive captureYesCommand-line toolYesTraffic decryptionYesOperating systems64-bit Windows; Windows 10 and Windows Server 2016Capture file formatsnot statedProtocol dissectorsYes 5/8spec lines stated 6.4
17 WhatInStartup Free planYesPaid fromnot statedLive captureYesCommand-line toolYesTraffic decryptionNoOperating systemsWindows 98/ME/NT/2000/XP/2003/2008/Vista/7/8Capture file formats.ssp, tcpdump/libpcap, Microsoft Network Monitor .capProtocol dissectorsnot stated 6/8spec lines stated 6.4
18 SmartSniff Free planYesPaid fromnot statedLive captureYesCommand-line toolYesTraffic decryptionNoOperating systemsWindows 98/ME/NT/2000/XP/2003/2008/Vista/7/8Capture file formats.ssp, tcpdump/libpcap, Microsoft Network Monitor .capProtocol dissectorsnot stated 6/8spec lines stated 6.0
19 CapAnalysis Free planYesPaid fromnot statedLive capturenot statedCommand-line toolnot statedTraffic decryptionnot statedOperating systemsDebian 32-bit and 64-bit; Ubuntu 32-bit and 64-bitCapture file formatsPCAPProtocol dissectorsYes 4/8spec lines stated 5.9
20 GL PacketScan Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedLive capturenot statedCommand-line toolnot statedTraffic decryptionYesOperating systemsnot statedCapture file formatsnot statedProtocol dissectorsnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 5.9
21 CloudShark Free planNoPaid fromnot statedLive captureNoCommand-line toolnot statedTraffic decryptionYesOperating systemsRocky Linux 8 on 64-bit x86 64 systemsCapture file formatsPCAP, pcapng, and libpcap-compatible capture filesProtocol dissectorsYes 6/8spec lines stated 5.8
22 CloudShark Free planNoPaid fromnot statedLive captureNoCommand-line toolnot statedTraffic decryptionYesOperating systemsRocky Linux 8 on 64-bit x86 64 systemsCapture file formatsPCAP, pcapng, and libpcap-compatible capture filesProtocol dissectorsYes 6/8spec lines stated 5.8
23 PacketSnitch Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedLive capturenot statedCommand-line toolnot statedTraffic decryptionYesOperating systemsnot statedCapture file formatsnot statedProtocol dissectorsnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 5.8
24 PAL (Pcap Analysis Library) Free planYesPaid fromnot statedLive captureYesCommand-line toolYesTraffic decryptionNoOperating systemsnot statedCapture file formatspcap, pcapngProtocol dissectorsYes 6/8spec lines stated 5.7
25 netsniff-ng Free planYesPaid fromnot statedLive captureYesCommand-line toolnot statedTraffic decryptionnot statedOperating systemsnot statedCapture file formatstcpdump-capable pcap; tcpdump-capable pcap with nanosecond resolution; Alexey Kuznetzov's pcap; netsniff-ng pcapProtocol dissectorsnot stated 3/8spec lines stated 5.6

Is your tool on this list?

Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.

Questions about this list

Which network packet analyzer software is ranked first on Specifiction?

NETCAP is ranked #1 of 33 with a score of 7.7. PacketSafari is second and Scapy third.

How many of these have a free plan?

13 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.

Which is the cheapest paid option?

On this page, NETCAP has the lowest first paid tier we found: $548/mo.

How is this list ranked?

Ranked on what each maker publishes, the fullest spec sheet first: how deeply the product is documented, the platforms it runs on, a free tier or trial to test it, and its standing. Paid placements never change a rank.

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