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Sniffnet

sniffnet.app

Free plan Open source WindowsmacOSLinux
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Spec score 8.2 #5 of 22 in Network Packet Capture Software

What it is

Sniffnet is a free network monitoring app for Linux, macOS, and Windows. It displays overall internet traffic statistics and real-time charts, and can show which programs use bandwidth. Users can choose a network adapter, filter observed traffic, and import or export PCAP capture reports. Sniffnet identifies local network connections, shows remote hosts’ geographical locations, and finds host domain names and ASNs. It recognizes more than 6,000 upper-layer services, protocols, trojans, and worms. Users can configure notifications for network events and import custom IP blacklists to highlight potentially dangerous connections. The app supports live capture, display filters, protocol dissectors, and offline trace analysis; it reads PCAPNG and CAP files as well as PCAP. Custom themes and 26 languages are available. The listed Sniffnet plan is free and the software is open-source under MIT or Apache-2.0. A 2025 security audit reported one low-severity finding, which had been fixed. Most functionality uses offline databases, while reverse DNS lookups provide hostnames for IP addresses.

Spec sheet

What it does
Sniffnet is a desktop application for monitoring Internet traffic, bandwidth use and network connections.Read 15 Oct 2026 · sniffnet.app
Purpose
Sniffnet is a network monitoring app for keeping track of Internet traffic, checking bandwidth usage, and inspecting network activity.Read 30 Sep 2026 · sniffnet.app
Intended users
The maker says Sniffnet is designed to be usable with ease by everyone, including people who find other network analyzers difficult to understand.Read 30 Sep 2026 · sniffnet.app
Integrations
The webhook documentation gives SIGNL4, IFTTT, Svix and Webhook.site as compatible notification receivers.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Security
A 2025 security audit covered static analysis, dependency checking, code analysis and fuzzing, dynamic analysis on most supported platforms, and interactive testing; its only relevant finding was low severity and had been fixed.Read 30 Sep 2026 · sniffnet.app
Support
The download page directs users with persistent installation problems or doubts to open an issue.Read 30 Sep 2026 · sniffnet.app
Maker
LinkedIn identifies Giuliano Bellini as the listed Sniffnet employee, and the official site credits him.Read 15 Oct 2026 · it.linkedin.com
Adapter selection
Users can choose a network adapter to inspect.Read 15 Oct 2026 · sniffnet.app
Alerts and blacklists
Users can configure notifications for network events and import custom IP blacklists to highlight potentially dangerous connections.Read 30 Sep 2026 · sniffnet.app
Capture and reports
Users can choose a network adapter, filter observed traffic, and import or export capture reports as PCAP files.Read 30 Sep 2026 · sniffnet.app
Command-line interface
Command-line options include selecting an adapter, printing the configuration path, viewing Windows logs, restoring defaults, and showing help or version information.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Company profile
LinkedIn lists Sniffnet as a self-employed software-development organization with one employee, headquartered in Boissano, Italy, founded in 2022.Read 15 Oct 2026 · it.linkedin.com
Documentation
The project wiki contains installation, capture setup, monitoring, advanced-feature and FAQ sections.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Domain and ASN data
The app displays domain names and autonomous-system information for hosts.Read 15 Oct 2026 · sniffnet.app
Favorites
Hosts, services and programs can be saved as favorites.Read 15 Oct 2026 · sniffnet.app
Flow-level monitoring
The project emphasizes flow details such as country, organization, domain and upper-layer service instead of presenting full packet payloads.Read 15 Oct 2026 · nlnet.nl
Funding
NLnet records an NGI0 Commons Fund grant for Sniffnet covering June 2024 through July 2025.Read 15 Oct 2026 · nlnet.nl
Geolocation
Remote hosts can be shown with geographical-location information.Read 15 Oct 2026 · sniffnet.app
Host details
Sniffnet can identify local network connections, show remote hosts’ geographical locations, and find host domain names and ASNs.Read 30 Sep 2026 · sniffnet.app
Independent description
Hysen Labs describes Sniffnet as a Rust and Iced cross-platform monitor aimed at visual live-traffic inspection rather than command-line packet analysis.Read 15 Oct 2026 · hysenlabs.com
Independent licence listing
SignPath Foundation lists Sniffnet as free, open-source, cross-platform software under the MIT License.Read 15 Oct 2026 · signpath.org
Licence
Sniffnet is dual-licensed under MIT or Apache-2.0.Read 15 Oct 2026 · sniffnet.app
Limit: dependency setup
An AlternativeTo reviewer reported that Windows 11 initially failed because wpcap.dll was missing until the installation instructions were followed.Read 15 Oct 2026 · alternativeto.net
Limit: no traffic control
ITDeptTools says Sniffnet observes traffic but does not block applications or impose per-application speed limits.Read 15 Oct 2026 · itdepttools.com
Limit: PCAP exposure
The published threat model warns that enabled PCAP export writes captured headers, hostnames, DNS queries and payloads to disk unencrypted.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Limit: shallow packet analysis
Hysen Labs says Sniffnet is not a replacement for Wireshark or tcpdump when deep protocol dissection or headless automation is required.Read 15 Oct 2026 · hysenlabs.com
Linux requirements
Linux builds may require libpcap, ALSA, Fontconfig and GTK development/runtime packages, and non-root users need network-capture capabilities.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Live charts
Real-time charts show traffic intensity.Read 15 Oct 2026 · sniffnet.app
Local network view
Sniffnet identifies connections in the local network.Read 15 Oct 2026 · sniffnet.app
macOS requirement
macOS includes the needed dependencies, but the application must run with administrator privileges to analyze network-device activity.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Minimized monitoring
The application can continue displaying network activity while minimized.Read 15 Oct 2026 · sniffnet.app
Notifications
Custom notifications can be configured for defined network events.Read 15 Oct 2026 · sniffnet.app
PCAP reports
Sniffnet can import and export capture reports as PCAP files.Read 15 Oct 2026 · sniffnet.app
Praise: lightweight design
Gizmodo characterized Sniffnet as lightweight, low-memory software with readable graphs for ordinary users.Read 15 Oct 2026 · gizmodo.com
Praise: privacy
Windows Central reported that Sniffnet keeps data on the device and does not collect user data, and noted VPN compatibility.Read 15 Oct 2026 · windowscentral.com
Praise: usability and efficiency
Windows Central found the interface easy to navigate, said Rust kept resource use low, and praised the detail provided.Read 15 Oct 2026 · windowscentral.com
Privacy and security design
The audit article says Sniffnet provides most functionality through offline databases, uses incoming traffic as needed, and makes reverse DNS lookups to provide hostnames for IPs.Read 30 Sep 2026 · sniffnet.app
Program visibility
Sniffnet can show which programs are using network bandwidth.Read 15 Oct 2026 · sniffnet.app
Programs
Sniffnet can show which programs use network bandwidth and let users save favorite programs.Read 30 Sep 2026 · sniffnet.app
Rating on AlternativeTo
5 out of 5 from 1 reviewRead 15 Oct 2026 · alternativeto.net
Release news
Release v1.5.1 added connection-latency display, CIDR-range support for imported IP blacklists and Hungarian and Sinhala translations.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Remote webhook API
Remote alerts are sent through HTTP POST webhooks with JSON payloads, and users may run their own receiving server.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Search and inspection
Users can search and inspect network connections in real time.Read 15 Oct 2026 · sniffnet.app
Security audit claim
The official site says security audits assess application safety and that development follows a security-first approach.Read 15 Oct 2026 · sniffnet.app
Security process
The project publishes a security policy, threat model and incident-response process and accepts vulnerability reports at [email protected].Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Service detection
The app identifies more than 6,000 upper-layer services, protocols, trojans, and worms.Read 30 Sep 2026 · sniffnet.app
Service identification
Sniffnet identifies more than 6,000 upper-layer services, protocols, trojans and worms.Read 15 Oct 2026 · sniffnet.app
Themes and languages
The app supports custom themes and is available in 26 languages.Read 30 Sep 2026 · sniffnet.app
Traffic filters
The application supports filters for observed traffic.Read 15 Oct 2026 · sniffnet.app
Traffic statistics
The interface presents aggregate Internet-traffic statistics.Read 15 Oct 2026 · sniffnet.app
Traffic views
The app displays overall Internet traffic statistics and real-time charts about traffic intensity.Read 30 Sep 2026 · sniffnet.app
Windows requirement
Windows users must install Npcap in WinPcap API-compatible mode to run packet capture.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com

Plans and prices

Free Free Network monitoring · live charts · traffic statistics · PCAP import/export · Windows/macOS/Linux desktop builds Read 15 Oct 2026 · sniffnet.app
Sniffnet Free Fully free and open-source · MIT or Apache-2.0 Read 30 Sep 2026 · sniffnet.app

Every Sniffnet plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Fully free and open-source under MIT or Apache-2.0
  • Real-time traffic charts and program bandwidth views
  • Reads PCAP, PCAPNG, and CAP files
  • Detects more than 6,000 services and threats
  • Available in 26 languages

Limits

  • Traffic decryption is not supported
  • Reverse DNS lookups are used to provide hostnames
  • Persistent installation problems are directed to issue reporting

Who it suits

Sniffnet is intended for people who want to monitor network activity, including users who find other network analyzers difficult to understand. It runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Verdict

Sniffnet combines live traffic monitoring, capture-file handling, and host details across Windows, macOS, and Linux. It is free and open-source, but does not support traffic decryption.

Where Specifiction places it

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