Best Network Packet Analyzer Software in 2026
29 network packet analyzer software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
29ranked
19free plans on this page
$548/molowest paid tier
21 Sept 2026last checked
#1 Malcolm Top pick · 8.9 Free plan · Free
#2 Wireshark Runner-up · 8.7 Free plan · Free
#3 PacketSafari Also great · 8.6 Free plan · Free
- Free plan apiLinuxmacOSself-hostedWebWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Live capture
- Yes
- Command-line tool
- Yes
- Operating systems
- Linux, macOS, Windows
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatformsFree trial - Free plan LinuxmacOSWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Traffic decryption
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatformsFree trial - Free plan apiLinuxmacOSself-hostedWebWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Live capture
- No
- Command-line tool
- Yes
- Traffic decryption
- Yes
- Operating systems
- Linux, macOS, Windows
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatformsFree trial - Free plan LinuxmacOSWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Traffic decryption
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatformsFree trial - Free planFree trial LinuxmacOSself-hostedWebWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatformsFree trial$548/mofirst paid tier About NETCAPVisit site - Free plan WindowsmacOSLinux
- Free plan
- Yes
- Traffic decryption
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatformsFree trial - Free plan WindowsmacOSLinux
- Free plan
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatformsFree trialFree About ZuiVisit site - Free plan apiLinuxself-hostedWeb
- Free plan
- Yes
- Traffic decryption
- No
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatformsFree trial - Free plan Linuxself-hostedWeb
- Free plan
- Yes
- Live capture
- Yes
- Command-line tool
- Yes
- Traffic decryption
- No
- Operating systems
- Linux and Unix-like operating systems
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatformsFree trial - Free plan WebWindowsmacOSLinux
- Free plan
- Yes
- Live capture
- No
- Command-line tool
- Yes
- Operating systems
- Windows, macOS, Linux
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatformsFree trial - Free plan LinuxWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Live capture
- Yes
- Command-line tool
- Yes
- Operating systems
- Windows and Linux
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatformsFree trial - Free plan LinuxmacOSWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Traffic decryption
- No
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatformsFree trial - Web
- Free plan
- No
- Live capture
- No
- Traffic decryption
- Yes
- Operating systems
- Rocky Linux 8 on 64-bit x86_64 systems
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatformsFree trial - Free plan Web
- Free plan
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatformsFree trial - Windows
- Live capture
- Yes
- Command-line tool
- Yes
- Traffic decryption
- Yes
- Operating systems
- 64-bit Windows; Windows 10 and Windows Server 2016
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatformsFree trial - Free plan LinuxmacOSWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Live capture
- Yes
- Command-line tool
- Yes
- Traffic decryption
- No
- Operating systems
- Windows, macOS, Linux
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatformsFree trial - WebWindowsLinux
- Traffic decryption
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatformsFree trial - Free plan Android
- Free plan
- Yes
- Live capture
- Yes
- Traffic decryption
- Yes
- Operating systems
- Android
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatformsFree trial - Free plan Windows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Traffic decryption
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatformsFree trial - Free plan WebLinux
- Free plan
- Yes
- Operating systems
- Debian 32-bit and 64-bit; Ubuntu 32-bit and 64-bit
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatformsFree trial - WebWindows
- Free plan
- No
- Traffic decryption
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatformsFree trial - WebRecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatformsFree trial
- Free plan
- Free plan
- Yes
- Live capture
- Yes
- Command-line tool
- Yes
- Traffic decryption
- No
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatformsFree trial - WindowsLinuxmacOS
- Traffic decryption
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatformsFree trial - Free plan Linux
- Free plan
- Yes
- Live capture
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planPlatformsFree trial
Is your platform 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 The Geeks Club?
Malcolm is ranked #1 of 29 with a score of 8.9. Wireshark is second and PacketSafari third.
How many of these have a free plan?
19 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?
Certifications are listed from the provider's own catalogue with level, role and exam. Platforms are ranked on what each publishes: a free tier or trial, price, certificates offered, the devices it runs on and the depth of its documentation. Paid placements never change a rank.
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