GlassWire

GlassWire is a network traffic monitor and personal firewall for viewing network activity and controlling app connections. Its desktop traffic analysis can sort usage by IP or host, app, traffic type, and other categories. GlassWire reports unusual network or app changes that could indicate malware, and alerts users when unknown devices join Wi-Fi. The Android app graphs app data use, notifies users when apps access the network, and can block connections over mobile data or Wi-Fi. GlassWire says Android app and data usage information stays on the phone, and that the app itself uses no data. The free plan limits network history to 24 hours, bandwidth usage history to one day, and alert logs to the current day. The Personal Plan includes unlimited network history, bandwidth usage, and alert logs; it costs $2.99 a month when billed annually. Premium features also include bidirectional firewall control, custom profiles, Ask to Connect, and Lockdown Mode. The desktop download requires Windows 10 or later and supports x64 and ARM64 architectures. GlassWire is available on Windows, Android, and web.

GlassWire combines traffic monitoring with connection controls on Windows and Android. The free plan limits history and logs, while the Personal Plan provides unlimited records and is billed annually.

GlassWire may suit people who want to review network activity, receive alerts about unusual changes, or manage app connections. Android users can also view app data use and block connections over mobile or Wi-Fi.

Overview

GlassWire is a network traffic monitor and personal firewall for people who want to identify which apps and devices are using a connection. It suits individual users who value readable activity breakdowns and app-level controls more than long-term monitoring on a free plan. Its strongest case is pairing traffic visibility with connection controls; the main trade-off is that useful history beyond a day requires an annual subscription.

Key features

On desktop, GlassWire sorts network use by app, IP or host, traffic type, and other categories. That makes it easier to investigate a bandwidth spike than a single overall usage figure would. Alerts flag unusual network or app changes that could indicate malware, and can warn when an unknown device joins Wi-Fi. They provide signals to investigate, rather than a substitute for broader security tools.

Premium adds bidirectional firewall control, custom profiles, Ask to Connect, and Lockdown Mode. Those options make GlassWire more useful for people who want to manage app connections as well as observe them. Free users get monitoring but only 24 hours of network history, one day of bandwidth usage history, and alert logs for the current day. That is adequate for checking recent activity, but a poor fit for troubleshooting issues discovered later.

The Android app graphs data use by app, alerts when apps access the network, and can block connections over mobile data or Wi-Fi. GlassWire says Android app and data usage information stays on the phone and that the app itself uses no data. This makes it a practical companion for users concerned about mobile data use and app connections.

Pricing

The Free plan costs nothing and is billed Free Forever. It includes community support, but limits bandwidth history to one day, network history to 24 hours, and alert logs to the current day. It is the sensible starting point for people who only need a short-term view of activity.

The Personal Plan costs $2.99 a month, billed annually. It covers up to 20 licenses and includes unlimited bandwidth usage history, network history, and alert logs, plus community and dedicated support. The longer records and added firewall controls make it the better fit for users who routinely review activity or need to manage connections; its annual billing is a commitment even though the price is expressed monthly.

Platforms

GlassWire supports Windows, Android, and web. The desktop download requires Windows 10 or later and supports x64 and ARM64. Windows users get the desktop traffic breakdown; Android users get app-level data graphs and connection blocking.

Who it's for

GlassWire is a good fit for people who want to see which programs are using bandwidth, receive alerts about unusual activity, and optionally block app connections. It is less suited to anyone who needs detailed historical review without paying, or who needs a desktop platform other than Windows.

Pros and cons

• Useful traffic detail: Desktop views by app, IP or host, and traffic type help narrow down the source of usage.
• Alerts plus controls: Unusual-activity and unknown-device alerts are paired with premium firewall options, including Lockdown Mode.
• Mobile visibility: The Android app graphs app data use and can block connections over mobile or Wi-Fi.
• Short free history: Free records cover at most a day, limiting delayed troubleshooting.
• Paid plan billed annually: The Personal Plan is priced at $2.99 a month but billed annually, which may not suit users seeking month-to-month terms.

Alternatives

For broader bandwidth and network monitoring options, browse Bandwidth Monitoring Software and Network Monitoring.

ManageEngine NetFlow Analyzer is worth considering for readers who need a network-analysis product with a free edition limited to two interfaces or paid editions priced per month. Bandwidth Monitor is a free alternative. SparrowIQ may suit readers seeking a paid product with a free trial and a quote-required 15 Mbps plan. Download Navi is another free Android option. SoftPerfect Bandwidth Manager offers a free Lite plan with five rules or streams and usage reporting. bwmon is a free, self-hosted option for a single Linux host. Nagios XI offers a self-supported free tier capped at seven nodes or 100 services. ntopng is a freemium option with an open-source community edition aimed at small networks.

Verdict

Choose GlassWire if you want accessible app-level traffic monitoring with alerts and the option to control connections, especially across Windows and Android. Its strongest advantage is combining those views and controls; look elsewhere if you need longer history without an annual subscription or desktop support beyond Windows.