Best Network Packet Analyzer Software in 2026
Updated
In short: Wireshark is ranked #1 of 30 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of TShark and NETCAP. The best-ranked option with a free plan is TShark. The lowest first paid tier on this page is NETCAP at $548/mo.
When you need to inspect network traffic, packet analysis tools can work with live captures or saved files, depending on the capabilities listed for each option. Compare capture file formats, live capture, protocol dissectors, and traffic decryption to see which analysis features matter for your work. Operating-system support and a command-line tool can shape how a tool fits your workflow; free plan availability and paid-from pricing help with cost comparisons. PCAPdroid, PacketSafari, and Scapy are among the entries to consider, along with BruteShark, NETCAP, and NetworkMiner. Use these criteria to weigh how you collect and examine traffic.
30 network packet analyzer software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
Recognised 40% · Phone app 26% · Documented 20% · Free plan 14% of the score
- 1 Wireshark No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 8.1Free Traffic decryption: Yes
- 2 TShark No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 8.0Free Traffic decryption: Yes
- 3 NETCAP No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.9$548/mo
- 4 PCAPdroid Android only RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.9Free Live capture: YesTraffic decryption: Yes
- 5 tcpdump No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.8Free Traffic decryption: Yes
- 6 Zui No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.7Free
- 7 Malcolm No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.6 Live capture: YesCommand-line tool: Yes
- 8 Arkime No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.6Free Traffic decryption: No
- 9 PacketSafari No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.6Free Live capture: NoCommand-line tool: YesTraffic decryption: Yes
- 10 Xplico No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.1Free Live capture: YesCommand-line tool: YesTraffic decryption: No
- 11 NetworkMiner No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.0Free Traffic decryption: No
- 12 BruteShark No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.9Free Live capture: YesCommand-line tool: Yes
- 13 VIAVI Observer Analyzer No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.5 Live capture: YesCommand-line tool: YesTraffic decryption: Yes
- 14 Sniffnet No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.5Free Live capture: YesCommand-line tool: YesTraffic decryption: No
- 15 CloudShark No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.4 Live capture: NoTraffic decryption: Yes
- 16 termshark Android only RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.4
- 17 GL PacketScan No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.2 Traffic decryption: Yes
- 18 A-Packets No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.1
- 19 NetWitness Platform No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.9
- 20 PcapAI No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.9 Live capture: NoCommand-line tool: Yes
- 21 Omnipeek No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.8 Traffic decryption: Yes
- 22 PacketSnitch No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.5 Traffic decryption: Yes
- 23 Colasoft Capsa No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.4 Traffic decryption: Yes
- 24 CommView No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.3 Traffic decryption: Yes
- 25 CapAnalysis No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.2
Is your app 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 Samsung Mobile US Press?
Wireshark is ranked #1 of 30 with a score of 8.1. TShark is second and NETCAP third.
How many of these have a free plan?
12 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 mobile-first: a phone app alongside the web or desktop product, a free tier and the depth of its documentation. Paid placements never change a rank.