Best Network Traffic Analysis Software in 2026
Updated
In short: ManageEngine NetFlow Analyzer is ranked #1 of 20 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of ntopng and ElastiFlow. The best-ranked option with a free plan is ntopng. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Andrisoft Wansight at $28.75/mo.
Understanding network traffic means looking at more than overall bandwidth: application visibility and conversation analysis can help distinguish what is moving across the network. Compare those capabilities with bandwidth monitoring, then check flow protocols and deployment to see how each option fits your environment. Monitored device limits can clarify scale, while free-plan availability and paid-from pricing provide cost context. ManageEngine NetFlow Analyzer, ntopng and ElastiFlow are among the options shown. Use these comparison points to weigh the traffic insight you need against deployment considerations and the size of the monitored environment.
20 network traffic analysis 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 ManageEngine NetFlow Analyzer iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 9.5$172/mo Flow protocols: NetFlow, sFlow, IPFIX, J-Flow, NetStream, cflowd, AppFlowApplication visibility: YesConversation analysis: Yes
- 2 ntopng No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 8.2Free
- 3 ElastiFlow No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.9Free Flow protocols: NetFlow, IPFIX, sFlowApplication visibility: YesConversation analysis: Yes
- 4 Caligare Flow Inspector No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.2Free Flow protocols: NetFlow 1, 5, 6, 7, 9Application visibility: YesConversation analysis: Yes
- 5 Andrisoft Wansight No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.9$28.75/mo Flow protocols: NetFlow v5/v7/v9, jFlow, cflowd, NetStream, sFlow v4/v5, IPFIXApplication visibility: YesConversation analysis: Yes
- 6 pmacct No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.9 Flow protocols: NetFlow v1, v5 and v9; IPFIX; sFlow v2, v4 and v5Application visibility: YesConversation analysis: Yes
- 7 SparrowIQ iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.8 Application visibility: YesConversation analysis: Yes
- 8 Noction Flow Analyzer No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.7$165.83/mo Flow protocols: NetFlow, J-Flow, sFlow, IPFIX, NetStreamApplication visibility: YesConversation analysis: Yes
- 9 Progress Flowmon No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.6
- 10 Akvorado No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.6 Flow protocols: NetFlow, IPFIX, sFlowConversation analysis: Yes
- 11 SolarWinds NetFlow Traffic Analyzer No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.5 Flow protocols: NetFlow v5 and v9, Huawei NetStream, Juniper J-Flow, sFlow, IPFIXApplication visibility: YesConversation analysis: Yes
- 12 Plixer Scrutinizer No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.2 Flow protocols: NetFlow, IPFIX, sFlow, Syslog, SNMP TrapsApplication visibility: NoConversation analysis: No
- 13 NetVizura NetFlow Analyzer No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.2 Flow protocols: NetFlow v5, NetFlow v9, IPFIX, NSEL, sFlowApplication visibility: YesConversation analysis: Yes
- 14 Argus No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.8 Flow protocols: Argus, NetFlow, IPFIX, J-Flow, Q-Flow, K-FlowApplication visibility: YesConversation analysis: Yes
- 15 nfdump No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.6 Flow protocols: NetFlow v1, NetFlow v5, NetFlow v7, NetFlow v9, IPFIX, sFlow v4, sFlow v6Conversation analysis: Yes
- 16 NetGain Network Traffic Analytics No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.4 Application visibility: YesConversation analysis: Yes
- 17 Intermapper No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.3
- 18 FlowViewer No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.1 Flow protocols: NetFlow v5; NetFlow v9; IPFIX; sFlow
- 19 Cisco Catalyst Center No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.1
- 20 BrByte Captor No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 4.9 Flow protocols: NetFlow v5, NetFlow v9, IPFIXApplication visibility: YesConversation analysis: Yes
Compare all 20 in a table
| # | App | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Flow protocols | Application visibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ManageEngine NetFlow Analyzer | 9.5 | Free plan | $172/mo | Yes | — | NetFlow, sFlow, IPFIX, J-Flow, NetStream, cflowd, AppFlow | Yes |
| 2 | ntopng | 8.2 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 3 | ElastiFlow | 7.9 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | NetFlow, IPFIX, sFlow | Yes |
| 4 | Caligare Flow Inspector | 7.2 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | NetFlow 1, 5, 6, 7, 9 | Yes |
| 5 | Andrisoft Wansight | 6.9 | No | $28.75/mo | No | — | NetFlow v5/v7/v9, jFlow, cflowd, NetStream, sFlow v4/v5, IPFIX | Yes |
| 6 | pmacct | 6.9 | No | — | Yes | — | NetFlow v1, v5 and v9; IPFIX; sFlow v2, v4 and v5 | Yes |
| 7 | SparrowIQ | 6.8 | No | — | No | — | — | Yes |
| 8 | Noction Flow Analyzer | 6.7 | No | $165.83/mo | No | — | NetFlow, J-Flow, sFlow, IPFIX, NetStream | Yes |
| 9 | Progress Flowmon | 6.6 | No | — | No | — | — | — |
| 10 | Akvorado | 6.6 | No | — | Yes | — | NetFlow, IPFIX, sFlow | — |
| 11 | SolarWinds NetFlow Traffic Analyzer | 6.5 | No | — | No | — | NetFlow v5 and v9, Huawei NetStream, Juniper J-Flow, sFlow, IPFIX | Yes |
| 12 | Plixer Scrutinizer | 6.2 | No | — | No | — | NetFlow, IPFIX, sFlow, Syslog, SNMP Traps | No |
| 13 | NetVizura NetFlow Analyzer | 6.2 | No | — | No | — | NetFlow v5, NetFlow v9, IPFIX, NSEL, sFlow | Yes |
| 14 | Argus | 5.8 | No | — | — | — | Argus, NetFlow, IPFIX, J-Flow, Q-Flow, K-Flow | Yes |
| 15 | nfdump | 5.6 | No | — | — | — | NetFlow v1, NetFlow v5, NetFlow v7, NetFlow v9, IPFIX, sFlow v4, sFlow v6 | — |
| 16 | NetGain Network Traffic Analytics | 5.4 | No | — | — | — | — | Yes |
| 17 | Intermapper | 5.3 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 18 | FlowViewer | 5.1 | No | — | Yes | — | NetFlow v5; NetFlow v9; IPFIX; sFlow | — |
| 19 | Cisco Catalyst Center | 5.1 | No | — | — | — | — | — |
| 20 | BrByte Captor | 4.9 | No | — | No | — | NetFlow v5, NetFlow v9, IPFIX | Yes |
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 traffic analysis software is ranked first on Samsung Mobile US Press?
ManageEngine NetFlow Analyzer is ranked #1 of 20 with a score of 9.5. ntopng is second and ElastiFlow third.
How many of these have a free plan?
4 of the 20 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, Andrisoft Wansight has the lowest first paid tier we found: $28.75/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.