Best Wireshark Alternatives in 2025

Looking for alternatives to Wireshark? In this comparison, we take a closer look at Wireshark alongside similar software solutions including Wireshark and Npcap.

Our detailed comparison table highlights key features, pricing, and performance of these leading solutions, empowering you to make an informed decision. Whether you're seeking robust functionality, user-friendly design, or cost-effective alternatives, explore how Wireshark and Npcap stack up to find the perfect software for your goals.

	Release Year	Platform Compatibility	Primary Functionality	License	Community and Development	Special Features
Wireshark	1998	Cross-platform: Windows, Linux, macOS	Free and open-source network protocol analyzer for capturing and analyzing network traffic in various formats.	Open-source software	Large community with active developers and contributors; supported by forums, mailing lists, and official website.	Supports various statistical tools, filtered packets, real-time capture, supports SSL/TLS traffic decryption.
Npcap	2008, 2019	Windows operating systems and Windows Server	Packet sniffing library and network packet capturing library primarily used by Nmap; supports raw 802.11 Wi-Fi capturing.	MIT License	Active development with frequent updates; open-source with code contributions on GitHub by the Nmap Project.	Supports raw 802.11 wireless traffic capturing; designed as a more modern alternative to WinPcap with enhanced Windows compatibility.

Release Year

Wireshark	1998
Npcap	2008, 2019

Platform Compatibility

Wireshark	Cross-platform: Windows, Linux, macOS
Npcap	Windows operating systems and Windows Server

Primary Functionality

Wireshark	Free and open-source network protocol analyzer for capturing and analyzing network traffic in various formats.
Npcap	Packet sniffing library and network packet capturing library primarily used by Nmap; supports raw 802.11 Wi-Fi capturing.

License

Wireshark	Open-source software
Npcap	MIT License

Community and Development

Wireshark	Large community with active developers and contributors; supported by forums, mailing lists, and official website.
Npcap	Active development with frequent updates; open-source with code contributions on GitHub by the Nmap Project.

Special Features

Wireshark	Supports various statistical tools, filtered packets, real-time capture, supports SSL/TLS traffic decryption.
Npcap	Supports raw 802.11 wireless traffic capturing; designed as a more modern alternative to WinPcap with enhanced Windows compatibility.

Choosing the right software isn’t just about features. Size, license type, user ratings, and popularity also matter.

This quick comparison shows how Wireshark stacks up against Wireshark and Npcap in these key areas—helping you find the best alternative for your needs.

	Size	License	Rating	Popularity
Wireshark	83.3MB	Open Source
Npcap	0.8MB	Shareware

Size

Wireshark	83.3MB
Npcap	0.8MB

License

Wireshark	Open Source
Npcap	Shareware

Rating

Wireshark
Npcap

Popularity

Wireshark
Npcap