Best tcpdump Alternatives & Competitors in 2025

Wireshark is a network protocol analyzer for Unix and Windows. It lets you capture and interactively browse the traffic running on a computer network.

Key Wireshark features:

Comprehensive Protocol Support Free and Open-Source Cross-Platform Compatibility Rich Feature Set

Open Source

SmartSniff is a packet sniffer that capture TCP/IP packets and display them as sequence of conversations between clients and servers.

Key SmartSniff features:

Freeware User-Friendly Interface Passive Mode Operation Supports Multiple Protocols

The fastest way to send files over the internet.

Key Fileport features:

User-Friendly Interface Multi-Device Access Secure File Transfers Fast Upload and Download Speeds

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Netcat is a featured networking utility which reads and writes data across network connections...

Key netcat features:

Versatility Simplicity Speed Scriptability

Open Source

Ettercap is a suite for man in the middle attacks on LAN.

Key Ettercap features:

Comprehensive Network Sniffing Wide Platform Support Rich Feature Set Open Source

NetworkMiner is a Network Forensic Analysis Tool (NFAT) for Windows.

Key NetworkMiner features:

User-Friendly Interface Passive Network Sniffing Detailed Forensic Analysis Cross-Platform Compatibility

socat is a relay for bidirectional data transfer between two independent data channels.

Key socat features:

Versatility Portability Wide Protocol Support Advanced Features

PCAPdroid is an android app to capture the phone traffic and analyze it remotely (e.g. via Wireshark). The traffic can be easily downloaded from a remote device thanks to the integrated HTTP server, or streamed to a remote UDP receiver.

Key PCAPdroid features:

Open Source Network Packet Capture Data Privacy User-Friendly Interface

Portfwd, Port Forwarding Daemon, stands for port forwarding daemon.

Key Portfwd features:

Open Source Port Forwarding Versatility Lightweight

Packet Sender can send and receive UDP, TCP, and SSL on the ports of your choosing.

Key Packet Sender features:

Open Source Cross-Platform Compatibility User-Friendly Interface Versatile Functionality

Fiddler is a debugging program for websites.

Key Fiddler features:

Comprehensive Debugging Cross-Platform Compatibility Custom Scripting User-Friendly Interface

Capsa Enterprise, a strong intelligent network traffic analysis & monitoring software, can quickly pinpoint network problems in real time & improve network performance.

Key Colasoft Capsa features:

User-Friendly Interface Comprehensive Protocol Analysis Real-time Packet Capture Rich Reporting Features

Nmap Free Security Scanner, Port Scanner, & Network Exploration Tool. Download open source software for Linux, Windows, UNIX, FreeBSD, etc.

Key Nmap features:

Comprehensive Scanning Open Source Scripting Engine Cross-Platform Support

pwncat - netcat on steroids with Firewall, IDS/IPS evasion, bind and reverse shell, self-injecting shell and port forwarding magic - and its fully scriptable with Python (PSE).

Key pwncat features:

Versatile Automation Compatibility Open Source