Compare products
Put two or three cybersecurity products side by side and see how they differ on deployment, pricing, features, integrations and compliance.
| Product | Wireshark by Wireshark View product | Tcpdump by Tcpdump View product |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| What it is | Wireshark: deep packet inspection, thousands of protocol dissectors and live packet capture. Built for network troubleshooting. Compare Network Security alternatives. | Tcpdump: real-time packet capture, Berkeley Packet Filter syntax and PCAP file format export. Built for BPF packet filtering. Compare Network Security alternatives. |
| Product type | Open-Source Graphical Network Protocol Analyzer | Command-Line Network Packet Analyzer & Capture Utility |
| Best for | Cross-industry, Cybersecurity, Networking, Education, Defense, Technology, Government, Financial Services | Network Engineering, Cybersecurity, System Administration, DevOps, Education |
| Pricing | ||
| Pricing model | Contact Vendor | Contact Vendor |
| Free trial | Free trial: yes | Free trial: yes |
| Deployment | ||
| Deployment options | Cloud | Cloud |
| Deployment details | Desktop Software / Local Application; Desktop Application (Windows, macOS, Linux) | Open Source; CLI Tool; Open Source Command-Line Binary (Natively Included in Unix/Linux) |
| Data residency | Local machine | Local Host System Only (Zero Remote Cloud Telemetry) |
| Key features | ||
| What it offers |
|
|
| Platform & access | ||
| API access | API access: yes | API access: no |
| Single sign-on (SSO) | SSO: no | SSO: no |
| Role-based access (RBAC) | RBAC: no | RBAC: yes |
| Multi-tenant | Multi-tenant: no | Multi-tenant: no |
| Mobile app | Mobile app: no | Mobile app: no |
| Supported platforms | Physical EthernetWi-FiBluetoothVirtual switches | LinuxUnixmacOS Network InterfacesCloud VMsNetwork Switches |
| Compliance | GNU GPLv2Academic & forensic standard | BSD 3-Clause LicenseCommon CriteriaNetwork Standards |
| Integrations & coverage | ||
| Integrations | NpcaplibpcapWinPcapLua scripting plugins | libpcapWiresharkSnortSuricataLinux TerminalNetwork Interfaces |
| Industries | Cross-industryCybersecurityNetworkingEducationDefenseTechnology+2 more | Network EngineeringCybersecuritySystem AdministrationDevOpsEducation |
| Regions | Global | Global |
| Vendor | ||
| Company | Wireshark | Tcpdump |
| Headquarters | Global Open Source Project | Open Source Project |
| Company size | 1-10 | 1-10 |
| Founded | 1998 | 1988 |
Overview
What it is
Wireshark
Wireshark: deep packet inspection, thousands of protocol dissectors and live packet capture. Built for network troubleshooting. Compare Network Security alternatives.Tcpdump
Tcpdump: real-time packet capture, Berkeley Packet Filter syntax and PCAP file format export. Built for BPF packet filtering. Compare Network Security alternatives.Product type
Wireshark
Open-Source Graphical Network Protocol AnalyzerTcpdump
Command-Line Network Packet Analyzer & Capture UtilityBest for
Wireshark
Cross-industry, Cybersecurity, Networking, Education, Defense, Technology, Government, Financial ServicesTcpdump
Network Engineering, Cybersecurity, System Administration, DevOps, EducationPricing
Pricing model
Wireshark
Contact VendorTcpdump
Contact VendorFree trial
Wireshark
Free trial: yesTcpdump
Free trial: yesDeployment
Deployment options
Wireshark
Cloud
Tcpdump
Cloud
Deployment details
Wireshark
Desktop Software / Local Application; Desktop Application (Windows, macOS, Linux)Tcpdump
Open Source; CLI Tool; Open Source Command-Line Binary (Natively Included in Unix/Linux)Data residency
Wireshark
Local machineTcpdump
Local Host System Only (Zero Remote Cloud Telemetry)Key features
What it offers
Wireshark
- Deep packet inspection
- Thousands of protocol dissectors
- Live packet capture
- Powerful display and capture filters
- VoIP analysis
- TCP stream reconstruction
- Customizable coloring rules
- Network troubleshooting
Tcpdump
- Real-time packet capture
- Berkeley Packet Filter (BPF) syntax
- PCAP file format export
- Protocol header decoding
- Terminal command-line interface
- Command-line packet capture
- Network troubleshooting
- Security incident traffic investigation
Platform & access
API access
Wireshark
API access: yesTcpdump
API access: noSingle sign-on (SSO)
Wireshark
SSO: noTcpdump
SSO: noRole-based access (RBAC)
Wireshark
RBAC: noTcpdump
RBAC: yesMulti-tenant
Wireshark
Multi-tenant: noTcpdump
Multi-tenant: noMobile app
Wireshark
Mobile app: noTcpdump
Mobile app: noSupported platforms
Wireshark
Physical EthernetWi-FiBluetoothVirtual switches
Tcpdump
LinuxUnixmacOS Network InterfacesCloud VMsNetwork Switches
Compliance
Wireshark
GNU GPLv2Academic & forensic standard
Tcpdump
BSD 3-Clause LicenseCommon CriteriaNetwork Standards
Integrations & coverage
Integrations
Wireshark
NpcaplibpcapWinPcapLua scripting plugins
Tcpdump
libpcapWiresharkSnortSuricataLinux TerminalNetwork Interfaces
Industries
Wireshark
Cross-industryCybersecurityNetworkingEducationDefenseTechnology+2 more
Tcpdump
Network EngineeringCybersecuritySystem AdministrationDevOpsEducation
Regions
Wireshark
Global
Tcpdump
Global
Vendor
Company
Wireshark
WiresharkTcpdump
TcpdumpHeadquarters
Wireshark
Global Open Source ProjectTcpdump
Open Source ProjectCompany size
Wireshark
1-10Tcpdump
1-10Founded
Wireshark
1998Tcpdump
1988