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ngrep vs tcpdump: catalog facts
ngrep	tcpdump
Free Free open-source software.	Free Free and open source under the BSD licence.
Windows, Linux, Command line	Windows, macOS, Linux, Command line
Grep-style matching on packet payloads Accepts tcpdump-style BPF filters	Available on practically every Unix system, including embedded ones Writes standard pcap files that every other tool can read
Text output only, with no protocol decoding like Wireshark Capturing traffic usually needs root or administrator rights	Needs elevated privileges to capture Output is dense and takes practice to read
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
Open source	Open source
License not stated	License: BSD-3-Clause
No account needed	Not stated if an account is needed
Works offline	Not stated if it works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 23, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 22, 2026

Catalog facts only. Anything “not stated” is unconfirmed. Check full listings for details.