Compare software

Packetbeat vs Malcolm: catalog facts
Packetbeat	Malcolm
Free Free to download; paid Elastic offerings exist for the wider stack.	Free Free to use; the source is published on GitHub by CISA.
Command line	Linux, Self-hosted
Decodes many application protocols Passive capture with no latency added	Brings PCAP, Zeek and Suricata data together in one searchable interface Deployable with Docker, Kubernetes or an installable ISO
Needs Elasticsearch or Logstash to be useful Agent with no interface of its own	A large multi-container stack that needs substantial server resources Aimed at trained analysts rather than casual home users
Downloadable app	Self-hosted
Closed source	Open source
License not stated	License not stated
No account needed	Not stated if an account is needed
Not stated if it works offline	Works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Checked October 1, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 23, 2026

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