Compare software

SmartSniff vs tcpdump: catalog facts
SmartSnifftcpdump
Free

Freeware from NirSoft; free to redistribute as long as nothing is charged.

Free

Free and open source under the BSD licence.

Windows Windows, macOS, Linux, Command line
  • Shows traffic as readable client-server conversations
  • Can capture without installing a driver via Raw Sockets
  • Available on practically every Unix system, including embedded ones
  • Writes standard pcap files that every other tool can read
  • Official system requirements list Windows versions up to Windows 8
  • Raw Sockets mode misses outgoing UDP and ICMP packets and is unreliable on some systems
  • Needs elevated privileges to capture
  • Output is dense and takes practice to read
Downloadable app Downloadable app
Closed source Open source
License: Freeware License: BSD-3-Clause
No account needed Not stated if an account is needed
Not stated if it works offline Not stated if it works offline

Checked October 8, 2026

Checked September 22, 2026

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