Wireshark vs SmartSniff: catalog facts
Wireshark | SmartSniff |
|
Free Free and open source. The foundation is funded by sponsors, training and certification. |
Free Freeware from NirSoft; free to redistribute as long as nothing is charged. |
|
Windows, macOS, Linux |
Windows |
- Dissectors for hundreds of protocols, so the packet contents are readable rather than hex
- Display filters that cut a huge capture down to one conversation
|
- Shows traffic as readable client-server conversations
- Can capture without installing a driver via Raw Sockets
|
- Capturing on most systems needs elevated privileges or a driver such as Npcap
- The interface assumes you already know roughly what you are looking for
|
- 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
|
|
Downloadable app |
Downloadable app |
|
Open source |
Closed source |
|
License: GPL-2.0 |
License: Freeware |
|
No account needed |
No account needed |
|
Works offline |
Not stated if it works offline |
Checked September 20, 2026 | Checked October 8, 2026 |
Catalog facts only. Anything “not stated” is unconfirmed. Check full listings for details.
Copy comparison link