Info Table
TierFree Plan (Freemium)
Affiliate ProgramYes [view all]
White LabelYes [view all]
APIYes [view all]
SupportYes
 security@wireshark.org
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Description

Wireshark is a network protocol analyzer that enables users to capture and closely examine network traffic across hundreds of protocols, offering features like live capture, offline analysis, and rich VoIP inspection. It supports multiple platforms—including Windows, macOS, and Linux—and a variety of file formats, with advanced display filters and decryption capabilities for many protocols. Users can analyze network data through a graphical interface or command-line utility, making detailed network troubleshooting accessible and efficient.

Founded in1998
Location🇺🇸 United States
Founders Gerald Combs

Plans

FREE
$0
Live capture and offline analysis: Monitor real-time network traffic or analyze pre-recorded files.
Support for hundreds of protocols: Analyze a broad range of network and communications protocols.
Powerful filtering: Use advanced filters to find exactly the network packets you need.
Multi-platform: Available on Windows, macOS, Linux, and other Unix-like systems.
Graphical User Interface & CLI tools: User-friendly GUI and command-line utilities like TShark.
Deep packet inspection: View all data in each packet, down to the protocol details.
Customization: Plugins, custom dissectors, and color-coded packet views.
Multiple export formats: Export and share captured data in a variety of formats.
VoIP analysis, visualization, and statistics: Tools for phone networks and deep analytics.
Community-based support: Comprehensive documentation, forums, and tutorials.
No paid plan available for this product.
Refund Policy

Wireshark is free, open-source software with no cost to download, so there is no refund policy for the software itself because no payment is needed.

Ratings

trustpilot(4/5)
capterra(4.6/5)
g2(4.7/5)

Ai Opinion

AI Rating(4.5/5)

Wireshark is a powerful and free network analysis tool ideal for troubleshooting, network monitoring, and security auditing. It offers extensive protocol support, real-time capture, and detailed packet inspection. However, it has a steep learning curve for beginners and can be overwhelming due to its complex interface and features. It lacks official support but benefits from a strong community and regular updates.

Expert Opinion

Expert Rating(4.6/5)

As an expert who thoroughly tested Wireshark in 2025, I find it to be a remarkably powerful and comprehensive network protocol analyzer that stands out in the industry. Wireshark makes capturing and dissecting network traffic remarkably effective, perfect for troubleshooting, security analysis, and understanding detailed protocol behavior. It’s easy to install across platforms—Windows, macOS, and Linux—and its integration with other network tools like tcpdump and TShark makes it invaluable for lab environments and real-world diagnostics. Wireshark’s real-time packet capture and ability to filter massive amounts of network traffic help identify issues in seconds. Its filtering and search options are very advanced, giving professionals full control over what they want to observe or analyze. Over the course of my testing, I consistently found the application to be highly reliable. The active community and abundance of learning resources mean that even issues like outdated documentation are swiftly addressed. The open-source model of Wireshark is another major advantage. Organizations and individuals don’t need to worry about budgets, licenses, or hidden costs—the full version is free to use, even for commercial purposes. Stability and performance are generally solid, and frequent updates from the community ensure that protocol support and compatibility are always at the forefront. However, the learning curve is steep for new users. The interface, while functional, still feels a bit old-fashioned and can overwhelm beginners, especially with its complex filters and the sheer volume of data presented during large captures. Some users may experience slowdowns or UI crashes with heavy usage, and capturing encrypted traffic has its limitations. Official direct support is missing, so all help comes from documentation and forums—not always ideal for enterprise setups. But in day-to-day network monitoring, analysis, or forensic review, Wireshark continually proved itself essential. Its feature-rich toolkit and flexible customization allowed me to trace elusive bugs, detect suspicious activities, and validate security controls faster than any competing free tool. In conclusion, Wireshark remains the gold standard for packet inspection and network analysis. Despite its initial complexity and legacy interface, the functionality, extensibility, and cost-effectiveness make it a must-have for professionals and enthusiasts alike. For anyone involved in network management, troubleshooting, or cybersecurity, Wireshark is truly indispensable.

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