Wireshark is a widely used network monitoring and WiFi troubleshooting tool. However, with the Wireshark tool is that you can only gather information from the network but cannot send this information.

Here, is a curated list of Top Alternative Tools which are capable of replacing Wireshark.

This list includes open source (free) as well as commercials (paid) programs like Wireshark with popular features and the latest download link.

1) Deep Packet Inspection

Deep Packet Inspection by SolarWinds automatically discovers network devices and deploys within an hour. With the help of this tool, you can customize the web-based performance dashboards, charts, and views. This tool helps you to reduce network outages and improve the performance of your network.

Features:

Resolve end-user slowdowns

Classify and restrict network traffic

Multi-vendor network monitoring

Network Insights for deeper visibility

Analyze over 1,200 applications

NetPath and PerfStack for easy troubleshooting

Smarter scalability for large environments.

2) PRTG monitor

PRTG monitor allows all systems, devices, traffic, and applications of your IT infrastructure. The tool also offers to monitor several networks from various locations.

Features:

Full-featured web interface which is based on AJAX with high-security standards

SSL-secured local and remote access which can be used simultaneously

Visualize your network with the help of real-time maps with real-time status information

Allows you to monitor several networks in different locations

Helps you to run reports on-demand or schedule regular reports.

3) Cloud Shark

A web-based platform that allows you to view analyze, and share packet capture files in a browser. This Wireshark alternative helps you to solve network problems faster with packet captures.

Features:

Drag and drop capture right into your browser, or upload using your API key

Cloud Shark can act like a drop-box for the files you generate

Allows readers to access advanced analysis from any device without any special software

You can instantly link your work to share with co-workers or customers

Download link: https://cloudshark.io/

4) Sysdig

Sysdig is an open-source tool to monitor and secure containers both for windows and mac. It comes with a command-line interface that allows the user to track the system acidity in real-time.

Features:

This Wireshark alternative Mac tool supports application tracking

Helps you to enhance software reliability and bring an ideal resolution

Accelerate your transition to containers

This alternative to Wireshark allows you to protect and assure you’re critical applications

Download link: https://sysdig.com/pricing/

5) Packets

Packets are yet another Wireshark alternative. This is an ideal tool for cloud-based WiFi analysis and troubleshooting tool.

Features:

Helps you to store and organize your traces in Packets for quick access

This software like Wireshark allows you to capture packet traces at any remote site

Visualization of WiFi connections and visual coding

Tag particular parts of a trace with notes and share them for collaborative troubleshooting

Download Link: https://packets.arista.com/

6) Colasoft

Colasoft nChronos is a Network Performance Analysis Solution. This Wireshark alternative Windows tool allows IT professionals to collect and save a high amount of packet-level network data. This data allows the user to navigate time-specific periods of the data.

Features:

Allows you to monitor your network and application performance in real-time

Analyze and troubleshoot all types of abnormalities in your system

Save IT costs and enhance the customer experience

Download link: https://www.colasoft.com/download/index.php

7) Debookee

Debookee is a network monitoring tool that allows you to intercept and motor the traffic of any device in the same subnet. You can capture data from the mobile device on your Mac, Printer, Tv, without the need for any proxy.

Features:

Allows users to see what is happing in their work

Helps you to find out who is using your WIFI bandwidth

Scan your LAN or any IP range and helps you to find all the connected devices

Display all Wi-Fi clients covers in the radio range and to which API they’re associated

Download link: https://debookee.com/

8) Omnipeek

Omnipeek is the best tool for network analytics and performance diagnostics. It offers advanced capabilities for security investigations. The tool helps to compare, discover, and reduce your mean-time-to-resolution(MTTR).

Features:

You can scan packets for signs of trouble or detect changes in transfer speeds

The traffic analyzing feature can report on end-to-end performance for connections

Added support for 3rd party authentication

Download link: https://www.savvius.com/product/omnipeek/

9) Ettercap

Ettercap is a comprehensive network monitor tool. It also supports both active and passive dissection of different protocols. It also includes features for network and host analysis.

Features:

SSH3 and SSL support

Packet filtering/dropping

Remote traffic sniffing with the help of tunnels and route mangling

Passive OS fingerprint

Allows you to kill the connection

Download link: https://www.ettercap-project.org/downloads.html

10) SmartSniff

SmartSniff is a network monitoring alternative tool for Wireshark. It allows you to capture data in a conversation-like sequence between servers and clients.

Features:

Helps you to capture TCP/IP packets on the network without installing a capture driver

Allows you to capture the driver of Microsoft Network Monitor

Smartsniff helps you to capture data from other unsecured wireless networks

Download link: http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/smsniff.html

11) EtherApe

EtherApe is a graphical network monitoring solution. It is one of the programs like Wireshark that supports Ethernet, FDDI, ISDN, SLIP, PPP, and WLAN devices. EtherApe allows you to select the level of the protocol stack to concentrate on.

Features:

You can use a refined data network filter with the help of pcap syntax

The display is averaging and node persistence times are fully configurable

Helps you to display protocol summary dialog shows global traffic statistics by the protocol

Download link: https://etherape.sourceforge.io/

How to select a Network Monitoring Software?

You should consider the following factors while selecting a Network Monitoring software:

Network Monitoring tools should be able to provide real-time performance monitoring and visualization.

The cost involved in training employees on the tool.

Tools should be customizable to each user’s specific roles.

Consider the security options offered by software providers.

Product price.

Product features meet your requirements.

Integration with management software such as ERP is desirable. There is no best tool! You need to select a tool that best caters to your requirements.