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iftop vs SMBAct

Professional comparison and analysis to help you choose the right software solution for your needs.

iftop icon
iftop
SMBAct icon
SMBAct

iftop vs SMBAct: The Verdict

⚡ Summary:

iftop: iftop is an open source command-line tool used to monitor network usage and bandwidth in real-time. It displays a table of current TCP/IP connections using bandwidth over a specified interface.

SMBAct: SMBAct is an open-source network analyzer and packet inspection tool for SMB protocol. It allows capturing, monitoring and analysis of SMB sessions to detect suspicious activities, security threats and data leaks.

Both tools serve their respective audiences. Compare the features, pricing, and user ratings above to determine which best fits your needs.

Last updated: May 2026 · Comparison by Sugggest Editorial Team

Feature iftop SMBAct
Sugggest Score
Category Network & Admin Security & Privacy
Pricing Open Source Open Source

Product Overview

iftop
iftop

Description: iftop is an open source command-line tool used to monitor network usage and bandwidth in real-time. It displays a table of current TCP/IP connections using bandwidth over a specified interface.

Type: software

Pricing: Open Source

SMBAct
SMBAct

Description: SMBAct is an open-source network analyzer and packet inspection tool for SMB protocol. It allows capturing, monitoring and analysis of SMB sessions to detect suspicious activities, security threats and data leaks.

Type: software

Pricing: Open Source

Key Features Comparison

iftop
iftop Features
  • Displays bandwidth usage on selected network interface
  • Shows both inbound and outbound traffic
  • Can filter by IP address or network port
  • Real-time monitoring and stats
  • Text-based interface for terminal/CLI use
SMBAct
SMBAct Features
  • Network traffic analyzer for SMB protocol
  • Captures, monitors and analyzes SMB sessions
  • Detects security threats, data leaks and suspicious activities
  • Open source tool

Pros & Cons Analysis

iftop
iftop

Pros

  • Free and open source
  • Lightweight and low resource usage
  • Easy to use with no configuration needed
  • Good for identifying bandwidth hogs and monitoring network usage
  • Works on Linux, Unix, and BSD systems

Cons

  • Terminal-only, no GUI
  • Can only monitor one interface at a time
  • Not as feature-rich as commercial bandwidth monitors
  • Requires some Linux/Unix command line knowledge to use
  • Does not work on Windows
SMBAct
SMBAct

Pros

  • Free and open source
  • Allows deep inspection of SMB traffic
  • Helps identify security issues and data leaks
  • Customizable and extensible

Cons

  • Requires technical expertise to use effectively
  • No official support offered
  • May have limitations in scalability and performance

Pricing Comparison

iftop
iftop
  • Open Source
SMBAct
SMBAct
  • Open Source

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