Nmap vs netdiscover

Struggling to choose between Nmap and netdiscover? Both products offer unique advantages, making it a tough decision.

Nmap is a Network & Admin solution with tags like port-scanner, vulnerability-scanner, network-discovery.

It boasts features such as Port scanning, OS detection, Version detection, Scriptable interaction, Flexible target specification, Powerful output formats and pros including Free and open source, Cross-platform, Powerful scanning capabilities, Scripting engine for advanced tests, Active development community.

On the other hand, netdiscover is a Network & Admin product tagged with network, scanner, arp, discovery.

Its standout features include Active and passive host discovery, Detects live hosts on a network by sending ARP requests, Prints IP address, MAC address and hostname of discovered devices, Can scan entire subnet or custom IP range, Lightweight and fast host discovery, Open source and cross-platform, and it shines with pros like Easy to use with simple command line interface, Fast and efficient host discovery, Identifies active hosts accurately, Works on Linux, Mac and Windows, Free and open source.

To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison of these two products, delving into their features, pros, cons, pricing, and more. Get ready to explore the nuances that set them apart and determine which one is the perfect fit for your requirements.

Nmap

Nmap

Nmap is an open source network discovery and security auditing tool. It is used to discover hosts and services on a network and to detect potential vulnerabilities.

Categories:
Network & Admin Network Security
port-scanner vulnerability-scanner network-discovery

Nmap Features

  1. Port scanning
  2. OS detection
  3. Version detection
  4. Scriptable interaction
  5. Flexible target specification
  6. Powerful output formats

Pricing

  • Open Source

Pros

Free and open source

Cross-platform

Powerful scanning capabilities

Scripting engine for advanced tests

Active development community

Cons

Steep learning curve

Can be detected by IDS/IPS

Requires root/admin privileges for full features

netdiscover

netdiscover

netdiscover is an open-source network scanner used to actively detect live hosts on a network. It sends ARP requests to identify active devices and prints the IP address, MAC address, and hostname if available.

Categories:
Network & Admin Network Discovery
network scanner arp discovery

Netdiscover Features

  1. Active and passive host discovery
  2. Detects live hosts on a network by sending ARP requests
  3. Prints IP address, MAC address and hostname of discovered devices
  4. Can scan entire subnet or custom IP range
  5. Lightweight and fast host discovery
  6. Open source and cross-platform

Pricing

  • Open Source

Pros

Easy to use with simple command line interface

Fast and efficient host discovery

Identifies active hosts accurately

Works on Linux, Mac and Windows

Free and open source

Cons

Only does basic host discovery, no advanced scanning features

May miss some hosts if ARP requests are blocked by firewall

Requires root/admin privileges to scan network

No official graphical user interface