tcpflow vs Cocoa Packet Analyzer

Struggling to choose between tcpflow and Cocoa Packet Analyzer? Both products offer unique advantages, making it a tough decision.

tcpflow is a Network & Admin solution with tags like tcp, network, monitoring, flows, packets, capture.

It boasts features such as Captures TCP traffic flows from live network interfaces or packet capture files, Reassembles TCP streams and stores application-layer data, Stores TCP metadata like sequence numbers, acknowledgments, window advertisements, Supports BPF filters for selective capturing, Outputs flows in various formats like ASCII, CSV, JSON, Can extract files based on signatures, Has a library API for programmatic access and pros including Open source and free, Lightweight and fast, Powerful BPF filtering capabilities, Extensible via plugins, Portable across platforms, Can extract files and media, CLI and library API available.

On the other hand, Cocoa Packet Analyzer is a Network & Admin product tagged with networking, troubleshooting, analysis, inspection, macos.

Its standout features include Real-time packet capture, Filtering and searching packets, Protocol decoding, Packet statistics and reports, Exporting packet captures (PCAP), and it shines with pros like Native macOS application, Clean and intuitive UI, Powerful filtering capabilities, Support for common protocols, 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.

tcpflow

tcpflow

tcpflow is an open source tool for capturing TCP traffic flows. It works by capturing packets from network interfaces or packet capture files, reassembling TCP streams, and storing application-layer data with relevant TCP metadata.

Categories:
tcp network monitoring flows packets capture

Tcpflow Features

  1. Captures TCP traffic flows from live network interfaces or packet capture files
  2. Reassembles TCP streams and stores application-layer data
  3. Stores TCP metadata like sequence numbers, acknowledgments, window advertisements
  4. Supports BPF filters for selective capturing
  5. Outputs flows in various formats like ASCII, CSV, JSON
  6. Can extract files based on signatures
  7. Has a library API for programmatic access

Pricing

  • Open Source

Pros

Open source and free

Lightweight and fast

Powerful BPF filtering capabilities

Extensible via plugins

Portable across platforms

Can extract files and media

CLI and library API available

Cons

Limited to TCP flows only

No fancy GUI

Steep learning curve

Need to process outputs for analysis

Not a full packet analyzer


Cocoa Packet Analyzer

Cocoa Packet Analyzer

Cocoa Packet Analyzer is a native macOS packet capture, inspection and analysis tool. It allows capturing packets, inspection protocols, analysis and processing. Useful for network troubleshooting, analysis, software and communications protocol development.

Categories:
networking troubleshooting analysis inspection macos

Cocoa Packet Analyzer Features

  1. Real-time packet capture
  2. Filtering and searching packets
  3. Protocol decoding
  4. Packet statistics and reports
  5. Exporting packet captures (PCAP)

Pricing

  • Open Source

Pros

Native macOS application

Clean and intuitive UI

Powerful filtering capabilities

Support for common protocols

Free and open source

Cons

Limited to macOS platform

Less advanced compared to Wireshark

Lacks some advanced features like packet injection