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.

Feature	tcpflow	Cocoa Packet Analyzer
Overall Score	N/A	N/A
Primary Category	Network & Admin	Network & Admin

Product Overview

tcpflow

Description: 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.

Cocoa Packet Analyzer

Description: 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.

Key Features Comparison

tcpflow Features

• 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

Cocoa Packet Analyzer Features

• Real-time packet capture
• Filtering and searching packets
• Protocol decoding
• Packet statistics and reports
• Exporting packet captures (PCAP)

Pros & Cons Analysis

tcpflow

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

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

Pricing Comparison

tcpflow

• Open Source

Cocoa Packet Analyzer

• Open Source