Wireshark vs Microsoft Network Monitor

Struggling to choose between Wireshark and Microsoft Network Monitor? Both products offer unique advantages, making it a tough decision.

Wireshark is a Network & Admin solution with tags like network, troubleshooting, analysis, packet-capture, protocol-analyzer.

It boasts features such as Network protocol analyzer, Real-time capturing and offline analysis, Rich VoIP analysis, Read/write many different capture file formats, Live data can be read from Ethernet, IEEE 802.11, PPP/HDLC, ATM, Bluetooth, USB, Token Ring, Frame Relay, FDDI, and others, Decryption support for many protocols and pros including Powerful feature set, Cross-platform, Open source, Large user community support.

On the other hand, Microsoft Network Monitor is a Network & Admin product tagged with sniffer, analyzer, troubleshooting, debugging.

Its standout features include Packet capture and analysis, Advanced filtering capabilities, Protocol decoding and analysis, Expert analysis to identify issues, Multi-host monitoring and aggregation, Customizable dashboards and reporting, Integration with Microsoft products, and it shines with pros like Powerful feature set for network troubleshooting, Free and included with Windows, Easy to use interface, Good integration with Microsoft ecosystem, Advanced analysis capabilities.

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.

Wireshark

Wireshark

Wireshark is an open-source packet analyzer software used for network troubleshooting, analysis, and communications protocol development. It allows users to see what's happening on their network at a microscopic level.

Categories:
network troubleshooting analysis packet-capture protocol-analyzer

Wireshark Features

  1. Network protocol analyzer
  2. Real-time capturing and offline analysis
  3. Rich VoIP analysis
  4. Read/write many different capture file formats
  5. Live data can be read from Ethernet, IEEE 802.11, PPP/HDLC, ATM, Bluetooth, USB, Token Ring, Frame Relay, FDDI, and others
  6. Decryption support for many protocols

Pricing

  • Open Source

Pros

Powerful feature set

Cross-platform

Open source

Large user community support

Cons

Steep learning curve

Can be resource intensive

Capturing raw packets requires admin privileges


Microsoft Network Monitor

Microsoft Network Monitor

Microsoft Network Monitor is a network packet analyzer and sniffer for Windows that enables capturing, viewing, and analyzing network data. It can troubleshoot connectivity issues, analyze network traffic, debug protocol implementations, and more.

Categories:
sniffer analyzer troubleshooting debugging

Microsoft Network Monitor Features

  1. Packet capture and analysis
  2. Advanced filtering capabilities
  3. Protocol decoding and analysis
  4. Expert analysis to identify issues
  5. Multi-host monitoring and aggregation
  6. Customizable dashboards and reporting
  7. Integration with Microsoft products

Pricing

  • Free
  • One-time Purchase

Pros

Powerful feature set for network troubleshooting

Free and included with Windows

Easy to use interface

Good integration with Microsoft ecosystem

Advanced analysis capabilities

Cons

Limited to Windows platforms

Less powerful than commercial alternatives like Wireshark

Lacks some features of more advanced analyzers

Captures limited to local interfaces by default