# Wireshark Reviews 2026. Verified Reviews, Pros & Cons | Capterra > Is Wireshark the right Network Monitoring solution for you? Explore 51 verified user reviews from people in industries like yours to make a confident choice. Source: https://www.capterra.com/p/209737/Wireshark/reviews --- Wireshark 4.6 (51) [View alternatives](https://www.capterra.com/p/209737/Wireshark/alternatives/) Provider data verified by our Software Research team, and reviews moderated by our Reviews Verification team. [Learn more](https://www.capterra.com/our-story/) * * * Last updated March 13th, 2026 # Reviews of Wireshark Ease of use 4.0 Customer Service 4.1 ## Pros and Cons in Reviews NM Natale M Senior Field TechnicianInformation Technology and Services, 2 - 10 employeesUsed the software for: More than 2 years. “I've used Wireshark to troubleshoot all sorts of network problems through the years and it continues to be an excellent resource for specific situations.“ May 13, 2025 CR Christopher R Tier TwoInformation Technology and Services, 1,001 - 5,000 employeesUsed the software for: More than 2 years. “You have to learn the shortcuts and filters to not just have thousands of lines of meaningless noise.“ May 15, 2025 Azhar C Information Security and Compliance AnalystUtilities, 51 - 200 employeesUsed the software for: More than 2 years. “We can capture all our network traffic, analysis all the packets without worrying about losing any of this visibility.“ September 9, 2024 CR Christopher R Tier TwoInformation Technology and Services, 1,001 - 5,000 employeesUsed the software for: More than 2 years. “It's hard to find any complaints about Wireshark. If I had to pick one, I would say it is difficult to narrow down to the exact results you want to see.“ May 15, 2025 MP Mike P Network AdministratorHospital & Health Care, 501 - 1,000 employeesUsed the software for: More than 2 years. “I use Wireshark on desktops/server the most and filtering out all of the unneeded packet is wonderful.“ November 27, 2024 BM Bharath M Technical Support ExpertInformation Technology and Services, 5,001 - 10,000 employeesUsed the software for: More than 2 years. “Sometimes it's extremely slow and bad performing while capturing the data.“ March 5, 2025 VT Viktor T Software engineer in testInformation Technology and Services, 10,001+ employeesUsed the software for: Less than 6 months. “A good network analyser app that offers powerful packet inspection, helps with problem diagnosis, security audits, and protocol understanding with customisable filters.“ August 8, 2023 WI Wassim I Associate ProfessorComputer Networking, 501 - 1,000 employeesUsed the software for: More than 2 years. “Moreover the need to preinstall some prerequisite libraries such as pcap make the deployment a bit complicated for beginners and students.“ July 30, 2023 ## Showing most helpful reviews Showing 1-25 of 51 Reviews Sort by: Most Helpful Rating Company Size Reviewer's Role Length of Use Frequency of Use Surbhi C. Threat Researcher Information Technology and Services Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Packet monitoring and Capturing" January 27, 2025 4.0 We use this to protect our server for phishing attacks. The platform is very reliable for traffic monitoring and to get reports for investigations. Pros 1\. This tool is such an ease for capturizing and analysing data traffic. 2. Very clear data visibility , port capturing and configurations. 3. Powerful tool for security analysis , troublehsooting. Provides extreme wide range od security protocol support. 4. It allows customization and being a open source platform it is amazing. Cons 1\. Very old UI design. 2. You require proper knowledge to understand each packet data and path to debug the issues. Huge learning curve. 3. Not very good in performance. Multiple encounter of UI crash. Review Source yG youssef G. Software Engineer Computer Software Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "wireshark review" January 10, 2023 5.0 Pros It helps you keep track of network traffic and packet analysis. You can filter results by protocol to find what you're looking for. It is available on Windows, Linux, and macOS. It supports multiple output formats such as XML and CSV. Cons might need a learning curve to find the best filter for your needs Switched from [GlassWire](https://www.capterra.com/p/136163/GlassWire/) wire shark offers more advanced analysis options Review Source Rabinson G. Software Engineer Computer Software Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Great tool for " February 15, 2021 3.0 Pros I save a lot of time when I was debugging a request. I could easily see the payload between. Cons The UI is somewhat old fashioned I can be better than that. Review Source CR Christopher R. Tier Two Information Technology and Services Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Network Visibility Like No Other" May 15, 2025 5.0 Fantastic, use it nearly daily. The number of times it has saved me when someone put a wireless access point on an unknown IP or after it has been factory reset by helping me find the new IP and get remoted in makes it invaluable. Pros Easy to install, easy to use, lets you see absolutely any kind of network traffic you could ever want on your network! Cons It's hard to find any complaints about Wireshark. If I had to pick one, I would say it is difficult to narrow down to the exact results you want to see. You have to learn the shortcuts and filters to not just have thousands of lines of meaningless noise. Review Source BM Bharath M. Technical Support Expert Information Technology and Services Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Debugging of packet" March 5, 2025 4.0 This is quite helpful in troubleshooting packet related issues whenever we face any latency or packet loss issues from the server. It gives the information in proper details to work and debug the cause. The best part is , it is an open source environment which makes it more helpful. Pros 1\. Wireshark mainly helps for packet tracing to see the connectivity of servers and endpoints. 2. Very efficient in protecting and monitoring the server from outside attacks. 3. Reliable and just perfect for network visibility and data visualization. Cons 1\. Sometimes it's extremely slow and bad performing while capturing the data. 2. Very outdated UI to debug the issues. Review Source WM Will M. Manager Computer Networking Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Home Run Software for IT" April 10, 2025 5.0 Having a stable packet analyzer for my IT team is truly a must and Wire Shark hits home Pros I love this program. being able to check the current networking data is a must Cons the user interface is a bit dated. I have been doing this for some times but new comers might find it old Review Source Badru R. cyber security analyst Information Technology and Services Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "excellent review about wireshark" March 19, 2025 5.0 It's an excellent software and i love every aspect of it Pros It's ability to capture and analyze real-time network traffic Cons nothing to be precise, except the fact that it can be complex for a beginner Review Source mY marc Y. Network engineer Industrial Automation Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "Network engineer" May 8, 2025 4.0 Pros Straight forward network tool. Wildly used in the industry Cons The software is amazing but it is a simple tool and the user needs to know what they’re looking for Review Source VR Verified Reviewer Information Security and Compliance Analyst Utilities Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Excellent, trustworthy and reliable Networking Analysing Tool" September 9, 2024 5.0 We have thoroughly enjoyed using the tool, which has provided great value, as we haven't had to purchase a paid-for license software model. We can capture all our network traffic, analysis all the packets without worrying about losing any of this visibility. Pros It's ease of use and implementation across our IT Landscape are two major positive points of the application. In terms of alerting us to events and incidents, analysing network packets, troubleshooting, and resolving packet issues it has proved to be excellent. Although it is an open-source product, its quality and performance have never been compromised. Cons Sometimes I have found that the user interface isn't the easiest to use. It can appear quite jarring at time. Review Source BM Badru M. IT support and security analyst Design Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "My Experience with wireshark" May 15, 2025 5.0 It was a wonderful experience that effectively addressed all the aspects ! needed, providing a comprehensive solution that met my requirements. Pros It's ability to capture and analyze network traffic in real-time, enabling swift identification and resolution of network issues. Cons Capturing and analyzing real-time network traffic can be complex for beginners due to the technical expertise required to set up and interpret the data. Review Source WI Wassim I. Associate Professor Computer Networking Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Wireshark: the one and only data sniffer for network monitoring" July 30, 2023 4.0 I can't imagine testing network protocol operation without using Wireshark. Network sniffing for security penetration testing is always tested using Wireshark or TCPdump. Pros Wireshark is a must for monitoring the data communication on the network links. The main features I really enjoy in Wireshark is its ability to demonstrate the encapsulated payloads and headers at the different layers: Messages at the Application layer, Segments at the Transport Layer, Packets/Datagrams at the Network/IP layer, and Frames at the DataLink layer. The filtering mechanism in Wireshark is so practical where you can filter packets based on the different protocol fields such as the source IP, destination IP, source port, destination port, TCP control bits (Syn, Fin, Ack, etc.). Wireshark can operate in the promiscuous mode and can sniff data at the different available interfaces. Captured packets can be stored offline for later analysis. Cons Wireshark is very appealing. Some improvements can be made to the interface to make it more user friendly. Moreover the need to preinstall some prerequisite libraries such as pcap make the deployment a bit complicated for beginners and students. Review Source MAC Miguel Angel C. Jefe de proyecto QA Information Technology and Services Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Wireshark, herramienta indispensable para la gestión y resolución de problemas en redes." November 8, 2022 5.0 Es una herramienta imprescindible en el sector de las IT. En mi sector (QA) la utilizamos a diario para verificar el correcto comportamiento de los dispositivos que sometemos a pruebas. También la utilizamos para analizar el comportamiento de las redes y determinar si el funcionamiento se corresponde con los requerimientos de las empresas con las que colaboramos. Pros Wireshark permite capturar y monitorizar tráfico en tiempo real, ya sea por ETH o por WiFi. En las trazas obtenidas, podemos verificar el funcionamiento de nuestra red, utilizando filtros tales como VLAN, IP, Protocolo, puerto, etc. Tiene una utilidad que permite modificar el modo en que se muestra el tiempo de la captura, esta es muy útil dependiendo del tipo de análisis que necesites hacer. Cons La única desventaja (para mi no lo es) es que para gente que no esté acostumbrada a trabajar con Wireshark, puede resultarse difícil utilizar algunos filtros. Review Source JE Jason E. Landscaper/White Hat Pen Tester Computer & Network Security Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Wireshark" September 30, 2023 5.0 Perfect tool for anyone who works in any field of cyber security of IT/NETWORKING Industty. Pros All in one tool essential for numerous purposes in cyber security. Whether it's Kali Linux, windows, or Mac Os, Wireshark is one of the most powerful tools a cyber security analyst uses in the industry. A must have in cyber security highly recommend. Cons Lots of tools and settings but overall highly satisfied and definitely recommend. Review Source MSB Mahipal Singh B. Software Engineer Information Technology and Services Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Wireshark Review" August 1, 2022 5.0 My overall experience with Wireshark is too good. It helps me to debug the network packet offline easily after capturing the TCP dump online. It is easy to find the issue we are getting either sending/receiving the data. Pros Network monitoring is the best feature which I liked most about this software. It helps us trace the network packet if there is an issue while transferring or receiving the data to our server. It is one of the best applications in the market. Its UI makes it easier to debug the packet offline after capturing the data online. Cons As of now, I don't have anything which I don't like about this software. Review Source MC Matthew C. Senior Software Engineer Biotechnology Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Debugging Software" September 7, 2021 5.0 Use to debug software applications that communicate with custom hardware over TCP and UDP. Instrumental in determining communication issues and resolving them. Pros Allows for filtering and debugging of networks protocols, specifically, TCP and UDP. The data is easy to see and filter. Cons Due to infrequent use of the product, the filters always take a few minutes to figure out again. Improved filter management would be nice. Review Source JP Julien P. R&D manager Printing Used the software for: 2+ years ### "An helpful tool when it comes to tcp ip" October 12, 2022 5.0 Since we communicate directly with a lot of printers, it allows us to check what is wrong when something is not working as it should. Pros Easy to install. Lots of filter to easily remove "noise" in the capture. Very detailed. Cons Hard to find the exact syntax for filters. Review Source BN Balanagameena N. Student Higher Education Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "Wireshark the network packet analyzer" March 23, 2021 4.0 I am a happy user of Wireshark. I would use it frequently and recommend the same for the people who are stepping forward to learn about networks. Pros It is free and open source. It captures all kinds of network packets and it is easy for analysis. We can easily filter the packets as per our requirement. It doesn't occupy much space in your sysṭems. Cons Graphical User Interface could be done even better. Filter query could be improved since it seems to be more advanced. Review Source Sanchita J. Technical Support Engineer Individual & Family Services Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Troubleshoot Packet drop" October 7, 2024 4.0 Overall experience was just great to analyse and understand the root cause of packet drops, checking of packet flow and for deep troubleshooting and analysis. Pros 1\. Perfect packet capturing tool to see the packet flow and analyse the data flow. 2. Very reliable and clear reports for data visibility. 3. Large number of filter options for deep root analysis for every timestamp. Cons 1\. Proper format of input IP data needs to get the results. 2. The UI and results are hard to understand. Review Source NM Natale M. Senior Field Technician Information Technology and Services Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Wireshark Review" May 13, 2025 5.0 I've used Wireshark to troubleshoot all sorts of network problems through the years and it continues to be an excellent resource for specific situations. Pros The amount of data that it captures and how it is listed is extremely helpful. Cons None, the program does exactly what it says it will very well. Review Source PB Prashant B. Consultant Information Technology and Services Used the software for: Less than 6 months ### "Great tool for Network Troubleshooting" March 9, 2025 4.0 Pros It’s free, powerful, and helps me quickly find network issues with deep packet inspection. Cons for beginner the interface is quite confusing Switched from [Network Performance Monitor](https://www.capterra.com/p/146805/Network-Performance-Monitor/) Too expensive for basic troubleshooting. Review Source MP Mike P. Network Administrator Hospital & Health Care Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Wireshark A powerful tool" November 27, 2024 5.0 It's wonderful, it's one of my most used tools I use in my IT world. Pros The ability to filter down what you need. I use Wireshark on desktops/server the most and filtering out all of the unneeded packet is wonderful. Cons It's a bit of a learning curve, but that said there is a lot of information out there to find the needs best suited for you. Review Source JA Julian A. IT Specialist Medical Practice Used the software for: I used a free trial ### "Wireshark Tool Review" April 15, 2025 5.0 Pros Wireshark is a good network tool that lets you see in real-time network traffic and things such as packet loss and transmission. It is helpful if you know what you are looking for. Cons If you do not know the capabilities of Wireshark and its configurations it could add an exploitable breach to your device, especially servers. Review Source AP Amitabh P. Technical support engineer Individual & Family Services Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Packet Capturing" October 24, 2024 4.0 To analyse the ethernet packet completly with proper protocol details to troubleshoot the issue. Pros 1\. Gives wide view for network and packet analysis 2. With proper timestamp we can easily verify bugs , packet entry and ethernet packets. Cons Data format is required for capturing , UI is not much user friendly. Review Source Ravi P. AEZOWIE INFOTECH SERVICES PVT. LTD. Computer & Network Security Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Exploring Networks with Wireshark: A Powerful Tool for Network Analysis" February 10, 2024 5.0 Wireshark offers a highly positive experience for users involved in network analysis, troubleshooting, and security auditing. Its comprehensive feature set, user-friendly interface, and extensive protocol support make it a go-to tool for professionals and enthusiasts alike. Wireshark's ability to capture and dissect network traffic in real-time provides invaluable insights into network behavior, aiding in the identification and resolution of issues ranging from connectivity issues to security threats. Pros Comprehensive Protocol Support, User-Friendly Interface, Real-Time Monitoring Capabilities, Powerful Filtering and Search Functionality, Active Community Support Cons Steep Learning Curve for Beginners, Resource Intensive, Overwhelming Amount of Information, Limited Support for Encrypted Traffic, Potential Security Risks Review Source Balayo S. TECHNICAL SUPPORT Internet Used the software for: Less than 6 months ### "WIRESHARK, GREAT TOOLKIT FOR NETWORK MANAGEMENT" May 15, 2024 5.0 Great Software that enables one get a detail structure of the Network right from knowing Devices connected on the network through IP, the interfaces through which they are connecting to the network, Network Flow analysis, Specific IP address Data Capture and filtering, giving a detailed picture. Pros 1\. It's Free helpinh even small Enterprise on a reliable network management sytem without breaking the bank, allowing them to scale using great decision from the data collected and analysed 2.Pin Point Network Bugs with accuracy and analysis 3. It can easily be integrated or work Other systems Cons 1\. It requires time and focus to learn and master. Review Source Similar Products Featured