Sniffnet

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Score7.0

Rank#6 of 33

PriceFree

Free planYes

Runs onLinux, macOS, Windows

Summary

Sniffnet is a free network monitoring app for Linux, macOS, and Windows. It tracks internet traffic, displays overall statistics and live traffic-intensity charts, and can show which programs are using bandwidth. Choose a network adapter, filter traffic, and import or export PCAP capture reports. Sniffnet can identify local connections, show remote hosts’ geographic locations, and find domain names and ASNs. It recognizes more than 6,000 upper-layer services, protocols, trojans, and worms. Users can set event notifications and import custom IP blacklists to flag potentially dangerous connections. The app also supports live capture, protocol dissectors, display filters, and offline trace analysis. It can read PCAPNG and CAP files as well as PCAP, and offers custom themes in 26 languages. Its listed plan is fully free and open-source under MIT or Apache-2.0. The 2025 security audit reported one low-severity finding, which was fixed. Sniffnet uses offline databases for most functions, but makes reverse DNS lookups to provide hostnames.

Who it is for

Sniffnet suits people who want to monitor network activity without relying on a complex analyzer. It also fits users who need capture filtering, host details, or alerts across Windows, macOS, or Linux.

What is good

Free and open-source under MIT or Apache-2.0
Shows live traffic charts and per-program bandwidth use
Reads PCAP, PCAPNG, and CAP files
Identifies more than 6,000 services and threats
Available in 26 languages with custom themes

What to know first

Does not support traffic decryption
Reverse DNS lookups are used to provide hostnames

Verdict

Sniffnet combines live monitoring, capture analysis, and host information in a free desktop app. Its lack of traffic decryption is worth noting if that capability is required.

Sniffnet plans and pricing

All plans

Sniffnet Free Fully free and open-source · MIT or Apache-2.0 sniffnet.app · 30 Sept 2026

Compared on network packet analyzer software

Free plan: Yessniffnet.app
Application monitoring: Yessniffnet.app
Bandwidth alerts: Yessniffnet.app

Facts

Purpose: Sniffnet is a network monitoring app for keeping track of Internet traffic, checking bandwidth usage, and inspecting network activity.sniffnet.app · 30 Sept 2026
Capture and reports: Users can choose a network adapter, filter observed traffic, and import or export capture reports as PCAP files.sniffnet.app · 30 Sept 2026
Traffic views: The app displays overall Internet traffic statistics and real-time charts about traffic intensity.sniffnet.app · 30 Sept 2026
Host details: Sniffnet can identify local network connections, show remote hosts’ geographical locations, and find host domain names and ASNs.sniffnet.app · 30 Sept 2026
Service detection: The app identifies more than 6,000 upper-layer services, protocols, trojans, and worms.sniffnet.app · 30 Sept 2026
Programs: Sniffnet can show which programs use network bandwidth and let users save favorite programs.sniffnet.app · 30 Sept 2026
Alerts and blacklists: Users can configure notifications for network events and import custom IP blacklists to highlight potentially dangerous connections.sniffnet.app · 30 Sept 2026
Themes and languages: The app supports custom themes and is available in 26 languages.sniffnet.app · 30 Sept 2026
Privacy and security design: The audit article says Sniffnet provides most functionality through offline databases, uses incoming traffic as needed, and makes reverse DNS lookups to provide hostnames for IPs.sniffnet.app · 30 Sept 2026
Support: The download page directs users with persistent installation problems or doubts to open an issue.sniffnet.app · 30 Sept 2026
Intended users: The maker says Sniffnet is designed to be usable with ease by everyone, including people who find other network analyzers difficult to understand.sniffnet.app · 30 Sept 2026