Wireshark: when to install it, and when not to
Wireshark is the free, open-source network protocol analyser that captures and decodes traffic so you can see exactly what is crossing the wire. For…
The short version
Wireshark: Captures and decodes network traffic so you can see what a program actually sends. The tool you reach for when something is phoning home and you want proof rather than suspicion. Deep, and worth reading the manual before you point it at a real network.
| Licence / price | Free · Open source |
|---|---|
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Category | Network & Remote — 6 programs |
| Official download | https://www.wireshark.org/download.html ↗ |
What it is for
Wireshark is the free, open-source network protocol analyser that captures and decodes traffic so you can see exactly what is crossing the wire. For debugging a stubborn connection, learning networking, or confirming what an app actually sends, nothing else is as detailed.
When to pick something else
It is deep and intimidating; reading a capture takes real networking knowledge, and on switched networks you only see traffic your machine is part of without extra setup. It is a diagnostic tool, not a firewall or a privacy shield.
How it compares in Network & Remote
These are the alternatives we would consider for the same job. The notes are the same ones used on the main list, so there is no separate ranking hiding on this page.
| Program | Licence / price | Platforms | Why it is on the list |
|---|---|---|---|
| RustDesk Publisher's site ↗ | Free · Open source | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS | Remote desktop support that you can point at your own relay server instead of someone else's cloud, so the session never leaves infrastructure you control. The honest free alternative to the commercial tools in this section. |
| AnyDesk Publisher's site ↗ | Free for personal use | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS | The one to install when you are talking a relative through a problem on their machine and cannot be there. Fast, works through most home routers without configuration, and free for personal use. Commercial use needs a licence. |
| Tailscale Publisher's site ↗ | Free + paid tiers | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS | Builds a private network between your own devices in about two minutes, with no ports to forward and no firewall rules to write. The free tier covers personal use. Use it to reach your home server from anywhere as if you were sitting next to it. |
| FileZilla Client Publisher's site ↗ | Free · Open source | Windows, macOS, Linux | The long-standing FTP and SFTP client, with a two-pane queue, saved sites and resume support. Download it directly from the project page and decline any offer to install bundled extras on the way through. |
| qBittorrent Publisher's site ↗ | Free · Open source | Windows, macOS, Linux | A BitTorrent client with no advertising, no bundled software and no cryptocurrency miner, which is more than can be said for the better-known alternatives. Use it for legal distributions: Linux images, public-domain media, game patches. |
Practical notes
- Capture on the right interface; the wrong one shows nothing useful.
- Use display filters to cut the noise to the conversation you care about.
- Learn to follow a TCP stream to read a session.
Questions people ask
Is Wireshark open source?
Yes, GPL, and it is the standard analyser.
Can it see all network traffic?
Only what reaches your interface; switches and encryption limit what is visible.
Is it for beginners?
It is powerful but has a steep curve; start with guided filters.
Where it appears in our guides
- This tool is covered in its category explainer.
See the full Network & Remote explainer for the other 5 programs in this category.
How to read this page. How to read this page. Platform, licence and publisher details come from our directory data. Where an independent review, audit or survey is mentioned, it is summarised in our own words with the source named and linked; our /sources page sets out that policy. The recommendation, the trade-offs and every 'skip it if' line are our editorial judgement. We do not run benchmarks, publish measured performance figures or host installers, and every download link goes to the publisher's own site. If a detail is out of date, our About page explains how to tell us.