LinkSprinter vs Wireshark comparison

Read 63 Wireshark reviews

750 Views
460 Comparison Views

98% willing to recommend

LinkSprinter

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Download the report

Executive SummaryUpdated on Jul 11, 2024

Wireshark and LinkSprinter are used for network analysis and diagnostics. Wireshark is favored for its pricing and support, while LinkSprinter is preferred for its superior features, justifying the cost.

Features: Wireshark provides comprehensive protocol analysis, a wide range of filters, and detailed analysis capabilities. LinkSprinter offers portability, ease of use, and quick diagnostic capabilities.

Room for Improvement: Wireshark needs a more intuitive layout, better performance with high data volumes, and easier setup. LinkSprinter requires expanded testing capabilities, more detailed reports, and improved customer support.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Wireshark requires installation and setup but benefits from extensive online resources and community support. LinkSprinter offers instant deployment and straightforward operation but has mixed feedback on manufacturer support.

Pricing and ROI: Wireshark is open-source and free, providing excellent ROI. LinkSprinter requires an initial investment but offers a quick ROI for its convenience and speed in diagnostics.

To learn more, read our detailed LinkSprinter vs. Wireshark Report (Updated: January 2025).

LinkSprinter vs. Wireshark

January 2025

Download the complete report

Helped 838,640 peers since 2012

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

LinkSprinter

Ranking in Network Troubleshooting

5th

Average Rating

9.0

Reviews Sentiment

7.5

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Network Diagnostics (4th)

Wireshark

Ranking in Network Troubleshooting

3rd

Average Rating

9.0

Reviews Sentiment

7.7

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of February 2025, in the Network Troubleshooting category, the mindshare of LinkSprinter is 8.8%, up from 8.5% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Wireshark is 13.1%, down from 13.2% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Network Troubleshooting

Featured Reviews

JamesStout

IT Director at JVS Consulting

A small, convenient tool that is very stable, but needs to have a longer battery life

They could make it easier to set up originally, because the initial setup can be quite hit and miss. It is also quite battery intensive, so it might last a bit longer if it had a lithium battery. You're always having to replace the batteries, so it would be good if it could be USB-charged or something like that.

Read full review

DonniUgalde

Senior I.T. Systems Engineer at Pro Techs MSP

Provides visibility into the network, and the GUI is easy to use

I wish the filters were a little bit more prepopulated. It would have been easy to hit a drop-down and select a filter. If I only wanted to look at DCP, UDP, or IP, it would be easy to filter it out. Advanced network knowledge is required to get a lot out of the tool. However, it's very easy to install and deploy. It would be nice if there were some handheld Android devices with a Wireshark-specialized application that would allow us to mirror a Cisco port. Then, we can just plug into the port and click the green start button, and it will start ingesting the packet capture. Then, we won’t be using a laptop. The only downside is that we must have a laptop and connect a network cable. Some new laptops don't have network ports, so we have to get another adapter. Having an all-in-one device, like NetAlly or Fluke, and some of their network devices would be cool.

Read full review

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"The solution provides switch port and VLAN information."

"The tool fits in your pocket, so it's easy to carry and you don't have to have a big bag of tools."

"Wireshark's best features are that it lets us see what traffic is in the network and what data should be encrypted."

"The most valuable feature is the traffic gate, which shows which IPs are getting more bandwidth or traffic."

"The most valuable feature of Wireshark is the ability to choose a destination of flow that has not been working as expected."

"It is a stable product. I would rate the stability a ten out of ten."

"I like the filtering feature as we can filter data easily. This feature is also available in tcpdump, but it's a simple piece of software. Wireshark is more advanced and has many features. It allows you to filter a lot of things. The output can be filtered easily. The most important feature is colorization. If I say, "Okay, this particular SMB protocol in red, it will show me red." It's easy to identify that protocol or capture data."

"It has good basic features."

"I can save the traffic and analysis when I want to. Also, it's especially helpful to follow the stream (TCP, UDP, etc.)."

"I have found the most valuable feature you can design your sniffer the way you want to."

More Wireshark pros

Cons

"The solution should improve cable testing."

"They could make it easier to set up originally, because the initial setup can be quite hit and miss."

"The system could be improved upon by adding a better and more powerful data processing engine."

"The initial setup depends upon the basics. You need to have a clear understanding of the basics."

"This product needs to improve the UI."

"With Wireshark, you cannot download and utilize the packet in automation."

"The only thing that I don't like is sometimes there is an update, and something that I was using is either no longer there or it has changed."

"A room for improvement in Wireshark is its ease of use for beginners. It could be better. Another room for improvement in the tool is for it to provide more details about the traffic load. At the moment, Wireshark is adequate for me, so there isn't anything I'd like added to it in its next version."

"The decryption of encrypted packets could be better."

"I would like better control of bandwidth from the service provider."

More Wireshark cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"You pay for the device, but you don't have to pay for the app."

"The product is a little bit overpriced."

"It is an open-source solution."

"It's free."

"The tool is free."

"This is an open-source product that can be used free of charge."

"It is free."

"Wireshark is free software, so you can download it and use it for free with no licensing fees."

"Wireshark is free software, so you don't have to pay any licensing fee. Individual people can use it and then donate to Wireshark."

"Wireshark is open-source and free of charge."

More Wireshark pricing and cost advice

See which vendors are best for you

Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Network Troubleshooting solutions are best for your needs.

See recommendations

838,640 professionals have used our research since 2012.

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Healthcare Company

18%

University

Computer Software Company

Government

Computer Software Company

11%

University

10%

Government

10%

Financial Services Firm

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

No data available

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about LinkSprinter?

The solution provides switch port and VLAN information.

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for LinkSprinter?

The product is a little bit overpriced. It probably needs to be 10 to 20 percent cheaper.

What needs improvement with LinkSprinter?

The solution should improve cable testing.

What do you like most about Wireshark?

The GUI is easy to use.

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Wireshark?

Wireshark is priced at a medium range, not too high, not too low. The pricing could be more flexible, and they might make it more expensive. That said, compared to other products, it is competitive.

What needs improvement with Wireshark?

The speed of the Internet could be improved, especially its performance. Performance can sometimes be a challenge due to numerous factors.

LinkRunner vs LinkSprinter

Comparisons

Compared 65% of the time

NetAlly EtherScope nXG vs LinkSprinter

Compared 16% of the time

Product Reports

Download LinkSprinter product report

Network Diagnostics

February 2025

Download Wireshark product report

January 2025

Overview

The LinkSprinter Pocket Network Tester verifies the functionality of copper Ethernet links and identifies errors in less than 10 seconds. The tester reveals network connectivity status and port information while ensuring documentation for every link. The comprehensive AutoTester measures PoE voltage, performs a switch test, and confirms the DHCP server is running and responsive. The tester also verifies gateway/router, internal IP service, and cloud reachability. When paired with the secure Link-Live Cloud Service, the Network Tester automatically uploads results and allows annotation of results enabling job supervisors to easily manage the progress of deployment and troubleshooting tasks assigned to their team.

NetAlly

Wireshark is the world's foremost network protocol analyzer.

Sample Customers

Cisco, Marriott, Sands Expo, Valparaiso University, Memorial Hermann Health Care System, Mount Sinai, Cox Enterprises, George Washington University, University of Iowa.

Comversion, ADP, Talbots