Software Alternatives & Startups

Npcap VS PsPing

Compare Npcap VS PsPing and see what are their differences

Npcap

Npcap is the Nmap Project's packet sniffing library for Windows.

Rating
0 reviews
PsPing

PsPing is a command-line utility for measuring network performance.

Rating
0 reviews

Which is more popular?

Npcap might be a bit more popular than PsPing. We know about 7 links to it since March 2021 and only 5 links to PsPing.

social mentions
7 vs 5
Monitoring Tools popularity
34% vs 66%
alternatives listed
17 vs 29

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

N
Npcap
PP
PsPing
Website nmap.org learn.microsoft.com
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

N
Npcap 5 features
PP
PsPing 5 features
  • High Performance
    Npcap is designed to offer better performance compared to older packet capture libraries like WinPcap. It uses modern Windows APIs and techniques that can result in faster packet capture and transmission speeds.
  • Compatibility
    Npcap is compatible with both Windows 10 and Windows Server 2016 and later versions, making it a suitable choice for modern Windows environments.
  • Loopback Capture
    Npcap supports loopback packet capture, allowing users to capture traffic that is sent and received within the same machine. This feature is beneficial for debugging and monitoring local network activities.
  • Security
    Npcap operates in a more secure environment compared to some older packet capture tools. It adheres to modern Windows security guidelines, reducing the risk of vulnerabilities.
  • Support for NDIS 6
    Npcap supports Network Driver Interface Specification (NDIS) 6, which provides better performance, reliability, and power management over the older NDIS 5 used by WinPcap.

Possible disadvantages

  • Limited to Windows
    Npcap is designed specifically for Windows operating systems, which means it is not available for other platforms like macOS or Linux.
  • Installation Complexity
    The installation process for Npcap can be more complex compared to other packet capture libraries, potentially requiring additional configuration and permissions.
  • Kernel-Level Access
    Npcap requires kernel-level access to capture packets, which can present security risks if not managed properly or if vulnerabilities are discovered in the tool.
  • Commercial Licensing
    While Npcap is available for free for personal use, commercial use requires a paid license. This can be a barrier for organizations with limited budgets.
  • Versatile Functionality
    PsPing supports ICMP ping, TCP ping, latency and bandwidth measurement, making it a comprehensive tool for network diagnostics.
  • Command-Line Interface
    Being a command-line tool, PsPing is suitable for automation and scripting, allowing users to integrate it into batch files or other automated systems.
  • Detailed Output
    PsPing provides detailed statistics on latency and throughput, which can aid in thorough network analysis and troubleshooting.
  • Ease of Use
    It is straightforward to use for those familiar with command-line tools, providing a simple and effective way to measure network performance.
  • No Installation Required
    PsPing is a portable tool that doesn't require installation, making it convenient to use on different systems without administrative privileges.

Possible disadvantages

  • Limited to Windows
    As a Sysinternals tool, PsPing is designed for Windows, which limits its use in environments where other operating systems are prevalent.
  • Command-Line Limitations
    While powerful, the command-line interface might be intimidating or less intuitive for users who are more comfortable with graphical interfaces.
  • Dependency on Network Configuration
    Accurate measurements depend on network configuration and permissions, such as ICMP traffic being allowed, which might not be the case in all networks.
  • Learning Curve
    Users unfamiliar with command-line tools or networking concepts might face a learning curve in understanding and effectively using all of PsPing's features.
  • No Full-Scale Management Features
    PsPing is primarily a diagnostic tool and lacks the broader network management capabilities found in more comprehensive network monitoring solutions.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

N
Npcap 2 videos + Add
PP
PsPing 0 videos + Add

Review on new released Nmap 7.80 at DefCon 2019 I 11 New NSE Scripts I Npcap

More videos

  • - Updating npcap

No PsPing videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
N
Npcap
PP
PsPing
34% 34%
66% 66%
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
0% 0%

User comments

Share your experience with using Npcap and PsPing. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

Log in or Post with

Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

N
Npcap 7 mentions
PP
PsPing 5 mentions
  • WireShark Unable to Load Npcap; Not Able to Capture Packets
    >Installed WireShark 3.6.3.0 >>Opening Yellow Banner displays "Unable to load Npcap or WinPcap (wpcap.dll); you will not be able to capture packets. In order to capture packets, Npcap or WinPcap must be installed. See https://npcap.com/... Source: over 4 years ago
  • what is this?...
    Https://nmap.org/npcap/ a.k.a. https://insecure.org/ (insecure.com redirects to this). Source: almost 5 years ago
  • Npcap loopback adaptor
    Npcap is a tool used to sniff and inject packets. It could be used for something nefarious, but it could also be used for NMAP, WireShark and various other networking tools. Source: about 5 years ago

View more

  • Frequent freezing with otherwise good connections
    [1] https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/psping. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Ping Spikes on Wi-Fi
    I wonder what would happen if you tried using something like psping to do a TCP ping to the router. You can get that here if you don't already have it https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/psping. Source: over 4 years ago
  • existing VPN not allowing TCP traffic now?
    A great tool is test FW rules is PSPing, it allows you to ping TCP ports to test your rules. Https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/psping I use it all the time. Source: over 4 years ago

View more

Alternatives to Npcap and PsPing

When comparing Npcap and PsPing, you can also consider the following products.