Softwr

Government · head to head

Laserfiche vs Wireshark

Laserfiche logo

Laserfiche

Government

Intelligent Content Management

From
$50/month
Free plan
No
Full reviewWebsite
Wireshark logo

Wireshark

Cybersecurity

The world's foremost network protocol analyzer

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Wireshark has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Laserfiche self-hosted deployment requires dedicated IT resources and infrastructure management; Wireshark free and open source under the GNU GPL; downloadable without paying any license fee, no commercial tier
  • They diverge on capability: Laserfiche covers Document Capture, Wireshark covers Deep packet inspection.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Laserfiche and Wireshark actually diverge.

Attributes where Laserfiche and Wireshark differ
AttributeLaserficheWireshark
Starting price$50/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Mobile, Windows, macOS, LinuxDesktop, Cli
CategoryGovernmentCybersecurity
Founded19761998

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Laserfiche

  • Document Capture
  • Workflow Automation
  • Records Management
  • Electronic Forms
  • Process Automation
  • Microsoft Office
  • SharePoint
  • Salesforce

Only in Wireshark

  • Deep packet inspection
  • Live capture
  • Offline analysis
  • 3000+ protocol support
  • Rich display filters
  • VoIP analysis
  • Decryption support
  • Scripting with Lua

Both cover

  • Desktop support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Laserfiche

  • Citizen Servicesnot Wireshark
  • Records Managementnot Wireshark
  • Public Safetynot Wireshark
  • Civic Engagementnot Wireshark

Wireshark

  • Network Securitynot Laserfiche
  • Packet Analysisnot Laserfiche
  • Open Sourcenot Laserfiche

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Laserfiche

  • Self-hosted deployment requires dedicated IT resources and infrastructure management
  • Complex implementation often requires significant upfront customization
  • High total cost of ownership for on-premises deployments due to infrastructure needs

Wireshark

  • Free and open source under the GNU GPL; downloadable without paying any license fee, no commercial tier

Pricing, plan by plan

Laserfiche

$50/month
  • Cloud$50/month
    • Document Management
    • Workflow Automation
    • Records Management

Wireshark

Free
  • Free & Open SourceFree
    • Full functionality
    • Deep inspection
    • Live capture

Which should you pick?

Choose Laserfiche if

  • You need document capture.
  • You work on Web, Mobile, Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want workflow automation.
Laserfiche review

Choose Wireshark if

  • You need deep packet inspection.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Desktop, Cli.
  • You also want live capture.
Wireshark review

Questions people ask

Is Laserfiche or Wireshark better?
Neither clearly leads. Laserfiche starts at $50/month and Wireshark at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Laserfiche or Wireshark?
Wireshark has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $50/month for Laserfiche and Free for Wireshark.
Does Laserfiche or Wireshark run on more platforms?
Laserfiche runs on Web, Mobile, Windows, macOS, Linux. Wireshark runs on Desktop, Cli.
Can I use Wireshark for free?
Yes. Wireshark has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Laserfiche starts at $50/month.
What is Laserfiche best used for?
Laserfiche is most often used for citizen services, records management, public safety, civic engagement. Of those, citizen services and records management are not what Wireshark is typically brought in for.
What can Laserfiche do that Wireshark cannot?
Laserfiche covers Document Capture, Workflow Automation, Records Management, Electronic Forms. Wireshark covers Deep packet inspection, Live capture, Offline analysis, 3000+ protocol support. Both handle Desktop support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Laserfiche: Does Laserfiche offer both cloud and self-hosted options?

Yes. Laserfiche Cloud offers three tiers (Starter $53/user/month, Professional $73, Business $93). Laserfiche 12 provides self-hosted deployment for organizations requiring on-premise infrastructure or with strict security and regulatory constraints.

Source
Wireshark: Is there a cost to download and use Wireshark?

No, Wireshark is completely free. It's distributed under the GNU General Public License version 2, making it "free software" with no demo limitations. The full version is available at no cost.

Source
Laserfiche: What does Laserfiche capture from documents?

Laserfiche provides document capture, electronic forms, workflow automation, case management, mobile access, and government-certified records management with automatic filing and retention schedules.

Source
Wireshark: What support options are available for Wireshark users?

Wireshark offers multiple support channels including mailing lists, an active Discord community, the Ask Wireshark Q&A platform, comprehensive documentation, a user guide, and developer resources for those needing technical assistance.

Source
Laserfiche: Can Laserfiche track document workflows automatically?

Yes. Laserfiche includes workflow automation that tracks and fulfills processes like FOIA requests, with access controls, audit trails, and automated recordkeeping for compliance.

Source
Wireshark: Are there different pricing tiers or subscription levels?

Wireshark does not offer pricing tiers or subscriptions. There is one free version available to all users regardless of use case, personal, professional, or organizational.

Source
Share

Related pages

More on Laserfiche

More on Wireshark

Keep looking

Other head to heads