Software · head to head
Wireshark vs Burp Suite
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Wireshark free and open source under the GNU GPL; downloadable without paying any license fee, no commercial tier; Burp Suite the automated vulnerability scanner is Professional only, at $499; the free Community edition is manual tools
- They diverge on capability: Wireshark covers Deep packet inspection, Burp Suite covers Web vulnerability scanner.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Wireshark and Burp Suite actually diverge.
| Attribute | Wireshark | Burp Suite |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | free | subscription |
| Platforms | Desktop, Cli | Desktop, Api |
| Founded | 1998 | 2004 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
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 Wireshark
- Deep packet inspection
- Live capture
- Offline analysis
- 3000+ protocol support
- Rich display filters
- VoIP analysis
- Decryption support
- Scripting with Lua
Only in Burp Suite
- Web vulnerability scanner
- Proxy interceptor
- Intruder
- Repeater
- Sequencer
- Decoder
- Comparer
- Logger
Both cover
- On-premise deployment
- Desktop support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Wireshark
- Network Securitynot Burp Suite
- Packet Analysisnot Burp Suite
- Open Sourcenot Burp Suite
Burp Suite
- Manual web application penetration testing through an intercepting proxynot Wireshark
- Automated scanning for web vulnerabilities on the Professional editionnot Wireshark
- Extending testing with community-built BApp extensionsnot Wireshark
- Enterprise-wide dynamic scanning through Burp DASTnot Wireshark
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Wireshark
- Free and open source under the GNU GPL; downloadable without paying any license fee, no commercial tier
Burp Suite
- The automated vulnerability scanner is Professional only, at $499; the free Community edition is manual tools
- BApp Store extensions require the Professional edition
- DAST and the agentic testing product are separate enterprise offerings with no published price
- Professional is licensed per user per year rather than perpetually
Pricing, plan by plan
Wireshark
Free- Free & Open SourceFree
- Full functionality
- Deep inspection
- Live capture
Burp Suite
Free- Community EditionFree
- Essential manual tools
- Proxy
- Repeater
- Professional$449/year
- All Community features
- Burp Scanner
- Advanced manual tools
- Enterprise$6995/year
- CI/CD integration
- Scheduled scans
- Role-based access
Which should you pick?
Choose Wireshark if
- You need deep packet inspection.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Desktop, Cli.
- You also want live capture.
Choose Burp Suite if
- You need web vulnerability scanner.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Desktop, Api.
- You also want proxy interceptor.
Questions people ask
- Is Wireshark or Burp Suite better?
- Neither clearly leads. Wireshark starts at Free and Burp Suite at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Wireshark or Burp Suite?
- Wireshark starts at Free and Burp Suite at Free.
- Does Wireshark or Burp Suite run on more platforms?
- Wireshark runs on Desktop, Cli. Burp Suite runs on Desktop, Api.
- Can I use Wireshark for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Wireshark best used for?
- Wireshark is most often used for network security, packet analysis, open source. Of those, network security and packet analysis are not what Burp Suite is typically brought in for.
- What can Wireshark do that Burp Suite cannot?
- Wireshark covers Deep packet inspection, Live capture, Offline analysis, 3000+ protocol support. Burp Suite covers Web vulnerability scanner, Proxy interceptor, Intruder, Repeater. Both handle On-premise deployment, Desktop support.