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Security & Cybersecurity · head to head

Wireshark vs Cisco Duo

Wireshark logo

Wireshark

Security & Cybersecurity

The world's foremost network protocol analyzer

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Cisco Duo logo

Cisco Duo

Security & Cybersecurity

Trusted access for all users, all devices

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

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; Cisco Duo free tier caps at 10 users; every paid tier requires a minimum of 10 users

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Wireshark and Cisco Duo actually diverge.

Attributes where Wireshark and Cisco Duo differ
AttributeWiresharkCisco Duo
Pricing modelfreefreemium
PlatformsDesktop, CliWeb
Founded1998Unknown

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Security & Cybersecurity).

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 Cisco Duo

Nothing recorded that Wireshark does not also cover.

What people use each for

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

Wireshark

  • Network Securitynot Cisco Duo
  • Packet Analysisnot Cisco Duo
  • Open Sourcenot Cisco Duo

Cisco Duo

No use cases recorded yet. See the Cisco Duo review.

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

Cisco Duo

  • Free tier caps at 10 users; every paid tier requires a minimum of 10 users
  • Licenses cannot be bought individually above the free tier: under 100 users they are sold in increments of 10, and over 100 users in increments of 25
  • Duo Premier, the top tier with the most adaptive access controls, costs $9 per user per month on top of the per-increment purchase requirement

Pricing, plan by plan

Wireshark

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

Cisco Duo

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Cisco Duo review.

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.
Wireshark review

Choose Cisco Duo if

  • You want to start without paying.
Cisco Duo review

Questions people ask

Is Wireshark or Cisco Duo better?
Neither clearly leads. Wireshark starts at Free and Cisco Duo at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Wireshark or Cisco Duo?
Wireshark starts at Free and Cisco Duo at Free.
Does Wireshark or Cisco Duo run on more platforms?
Wireshark runs on Desktop, Cli. Cisco Duo runs on Web.
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 Cisco Duo is typically brought in for.
What can Wireshark do that Cisco Duo cannot?
Wireshark covers Deep packet inspection, Live capture, Offline analysis, 3000+ protocol support.
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