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Cybersecurity · head to head

Wireshark vs WorkOS

Wireshark logo

Wireshark

Cybersecurity

The world's foremost network protocol analyzer

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
WorkOS logo

WorkOS

Cybersecurity

Developer platform for enterprise-ready authentication and identity.

From
$125/one-time per connection
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Wireshark has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Wireshark free and open source under the GNU GPL; downloadable without paying any license fee, no commercial tier; WorkOS authKit free tier limited to 1 million monthly active users; additional millions cost $2,500/month
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Wireshark and WorkOS actually diverge.

Attributes where Wireshark and WorkOS differ
AttributeWiresharkWorkOS
Starting priceFree$125/one-time per connection
Pricing modelfreeusage-based
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsDesktop, CliWeb, API
Founded1998Unknown

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (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 WorkOS

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 WorkOS
  • Packet Analysisnot WorkOS
  • Open Sourcenot WorkOS

WorkOS

  • SaaS applications needing rapid enterprise SSO deploymentnot Wireshark
  • Companies selling to mid-market and enterprise customersnot Wireshark
  • Applications requiring SCIM directory sync with corporate identity systemsnot Wireshark
  • Product teams needing audit logs for compliance (SOC 2, ISO 27001)not Wireshark
  • Platforms with multiple identity provider requirementsnot 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

WorkOS

  • AuthKit free tier limited to 1 million monthly active users; additional millions cost $2,500/month
  • Per-connection pricing for SSO and Directory Sync ($125–$50 each) scales poorly for enterprises with many identity providers
  • Audit logs require separate subscription at $125/month per SIEM connection or $99/month per 1 million events
  • Radar fraud protection billed separately at $100/month per 50,000 additional checks beyond 1,000 free checks
  • Custom domain feature requires $99/month subscription
  • Requires annual commitment for SLA and support guarantees; pay-as-you-go tier lacks uptime guarantee

Pricing, plan by plan

Wireshark

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

WorkOS

$125/one-time per connection
  • Pay as You Go$undefined/variable
    • Per-connection pricing from $125 to $50 with volume discounts
    • Up to 60% discount at scale
    • Quick deployment
  • Annual Credits$undefined/variable
    • Custom pricing with volume discounts
    • 99.99% uptime SLA
    • Guided migration

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 WorkOS if

  • You work on Web, API.
WorkOS review

Questions people ask

Is Wireshark or WorkOS better?
Neither clearly leads. Wireshark starts at Free and WorkOS at $125/one-time per connection, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Wireshark or WorkOS?
Wireshark has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Wireshark and $125/one-time per connection for WorkOS.
Does Wireshark or WorkOS run on more platforms?
Wireshark runs on Desktop, Cli. WorkOS runs on Web, API.
Can I use Wireshark for free?
Yes. Wireshark has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. WorkOS starts at $125/one-time per connection.
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 WorkOS is typically brought in for.
What can Wireshark do that WorkOS cannot?
Wireshark covers Deep packet inspection, Live capture, Offline analysis, 3000+ protocol support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
WorkOS: How quickly can I implement WorkOS SSO?

Developers can implement single sign-on in minutes instead of months. Multiple customers report setting up SSO in less than a week, with WorkOS handling the complexity of SAML and OIDC protocols.

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
WorkOS: What SDKs does WorkOS provide?

WorkOS offers SDKs for Node.js, Python, Ruby, Go, PHP, Java, and .NET.

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
WorkOS: Does WorkOS support SCIM provisioning?

Yes. WorkOS supports SCIM provisioning integration with systems like Okta and Entra ID for automated user management.

Source
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