LinkSprinter vs Wireshark comparison

NetAlly and Wireshark are both solutions in the Network Troubleshooting category. NetAlly is ranked #5 with an average rating of 8.0, while Wireshark is ranked #4 with an average rating of 8.9. NetAlly holds a 6.6% mindshare in NT, compared to Wireshark’s 13.3% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of NetAlly users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 98% of Wireshark users who would recommend it.

LinkSprinter

Read 3 LinkSprinter reviews

749 Views
719 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Wireshark

Read 63 Wireshark reviews

2,273 Views
705 Comparison Views

98% willing to recommend

LinkSprinter

Wireshark

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Jul 11, 2024

Wireshark and LinkSprinter are used for network analysis and diagnostics. Wireshark is favored for its pricing and support, while LinkSprinter is preferred for its superior features, justifying the cost.

Features: Wireshark provides comprehensive protocol analysis, a wide range of filters, and detailed analysis capabilities. LinkSprinter offers portability, ease of use, and quick diagnostic capabilities.

Room for Improvement: Wireshark needs a more intuitive layout, better performance with high data volumes, and easier setup. LinkSprinter requires expanded testing capabilities, more detailed reports, and improved customer support.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Wireshark requires installation and setup but benefits from extensive online resources and community support. LinkSprinter offers instant deployment and straightforward operation but has mixed feedback on manufacturer support.

Pricing and ROI: Wireshark is open-source and free, providing excellent ROI. LinkSprinter requires an initial investment but offers a quick ROI for its convenience and speed in diagnostics.

To learn more, read our detailed LinkSprinter vs. Wireshark Report (Updated: July 2025).

Buyer's Guide

LinkSprinter vs. Wireshark

July 2025

Download the complete report

Helped 865,295 peers since 2012

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

LinkSprinter

Ranking in Network Troubleshooting

5th

Average Rating

9.0

Reviews Sentiment

7.5

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Network Diagnostics (4th)

Wireshark

Ranking in Network Troubleshooting

4th

Average Rating

9.0

Reviews Sentiment

7.7

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of August 2025, in the Network Troubleshooting category, the mindshare of LinkSprinter is 6.6%, down from 9.9% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Wireshark is 13.3%, up from 11.9% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Network Troubleshooting

Featured Reviews

JamesStout

IT Director at JVS Consulting

A small, convenient tool that is very stable, but needs to have a longer battery life

They could make it easier to set up originally, because the initial setup can be quite hit and miss. It is also quite battery intensive, so it might last a bit longer if it had a lithium battery. You're always having to replace the batteries, so it would be good if it could be USB-charged or something like that.

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Vijay Duggal

Network Specialist at Squarepoint Capital

Provides detailed traffic analysis and helps troubleshoot issues

There is a disadvantage when it comes to sampling intervals. While the solution supports sampling as fine as one millisecond, it requires a copy at that interval. My Python script allows me to achieve a granularity of up to ten microseconds, but I can't go beyond that. When dealing with provisioning on both issues, it would be beneficial if I could go down to the microsecond level, if not the nanosecond. Additionally, I've heard from a colleague that Wireshark might be less effective in the voice domain.

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Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"The solution provides switch port and VLAN information."

"The tool fits in your pocket, so it's easy to carry and you don't have to have a big bag of tools."

"Wireshark helps us to understand network traffic."

"The ability to decrypt traffic and the abundance of filters available are both valuable features."

"I like the filtering feature as we can filter data easily. This feature is also available in tcpdump, but it's a simple piece of software. Wireshark is more advanced and has many features. It allows you to filter a lot of things. The output can be filtered easily. The most important feature is colorization. If I say, "Okay, this particular SMB protocol in red, it will show me red." It's easy to identify that protocol or capture data."

"It gives us the ability to pinpoint problems and to communicate network problems with software and hardware vendors."

"It helps in analyzing if something looks suspicious, such as a brute force attack or scanning from somewhere."

"The transmission and reception issues are valuable."

"I have found the most valuable feature you can design your sniffer the way you want to."

"I can save the traffic and analysis when I want to. Also, it's especially helpful to follow the stream (TCP, UDP, etc.)."

More Wireshark pros

Cons

"The solution should improve cable testing."

"They could make it easier to set up originally, because the initial setup can be quite hit and miss."

"We'd like to be able to extract the output into an Excel table."

"The Wireshark search function shows green for a correct search and red for an incorrect search. If there were a way to provide a description about what a search - and the similar ones which are available - can do, while a person is typing it, it would make the product easier to use and simultaneously decrease the learning curve."

"Wireshark could be improved by adding more monitoring features."

"The decryption of encrypted packets could be better."

"Wireshark could make the filtering rules easier to apply and offer a drag-and-drop option as opposed to type and text."

"The product is great but I wish there were more of an emphasis on the command line tools."

"Big trace files (more than 1,000,000 packets) can be slow, but then you can use "TraceWrangler" (also free) to help with slicing and dicing the data."

"There is a disadvantage when it comes to sampling intervals. Additionally, I've heard from a colleague that Wireshark might be less effective in the voice domain."

More Wireshark cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"You pay for the device, but you don't have to pay for the app."

"The product is a little bit overpriced."

"It is free."

"Wireshark is free of charge, and there's no license involved."

"Wireshark is an open-source product, so it's free to use."

"It's a stand-alone tool. If there is a commercial license for it I am unaware of it."

"This is an open-source product that can be used free of charge."

"The solution is open source so is free."

"It is free to download and install. It runs on multiple platforms, so how can you go wrong?"

"I am using the free version of this solution."

More Wireshark pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Healthcare Company

18%

University

Hospitality Company

Computer Software Company

University

10%

Financial Services Firm

Computer Software Company

Educational Organization

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

No data available

Questions from the Community

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What do you like most about Wireshark?

The GUI is easy to use.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Wireshark?

Wireshark is priced at a medium range, not too high, not too low. The pricing could be more flexible, and they might make it more expensive. That said, compared to other products, it is competitive.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Wireshark?

The speed of the Internet could be improved, especially its performance. Performance can sometimes be a challenge due to numerous factors.

See all answers

Comparisons

LinkRunner vs LinkSprinter

Compared 64% of the time

NetAlly EtherScope nXG vs LinkSprinter

Compared 15% of the time

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Network Diagnostics

August 2025

Download LinkSprinter product report

Buyer's Guide

Wireshark

July 2025

Download Wireshark product report

Overview

The LinkSprinter Pocket Network Tester verifies the functionality of copper Ethernet links and identifies errors in less than 10 seconds. The tester reveals network connectivity status and port information while ensuring documentation for every link. The comprehensive AutoTester measures PoE voltage, performs a switch test, and confirms the DHCP server is running and responsive. The tester also verifies gateway/router, internal IP service, and cloud reachability. When paired with the secure Link-Live Cloud Service, the Network Tester automatically uploads results and allows annotation of results enabling job supervisors to easily manage the progress of deployment and troubleshooting tasks assigned to their team.

NetAlly

Wireshark is the world's foremost network protocol analyzer.

Wireshark

Sample Customers

Cisco, Marriott, Sands Expo, Valparaiso University, Memorial Hermann Health Care System, Mount Sinai, Cox Enterprises, George Washington University, University of Iowa.

Comversion, ADP, Talbots

Buyer's Guide

LinkSprinter vs. Wireshark

July 2025

Free Report: LinkSprinter vs. Wireshark

Find out what your peers are saying about LinkSprinter vs. Wireshark and other solutions. Updated: July 2025.

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