Wireshark is the world’s foremost and widely-used network protocol analyzer. It lets you see what’s happening on your network at a microscopic...
Best arp-scan Alternatives ranked by AI · updated Aug 2026
arp-scan is a command-line tool for discovering IPv4 hosts on local Ethernet networks by sending ARP requests. It is useful for administrators who need fast, scriptable inventory and verification instead of arpwatch's continuous passive monitoring.
Top 6 arp-scan alternatives
Snort is a free and open source network intrusion prevention system (NIPS) and network intrusion detection system (NIDS) created by Sourcefire. Combining...
3
Arpwatch
The arpwatch Project
arpwatch is a Unix daemon that monitors Ethernet and IP address associations and reports changes by email. It is designed for network...
Pros
- Very lightweight compared with full network intrusion detection systems
- Purpose-built for tracking IP-to-MAC address changes
- Mature Unix tool with simple email-based alerting
Cons
- Primarily provides alerts rather than a visual monitoring dashboard
- Configuration and notification setup are less accessible than newer tools
- Limited beyond Ethernet address-change monitoring
Free, open source
4
Zeek is a powerful network analysis framework that is much different from the typical IDS you may know. Its capabilities extend beyond...
Pros
- Focuses on network analysis
- Supports scripting for custom analysis
- Efficient for network traffic analysis
Cons
- Steep learning curve for beginners
- Not as specialized for intrusion prevention
- Less user-friendly GUI compared to some alternatives
5
arpalert
Arpalert Project
arpalert is a Linux daemon that monitors Ethernet traffic and detects unknown or changed MAC addresses. It suits administrators who want configurable,...
Pros
- More configurable event handling than arpwatch
- Supports scripts and custom actions for automated responses
- Designed specifically for real-time MAC address monitoring
Cons
- Smaller community and ecosystem than arpwatch
- Linux-focused deployment limits cross-platform use
- Less polished documentation and administration tooling
Free, open source
6
Netdiscover
Netdiscover Project
Netdiscover is an open-source ARP reconnaissance tool that passively observes local traffic or actively probes a subnet to find hosts. It targets...
Pros
- Supports both passive discovery and active ARP probing
- Useful on networks with little existing traffic
- Quick terminal interface for field investigations
Cons
- Focused on discovery rather than persistent alert management
- Less suitable for long-term historical tracking than arpwatch
- Primarily a local-subnet tool
Free, open source
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