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 arpalert Alternatives ranked by AI · updated Aug 2026
arpalert is a Linux daemon that monitors Ethernet traffic and detects unknown or changed MAC addresses. It suits administrators who want configurable, real-time alerts for unauthorized devices and ARP-related changes.
Top 6 arpalert 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
arp-scan
Roy Hills
arp-scan is a command-line tool for discovering IPv4 hosts on local Ethernet networks by sending ARP requests. It is useful for administrators...
Pros
- Usually discovers local Ethernet devices quickly and directly
- Provides vendor identification from MAC address prefixes
- Easy to integrate into shell scripts and scheduled checks
Cons
- Active scans can be visible to monitored hosts
- Does not provide arpwatch-style continuous change alerts by itself
- Limited primarily to local IPv4 Ethernet discovery
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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