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 Brim Alternatives ranked by AI · updated Aug 2026
Brim is an open-source desktop application for exploring PCAP files and Zeek logs with a columnar query engine. It is aimed at analysts who want fast hunting across network evidence without building a full server platform.
Top 6 Brim alternatives
NetworkMiner is a Network Forensic Analysis Tool (NFAT) for Windows that can detect the OS, hostname, and open ports of network hosts...
Brunhilde is an open-source command-line tool for batch processing and triaging PCAP network captures. It is aimed at security analysts who need...
Pros
- Automates repetitive PCAP triage better than manual Wireshark workflows
- Fits command-line and scripted incident-response pipelines
- Supports analysis of large capture collections
Cons
- Requires more setup and operational knowledge than desktop analyzers
- Less interactive than Wireshark for packet-by-packet inspection
- Smaller community and ecosystem than major network-analysis projects
Free and 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
Malcolm
National Security Agency
Malcolm is an open-source network traffic analysis toolset for full-packet capture, flow analysis, and network security monitoring. It is aimed at defenders...
Pros
- Strong packet-capture and network-forensics capabilities
- Combines Zeek and Suricata data with searchable visualizations
- Can ingest traffic from multiple capture and log sources
Cons
- More investigation-oriented than SELKS's streamlined alert workflow
- Deployment and storage planning can be demanding
- Requires more hands-on integration and operational knowledge
6
Arkime
Arkime Project
Arkime is an open-source, large-scale packet-capture and network-analysis platform with a web interface for browsing sessions and inspecting traffic. It is built...
Pros
- Excellent web-based exploration of full-packet sessions
- Scales for large packet-capture collections with distributed sensors
- Useful for retrospective investigations and evidence review
Cons
- Focuses on packet analysis rather than SELKS-style IDS alerting
- Needs substantial storage and retention planning
- Requires complementary detection engines such as Suricata or Zeek
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