WiresharkLinux
vs
GlassWireWindows
Wireshark as a Linux alternative to GlassWire
Updated
Our verdict
Wireshark is not a direct replacement for GlassWire. GlassWire is a user-friendly network monitor and firewall that visualizes traffic and blocks connections. Wireshark is a deep packet inspector for analyzing protocol details. If you need simple graphs, alerts, and blocking, Wireshark will feel overwhelming and lacks those features. It is suitable only for advanced users who need to debug specific network issues, not for general bandwidth monitoring or firewall management. For most GlassWire users, a different tool is needed.
- License
- GPL-2.0
- Price
- Free
- Latest version
- 4.6.8 (August 9, 2026)
- Rating
- —
What works the same
- Both monitor network traffic.
- Both are available on Linux.
- Both allow inspection of packet data.
- Both are open-source (Wireshark is GPL-2.0).
What is different
- Wireshark does not provide real-time traffic graphs or per-application bandwidth monitoring in a user-friendly way.
- Wireshark lacks built-in firewall capabilities to block apps or domains.
- Wireshark does not offer historical usage data visualization like GlassWire.
- Wireshark requires significant technical knowledge to interpret data, unlike GlassWire's simple interface.
- The Flathub version of Wireshark does not support live capture, only file analysis.
Opening your GlassWire files
Wireshark can read standard packet capture files (like .pcap or .pcapng) if GlassWire exports them in those formats. However, GlassWire's proprietary historical data files are not compatible with Wireshark. You cannot open GlassWire's internal database or usage history in Wireshark. If GlassWire exports raw packet captures, Wireshark can analyze those specific files, but not the aggregated usage stats.
Switching from GlassWire to Wireshark, step by step
- Install Wireshark from your distribution's package manager or Flathub.
- Note that the Flathub version may not support live capture; use the distro version for live monitoring.
- Start a capture session if live capture is supported, or open an existing .pcap file.
- Use display filters to isolate specific traffic, e.g., 'ip.addr == 192.168.1.1'.
- Review protocol details in the packet pane to analyze specific connections.
- Export relevant data if needed for further analysis.
Key features of Wireshark
- Read over 200 capture file formats
- Rich display filter language
- Reassemble TCP streams and other protocols
- Export captured data to various formats
- Support for RTP audio stream playback
- Cross‑platform GUI and CLI
How to install Wireshark on Linux
flatpak install flathub org.wireshark.Wiresharksudo apt install wiresharksudo apt install wiresharksudo dnf install wiresharksudo pacman -S wireshark-clisudo zypper install wiresharkFrequently asked questions
Can Wireshark block connections like GlassWire?
No. Wireshark is a passive analyzer. It does not interact with the firewall or block traffic. You need a separate firewall tool like UFW or nftables for blocking.
Is Wireshark easy to use for beginners?
No. It is a professional tool with a steep learning curve. It is not designed for casual users who just want to see which apps are using bandwidth.
Does Wireshark show which app is using the network?
Not directly. It shows IP addresses and ports. You must manually correlate these with your local processes, which is complex and not automated like in GlassWire.