Auvik Network Management (ANM) vs Wireshark comparison

Auvik Network Management (ANM)

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Jul 11, 2024

Wireshark and Auvik are both well-regarded in the network analysis field, yet they cater to different needs. Wireshark is praised for its detailed packet analysis, while Auvik excels in network monitoring and management.

Features: Wireshark offers in-depth packet analysis, invaluable for troubleshooting at a granular level, detailed filtering capabilities, and a wide protocol support. Auvik provides robust network mapping, comprehensive monitoring capabilities, and automated network topology generation.

Room for Improvement: Wireshark can be overwhelming due to its complexity and steep learning curve, lacks an intuitive user interface, and requires significant expertise for effective use. Auvik could benefit from more detailed reporting features, faster troubleshooting tools, and more customization options for dashboards.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Wireshark, being open-source, presents deployment challenges and lacks dedicated customer service, relying on community support. Auvik's cloud-based deployment simplifies implementation and receives positive feedback for its dedicated and responsive customer service.

Pricing and ROI: Wireshark is free, making it attractive for those on a tight budget. Auvik users find value in its pricing due to extensive features and time saved on network management, providing a good ROI despite the cost.

To learn more, read our detailed Auvik Network Management (ANM) vs. Wireshark Report (Updated: August 2026).

Auvik Network Management (ANM) vs. Wireshark

August 2026

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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

Auvik Network Management (ANM)

Ranking in Network Troubleshooting

1st

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

7.3

Number of Reviews

216

Ranking in other categories

Network Monitoring Software (4th), IT Infrastructure Monitoring (7th), Cloud Monitoring Software (6th), Network Traffic Analysis (NTA) (2nd)

Wireshark

Ranking in Network Troubleshooting

2nd

Average Rating

9.0

Reviews Sentiment

6.4

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of August 2026, in the Network Troubleshooting category, the mindshare of Auvik Network Management (ANM) is 4.9%, up from 3.7% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Wireshark is 19.7%, up from 13.2% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Network Troubleshooting Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
Auvik Network Management (ANM)	4.9%
Wireshark	19.7%
Other	75.4%

Network Troubleshooting

Featured Reviews

AmanThakkar

Software Engineer at Titanslab Inc.

Network automation has reduced troubleshooting time and supports faster issue resolution

The biggest and best feature I have experienced with Auvik Network Management (ANM) is automatic network discovery, along with features such as topology map, instant alerts, real-time monitoring, easy remote access, and simple dashboards. Among those features, I find automatic network discovery to be the most useful because it gives a clear picture of the entire network without having to create manual diagrams. It is very easy to use Auvik Network Management (ANM), so even a new team member can quickly understand the network because everything is displayed in a very clear way. Auvik Network Management (ANM) has positively impacted our organization by reducing troubleshooting time, improving network visibility, providing a very clear picture, and helping us support multiple client networks and environments very efficiently. We have noticed a 35 to 40% improvement in troubleshooting speed, less manual work in documenting any network system, faster responses to network issues, and better uptime with the client networks.

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reviewer2837244

It System Engineer at a manufacturing company with 5,001-10,000 employees

Packet analysis has improved real-time troubleshooting and simplifies mapping complex data flows

The best features that Wireshark offers are everything. Every time I look into Wireshark, I find something new. The ability to capture real-time packets and understand how the packet is working and moving through how many hops and to how many points it reaches makes it a wonderful tool. The specific feature I use most is capturing packets of real-time communication and seeing how the packet is working. I rely on all the filters it has to check the protocols and see the communication between one end and another end and what the hops in between are, and if there is a proxy, how it behaves. Everything helps us check out the issue and troubleshoot it. I do not have anything additional to add about the features; everything looks really fine. The graphics are also good, and you can change its graphical features, making it a pretty nice tool. You can also use it with the PCAP file, which is really nice. Wireshark has positively impacted my organization by giving us the ability to capture packets and see into the network how it is working and what we can clarify about the network, specifically how we can remove many hops in the communication channels. A specific example of a measurable outcome is that we have a few switches in our network that, when we use Wireshark analysis, we find should not be needed or can be replaced with automatic switches instead of manual switches, such as switches which do not have any active features and only passive switches. That has saved us a lot of time.

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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

"I find Auvik's intuitive interface a welcome change from the complex network management platforms I've used."

"I would choose Auvik Network Management (ANM) without hesitation."

"It also integrates with our ticketing system. We use ConnectWise and having that integration is valuable for billing and for all-around general management. Having one product that can integrate with everything is valuable because we don't have to worry about building out APIs or custom maps to do that for us."

"I'm one of the biggest Auvik fans out there."

"I have found Auvik extremely stable. They do a lot of scheduled maintenance, but it's almost always on the weekends, so it doesn't impact us."

"If we get an Internet outage or device goes down, it really helps gain better visibility as to what's happening with our different branch offices and to know if there's a potential issue that might mean I need to get in the car and drive down."

"Automatic alerting is probably the most valuable."

"Auvik has a dynamic mapping feature. Once you get things loaded, it will show you how everything is connected. It also shows the alerts on that map, making it a very quick and human-readable way to dig into it. Overall, that visualization is really nice, especially the dynamic facet."

More Auvik Network Management (ANM) pros

"You can use Wireshark to see the traffic packet format, the IP layers, the fields, and the enabled flags."

"The product is simple to implement."

"The solution is easy to install and use."

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

"One of the best products that can provide the details of what is happening with an application and the full life cycle of the response time."

"Wireshark helps us to understand network traffic."

"Being able to dissect email data and figure out what is inside email messages was the most valuable feature."

"The drill-down available for packet analysis is great, as it gives a network security engineer insight into what is going on at the packet level and enables better troubleshooting."

More Wireshark pros

Cons

"Recently, the map performance has become incredibly slow, even for small maps. For example, simply changing a device type can take up to five or ten minutes to reflect the change."

"Auvik's network map along with its dashboard gives a real-time picture of our network. However, if a device is unreachable, there is no indicator for that, at least from what I have seen. If it is offline, there is an indicator for that, but if it is unreachable, there is no indicator."

"I don't think Auvik's pricing should be based on device, which it is right now."

"If there was a way to do some sort of remote desktop control for endpoints from Auvik, that would be an interesting feature because we have another product that we use for endpoint control to remote into somebody's computer. If Auvik had that, we might move from the other tool into the product that Auvik would offer."

"The network mapping is just okay when I consider what I would typically see in a network map... that whole overview map in a single pane of glass can be pretty messy and a little bit of a performance hog on computers. The network mapping needs improvement in Auvik, as a whole."

"Network setups take time regardless of the tool you use. It will always take time to build. I wish you could order Auvik to rescan the network on demand when I make changes. Sometimes, I want the network to scan immediately instead of waiting for it to detect the changes."

"I've been finding some features difficult. It might be because I'm used to PRTG, and Auvik works differently. When it comes to monitoring a simple IP address, Auvik makes it a bit harder and more complex because you have to create a service inside the site. It's not just creating a sensor and having it ping the device. You need to go to the site and create the service."

"Sometimes we get false positives, which every now and then is not a big deal. But it would help if they made it a little easier to suppress some of the alarms."

More Auvik Network Management (ANM) cons

"Can be difficult for non packet heads to understand"

"Wireshark's UI isn't easy to handle and doesn't have as nice a view as Omnipeek."

"Maximum buffer size of captured data should be unlimited and should allow ability to archive all old captures (not save option) in real time, it should support a destination location where old captures can be directed for long term storage."

"Wireshark can be improved if it provides the accessibility of capturing packets from one device that is installed in the network without needing the port-mirrored facility."

"One con is that this software is only an observer, not an interactive component of the network, meaning you cant change anything with it."

"I wish the filters were a little bit more prepopulated."

"With Wireshark, you cannot download and utilize the packet in automation."

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

More Wireshark cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"I believe the product is fairly priced, but I would consider it a better value if it were improved in certain areas."

"Compared to other products, Auvik's pricing is more feasible since you get all its features. You pay for licenses on a per network device basis. It monitors hypervisors, but does not bill for that. There are no additional costs, which is something that I like."

"The pricing of Auvik is good. If it could be less, that would be even better, but as long as they offer free devices, that is great."

"Compared to Auvik's competitors, its pricing is largely in line with SolarWinds."

"The pricing is fair for the value and time saved that you get out of it. The larger you go, the more sense it makes per device, because as you hit different pricing tiers, it becomes much more affordable per device."

"I love the pricing. It makes a lot of sense. It allows you to use your own metal, which is great because it enables us to go higher-end for some clients and lower-end for others... Even having the flexibility to switch clients between the Performance (expert) and the Essentials (simple) version of Auvik, on the fly, is really unheard of."

"While the price is high, we are getting a lot of features for our money."

"We have a lot of problems with licensing in many other solutions, but I've never run into a problem with Auvik licensing. That's a pretty good vote of confidence."

More Auvik Network Management (ANM) pricing and cost advice

"We're using the free version of Wireshark."

"We are using a freeware version of this solution, so there are no licence costs involved."

"It is free."

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

"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?"

"Wireshark is open-source and free of charge."

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

More Wireshark pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Construction Company

10%

Outsourcing Company

10%

Financial Services Firm

Comms Service Provider

University

10%

Financial Services Firm

Manufacturing Company

Construction Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	155
Midsize Enterprise	32
Large Enterprise	25

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	31
Midsize Enterprise	11
Large Enterprise	29

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Auvik?

I am from the technical department, so the pricing, setup cost, and licensing aspects have been managed by the management.

What needs improvement with Auvik?

Auvik Network Management (ANM) can be improved with better reporting options. While there are options for reporting, having more clarity would be helpful, along with more advanced analytics and mor...

What is your primary use case for Auvik?

Our main use case for Auvik Network Management (ANM) is to monitor and manage the client networks, helping us to track the network devices and identify issues quickly to monitor the performance and...

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.

What needs improvement with Wireshark?

Wireshark can be improved if it provides the accessibility of capturing packets from one device that is installed in the network without needing the port-mirrored facility. They could provide somet...

What is your primary use case for Wireshark?

Wireshark's main use case is capturing packets and reviewing the data flow over the network. Regarding my main use case for Wireshark, it is a great tool and would be one of the best tools availabl...

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Product Reports

Auvik Network Management (ANM)

August 2026

Download Auvik Network Management (ANM) product report

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July 2026

Overview

Auvik Network Management offers competitive pricing for essential network and infrastructure device management, providing robust features valued by enterprises.

Auvik Network Management delivers comprehensive network visibility and management through intuitive auditing, alerting, and discovery functionalities. It eases troubleshooting, automates configuration backups, and includes a user-friendly interface for effective monitoring and management. With real-time alerts and customizable notifications, IT operations are streamlined, while remote access capabilities enhance time efficiency. ANM supports integration with other platforms, effectively maintaining device inventories and visualizing network topology.

What are the key features of Auvik Network Management?

Auditing: Offers comprehensive network audits, ensuring accuracy and efficiency.
Network Discovery: Simplifies the process of identifying network components.
Alerting Modules: Provides real-time alerts and customizable notifications.
Configuration Backups: Automates backups, safeguarding configurations.
Remote Access: Streamlines network management from any location.

What benefits should users expect when evaluating Auvik Network Management?

Enhanced Network Visibility: Offers detailed insights into network operations.
Time Efficiency: Remote access and automated features save valuable time.
Proactive Issue Identification: Real-time monitoring aids in identifying issues quickly.
Integration Support: Works cohesively with other platforms, easing management.
Operational Efficiency: Automates management tasks for improved productivity.

In industries such as IT management and network administration, Auvik Network Management is predominantly utilized for overseeing and maintaining network infrastructures across multiple locations. It offers capabilities for monitoring network topology, receiving alerts on device downtimes, and managing performance metrics. Users employ its features for proactive issue identification, and auditing, helping maintain oversight of networks containing switches, routers, and firewalls. Auvik provides remote access and automated backups, which contribute to enhanced operational efficiency and network visibility.

Auvik

Wireshark offers robust packet analysis through comprehensive filtering and color-coding features, adaptable across platforms due to its open-source nature. It supports real-time and offline packet captures, multiple protocols, and easy installation, making it a favored tool for network experts.

Renowned for its traffic decryption capabilities and detailed traffic insights, Wireshark provides deep packet inspection and a simple GUI. Ideal for network troubleshooting, it allows users to view VoIP traffic and perform advanced customizations. While Wireshark's interface can be complex and challenging for newcomers, its powerful features make it invaluable in identifying network issues, inspecting protocols, and understanding data flow across wired and wireless environments. Users seek more intuitive filters, better Windows and non-laptop support, as well as features like real-time evolution and graphical analysis tools to enhance usability. Wireshark's wide application includes security research, protocol analysis, and application performance baselining, supporting both on-premises and cloud-based operations.

What are Wireshark's standout features?

Filtering and Color-Coding: Enables detailed packet analysis.
Real-Time and Offline Captures: Supports both capture modes for comprehensive network monitoring.
Traffic Decryption: Provides detailed insights into encrypted traffic.
Deep Packet Inspection: Delivers granular network data examination.
GUI Simplicity: Ensures ease of use despite complex capabilities.

What benefits and ROI should users evaluate?

Network Troubleshooting: Streamlines identification and resolution of network issues.
Protocol Inspection: Facilitates in-depth examination of network communication protocols.
Traffic Monitoring: Ensures effective monitoring of network traffic in real time.
Security Research: Assists in uncovering malicious traffic and vulnerabilities.
Application Performance: Aids in baselining and optimizing app performance.

Wireshark is implemented across industries to manage and troubleshoot networks, analyze traffic flow, and ensure secure, efficient communication. It supports research and security operations, providing insights into protocol usage and application performance across physical and virtual environments. Its deployment spans education, telecommunications, finance, and healthcare, underpinning connectivity and data integrity.

Sample Customers

Information Not Available

Comversion, ADP, Talbots