# Kestrel LITE — Packet Intelligence

> Offline network packet analyzer for iOS devices. (iPhone/iPad app by John Althausen.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kestrel-lite/id6756029920 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [John Althausen](https://appshunter.io/developer/1858071600)
- Category: Utilities
- Price: Free
- Rating: 5.00/5 from 1 App Store ratings
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 18.6 · 2 MB
- Languages: English
- Released: 2025-12-07
- Data updated: 2026-06-30
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kestrel-lite/id6756029920/reviews.md

## What is Kestrel LITE?

Kestrel Lite is a network packet analyzer for iPhone and iPad — open a PCAP or PCAPNG file, see what's inside, and triage it from your phone or tablet.

CORE FEATURES

Dashboard with tappable widgets — jump from any metric to the relevant tab
Packets list with hex+ASCII inspector and filter syntax (port, host, protocol, length)
TCP stream reassembly with full payload view (captures under 1 GB)
Flow records with bidirectional byte/packet counts
Host inventory with hostname resolution from DNS observed in the capture
DNS queries with full A/AAAA/CNAME/MX/TXT response data
Protocol classification: TCP, UDP, ICMP, HTTP, HTTPS, DNS, SSH, FTP, SMTP, TLS, ARP, SMB, mDNS, DHCP, NTP, SNMP, SSDP, QUIC
Timeline view of capture activity
Chain-of-custody log with SHA-256 file integrity hash

PRIVACY GUARANTEE

100% offline — no network access
100% on-device — your captures never leave your device
No account required, no sign-in
Free with no ads

IDEAL FOR

Network engineers triaging captures on the go
Security analysts doing first-pass review
Students learning packet analysis and networking
Anyone curious about what's actually in their PCAP files

LIMITATIONS

PCAP files are processed up to 50,000 packets per capture
Raw payload search is not included
TCP reassembly disables automatically above 1 GB to protect device memory

Upgrade to Kestrel Sight to get:

Unlimited packet capacity — no 50,000-packet cap
Analyst Bookmarks — flag any packet, flow, host, DNS query, or stream with a note. Bookmarks are included in the PDF export
Enhanced IPv6 support — addresses displayed in canonical RFC 5952 form, search matches any textual representation of the same address
Refined PDF reports — human-readable durations, complete Top Talkers, paginated bookmarks
Refined CSV exports

SUPPORT

Questions, issues, or feature requests? Email support@tracivex.com — we read every message and use your feedback to guide development.

## Key features

- Packet list with hex+ASCII inspector
- TCP stream reassembly
- Flow records with bidirectional counts
- Host inventory with DNS resolution
- Protocol classification
- Timeline view of capture activity
- Chain-of-custody log


## Frequently asked questions about Kestrel LITE

### What is Kestrel LITE?

Kestrel LITE is a mobile application designed for network packet analysis. It allows users to open and inspect PCAP or PCAPNG files directly on their iPhone or iPad, providing detailed insights into network traffic.

### Does Kestrel LITE have ads?

No, Kestrel LITE is completely free with no advertisements. The app is designed with user privacy in mind and does not contain any ads.

### What are the limitations of Kestrel LITE?

Kestrel LITE processes up to 50,000 packets per capture. Raw payload search is not included, and TCP reassembly is disabled for captures exceeding 1 GB to manage device memory.

### Is Kestrel LITE available on Android?

Currently, Kestrel LITE is available for iPhone and iPad. The application is optimized for iOS devices.

### How often is Kestrel LITE updated?

The latest version of Kestrel LITE is 1.2.1, last updated on May 2, 2026. The developer actively uses user feedback to guide development.

### What is the age rating for Kestrel LITE?

Kestrel LITE has an age rating of 4+. This indicates it is suitable for users of all ages, with no mature content.

### Can Kestrel LITE handle large PCAP files?

Kestrel LITE has a limit of 50,000 packets per capture. For unlimited packet capacity and advanced features like bookmarks, users can upgrade to Kestrel Sight.

### How does Kestrel LITE ensure user privacy?

Kestrel LITE guarantees 100% offline and on-device operation. Your capture files never leave your device, and no account or sign-in is required.

## Version history (last 3 releases)

### 1.2.1 — 2026-05-02

Adjustable row density. New filter-bar toggle cycles between Classic, Compact, and Comfortable layouts in the Packets browser. Compact fits ~22 rows per phone screen; Comfortable mirrors iOS Mail's two-line look. On iPad, Classic uses a denser style single-line row.

Internal robustness improvements.

### 1.0.1 — 2025-12-08

Updated App Store screenshots to reflect new UI improvements. Modified Pro Features tab information.

### 1.0 — 2025-12-07

No release notes.

## More apps by John Althausen

- [Kestrel Sight](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kestrel-sight/id6756164484)

All apps by John Althausen: https://appshunter.io/developer/1858071600

---

*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-30.*
