Comparison

Kestrel LITE vs PacketCircle

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Kestrel LITE

Analyze network packet capture files directly on your iPhone or iPad. Inspect packet details, reassemble TCP streams, and view host inventories and DNS queries. This app operates entirely offline and on-device, ensuring your data privacy.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

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.

About

PacketCircle

Features
Read full description

PacketCircle turns packet captures into a clear picture of who is talking to whom. Instead of scrolling endless packet lists, you see communication pairs as an interactive circle: endpoints on the rim, conversations as edges, colors by protocol or session quality. Ideal when you need to understand a capture quickly — on site, in a meeting, or reviewing a file someone sent you. What you can do • Open PCAP and PCAPNG captures • Explore Top talkers on a circle, table, or gauges view • Filter by protocol and focus on the conversations that matter • Inspect session health, ports/services, and application hints • Jump into a Wireshark-style decode (packet list, protocol tree, hex) • Follow TCP streams and export a conversation as PCAP Built for analysis, not noise PacketCircle is a native iOS app with a shared engine designed for conversation-centric troubleshooting — DNS, HTTP, TLS, SMB, and more when the payload is visible — without requiring Wireshark on your phone. Open a capture. See the circle. Understand the network. Made with love for the packet community.

Screenshots

Kestrel LITE4 screens
PacketCircle4 screens

Verdict

The call

Kestrel LITE and PacketCircle are too close to call on the numbers: across 5 compared parameters — price, ads, in-app purchases and device support among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
Kestrel LITE versus PacketCircle: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterKestrel LITEPacketCircle
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 months—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS18.617.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size2 MB3 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJohn AlthausenWalter Hofstetter

In-app purchases

None

Kestrel LITE

No in-app purchases

None

PacketCircle

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Kestrel LITE free?
Kestrel LITE is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is PacketCircle free?
PacketCircle is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Kestrel LITE or PacketCircle have ads?
Neither Kestrel LITE nor PacketCircle shows ads.

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