Comparison

Kestrel vs PCAP Analyzer · File Reader

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

Head to head
About

Kestrel

Features
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Take total control of your infrastructure from anywhere. Kestrel is a premium, server management client designed for developers, sysadmins, and power users who demand performance, security, and smart features on the go.. Privacy Policy: Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

PCAP Analyzer · File Reader

Features
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PCAP Analyzer opens and analyzes .pcap and .pcapng network captures right on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac, with no desktop required. Troubleshoot a flaky connection, investigate a security incident, or learn how networks really work, with a fast, deep, and clear packet analyzer in your pocket. Open captures created by tcpdump, tshark, and any standard pcap or pcapng tool, and read the wire like a page. DEEP PROTOCOL DECODING Every frame is dissected down to the field: Ethernet and VLAN, IPv4, IPv6, TCP, UDP, ICMP, ICMPv6, IGMP, ARP, DNS, mDNS, LLMNR, DHCP, HTTP, HTTP/2, TLS, DTLS, QUIC, SMB2, SNMP, NTP, RADIUS, TFTP, MQTT, SCTP, GRE, ESP, and NetFlow/IPFIX. A clean, tappable detail tree and a full hex view show every byte. TLS FINGERPRINTING, JA3 AND JA4 PCAP Analyzer computes JA3 and JA4 client fingerprints natively, and even decrypts QUIC Initial packets to recover the SNI and fingerprints, analysis that usually needs desktop plugins. FIND THE PROBLEM FAST • Color coded packets, so retransmissions, resets, errors, and stalls stand out • Expert diagnostics: TCP retransmissions, duplicate ACKs, zero window stalls, connection resets, HTTP errors, and DNS failures • Threat detection: port and host scans, suspicious C2 and backdoor ports, possible DNS tunneling, and cleartext credentials POWERFUL DISPLAY FILTER A real, field aware filter language with autocomplete and saved filters: tcp.port == 443, tls.sni contains "example", tcp.analysis.zero_window, dns or http. Tap any field in a packet to filter by it instantly. STATISTICS AND VISUALS Conversations, Endpoints, Protocol Hierarchy, a network topology map, an I/O graph, Follow Stream with a TCP sequence and time graph, and automatic name resolution, so you see hostnames instead of raw IP addresses. ON-DEVICE AI On supported iPhones with Apple Intelligence, an on device model summarizes a capture in plain language and turns plain English requests into filters, like "show failed connections". It runs entirely on your device, and your capture never leaves your phone. BUILT FOR BIG CAPTURES A native streaming engine opens very large captures without running out of memory, files that crash other mobile viewers. PRIVATE BY DESIGN Everything happens on your device. PCAP Analyzer reads saved files only, captures no live traffic, needs no special permissions, and never uploads your data. Privacy Policy: https://rush.tools/privacy Terms of Use: https://rush.tools/terms

Screenshots

Kestrel4 screens
PCAP Analyzer · File Reader4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: PCAP Analyzer · File Reader at every 6 days against Kestrel's fortnightly. PCAP Analyzer · File Reader also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

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. Kestrel sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and PCAP Analyzer · File Reader sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Kestrel ships an update fortnightly, PCAP Analyzer · File Reader every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on October 3, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 4 level
Kestrel versus PCAP Analyzer · File Reader: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterKestrelPCAP Analyzer · File Reader
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 6 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
DevicesiPhone, iPad, MaciPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better
Requires iOS17.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size37 MB27 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMichael WrightRush Tools LLC

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Kestrel

Subscriptions3
  • Kestrel Pro$3.991 Month
  • Kestrel Pro Yearly7 Days trial$24.991 Year
  • Kestrel Suite$39.991 Year
One-time1
  • Kestrel Pro Lifetime$50.00
2 purchases

PCAP Analyzer · File Reader

Subscriptions2
  • Pro Weekly3 Days trial$9.997 Days
  • Pro Annual$79.991 Year

Questions

Is Kestrel free?
Kestrel is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is PCAP Analyzer · File Reader free?
PCAP Analyzer · File Reader is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Kestrel or PCAP Analyzer · File Reader have ads?
Neither Kestrel nor PCAP Analyzer · File Reader shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Kestrel or PCAP Analyzer · File Reader?
Kestrel ships an update fortnightly, and PCAP Analyzer · File Reader every 6 days. Most recently, Kestrel was updated on October 3, 2026 and PCAP Analyzer · File Reader on October 5, 2026.

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