Scapy vs Wireshark vs Nessus: Which macOS Apps tool is Best in 2025?

Scapy is a versatile, open-source Python-based packet manipulation library designed for network security professionals, penetration testers, and developers. Available on Kali Linux, Scapy enables users to craft, send, capture, and analyze network packets with unparalleled precision. Unlike traditional tools, Scapy’s interactive Python interface allows for custom protocol development, network reconnaissance, and advanced packet injection, making it ideal for ethical hacking, network troubleshooting, and protocol testing.

Wireshark is an open-source, free network protocol analyzer widely regarded as the industry standard for capturing and analyzing network traffic in real time. Used by network administrators, cybersecurity professionals, and ethical hackers, Wireshark enables deep packet inspection, troubleshooting, and protocol analysis across various network types, including Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. Its robust feature set and user-friendly interface make it an essential tool for monitoring network performance, detecting vulnerabilities, and ensuring robust network security.

Nessus is a leading vulnerability assessment tool developed by Tenable, Inc., widely recognized as the industry’s most trusted scanner for identifying security weaknesses across networks, devices, applications, and cloud environments. Launched in 1998 as an open-source project by Renaud Deraison, it transitioned to a proprietary model in 2005 and now offers two enterprise versions: Nessus Professional and Nessus Expert. With over 252,000 plugins and 100,000 plus CVEs, Nessus delivers high-accuracy scans to detect vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, and compliance issues. It supports unlimited IT assessments, customizable templates (450+), and vulnerability prioritization using CVSS v4, EPSS, and Tenable’s VPR. Nessus Expert extends capabilities to web application scanning, external attack surface monitoring, and cloud infrastructure audits.