Absolute Insights for Network vs Maltrail: Side-by-Side Comparison (2026)
Features, pricing, ratings, and pros & cons — compared head-to-head.
Absolute Insights for Network is a commercial network detection and response tool by Absolute. Maltrail is a free network detection and response tool. Compare features, ratings, integrations, and community reviews side by side to find the best network detection and response fit for your security stack.
CST VerdictBased on our analysis of NIST CSF 2.0 coverage, core features, company size fit, deployment model, here is our conclusion:
Mid-market and enterprise security teams managing hybrid workforces across multiple networks will find Absolute Insights for Network essential for visibility into device behavior where traditional perimeter controls fail. The tamper-proof Windows client and cross-platform coverage (Windows, macOS, iOS, Android) catches data exfiltration and man-in-the-middle attacks that flow-based NDR misses, with explicit support for ZTNA policy enforcement visibility. Skip this if your priority is incident response automation; Absolute excels at continuous monitoring and threat detection but leaves response workflows to your existing playbooks.
Security teams running smaller networks or lab environments who need free, lightweight malicious traffic detection will find Maltrail useful for its low overhead and dual approach using blacklist matching and behavioral heuristics. The 7,182 GitHub stars and active community indicate reliable detection logic without licensing friction. Skip this if you need managed threat hunting, alert tuning at scale, or integration with your existing SIEM; Maltrail is a detection engine that requires manual investigation and assumes your team has bandwidth to operationalize raw findings.
