# Cynalytica OT OptICS™ vs ICS-pcap: side-by-side comparison (2026)

[Cynalytica OT OptICS™](https://cybersectools.com/tools/cynalytica-ot-opticstm) is a commercial [industrial control system security](https://cybersectools.com/categories/ics-security) solution by [Cynalytica](https://cybersectools.com/companies/cynalytica). [ICS-pcap](https://cybersectools.com/tools/ics-pcap) is a free [industrial control system security](https://cybersectools.com/categories/ics-security) solution. Features, integrations, deployment and the company behind each one, side by side.

## Side-by-side comparison

| | Cynalytica OT OptICS™ | ICS-pcap |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Commercial | Free |
| Category | Industrial Control System Security | Industrial Control System Security |
| Verified | No | No |
| Deployment type | Hybrid | On-Premises |
| Company size fit | Mid-Market, Enterprise | Startup, SMB, Mid-Market, Enterprise |
| GitHub stars | – | 542 |
| Last commit | – | Jan 2020 |
| Company | Cynalytica | – |
| Headquarters | – | – |

### Use cases and capabilities

| | Cynalytica OT OptICS™ | ICS-pcap |
|---|---|---|
| SCADA | Yes | Yes |
| PCAP | – | Yes |
| Protocol Analysis | – | Yes |

### Core features

**Cynalytica OT OptICS™**

10 features listed. Sign in on the page to see them.

**ICS-pcap**

No features listed.

## Which one fits you

Based on what each listing shows: deployment, company size, price and open source.

- [Cynalytica OT OptICS™](https://cybersectools.com/tools/cynalytica-ot-opticstm) fits if you need both cloud and on-premises options.
- [ICS-pcap](https://cybersectools.com/tools/ics-pcap) fits if you need to run it on your own servers, you are a startup or a small business, you need a free product and you want an open-source product.

## Cynalytica OT OptICS™ vs ICS-pcap FAQ

Common questions when comparing Cynalytica OT OptICS™ vs ICS-pcap for industrial control system security.

### What is the difference between Cynalytica OT OptICS™ and ICS-pcap?

**Cynalytica OT OptICS™**: AI-driven IDS for serial-connected ICS with anomaly detection, built by Cynalytica.

**ICS-pcap**: A collection of PCAPs for ICS/SCADA utilities and protocols with the option for users to contribute.

The table above shows where their features, integrations, deployment and company size fit differ.

### Who makes Cynalytica OT OptICS™ and ICS-pcap?

**Cynalytica OT OptICS™** is made by Cynalytica. **ICS-pcap** is open-source with 542 GitHub stars. The vendor behind a product decides its roadmap, support, and longevity, so check each company's profile before you commit.

### Is Cynalytica OT OptICS™ a good alternative to ICS-pcap?

Often, yes. Cynalytica OT OptICS™ and ICS-pcap are both Industrial Control System Security products, and both cover SCADA. Key differences: Cynalytica OT OptICS™ is Commercial while ICS-pcap is Free, ICS-pcap is open-source. Use the table above to see where features, deployment and company size fit differ.

## Related comparisons

- [Cynalytica OT OptICS™ vs DERSec Platform](https://cybersectools.com/compare/cynalytica-ot-opticstm-vs-dersec-platform)
- [Cynalytica OT OptICS™ vs Dragos OT Incident Response](https://cybersectools.com/compare/cynalytica-ot-opticstm-vs-dragos-ot-incident-response)
- [Cynalytica OT OptICS™ vs Gambit KnightGuard for OT & Critical Infra](https://cybersectools.com/compare/cynalytica-ot-opticstm-vs-gambit-knightguard-for-ot-and-critical-infra)
- [ICS-pcap vs DERSec Platform](https://cybersectools.com/compare/dersec-platform-vs-ics-pcap)
- [ICS-pcap vs Dragos OT Incident Response](https://cybersectools.com/compare/dragos-ot-incident-response-vs-ics-pcap)
- [ICS-pcap vs Gambit KnightGuard for OT & Critical Infra](https://cybersectools.com/compare/gambit-knightguard-for-ot-and-critical-infra-vs-ics-pcap)

## Alternatives to each

- [See all Cynalytica OT OptICS™ alternatives](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/cynalytica-ot-opticstm)
- [See all ICS-pcap alternatives](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/ics-pcap)

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Source: https://cybersectools.com/compare/cynalytica-ot-opticstm-vs-ics-pcap

For AI agents: each product above has its own Markdown page (add .md to its URL, for example https://cybersectools.com/tools/cynalytica-ot-opticstm.md). Every CybersecTools shortlist is listed at https://cybersectools.com/shortlists.md.

More on Cynalytica OT OptICS™ and ICS-pcap: funding, momentum, hiring and news, plus the full product and company record, are available through the Mandos MCP Server (paid plans), which connects to AI assistants: https://mandos.io/mcp?utm_source=cybersectools.com&utm_medium=compare-md