# mac_apt vs Packet Capture (cStor®): side-by-side comparison (2026)

[mac_apt](https://cybersectools.com/tools/macapt) is a free [digital forensics](https://cybersectools.com/categories/digital-forensics) solution. [Packet Capture (cStor®)](https://cybersectools.com/tools/packet-capture-cstorr) is a commercial [digital forensics](https://cybersectools.com/categories/digital-forensics) solution by [cPacket Networks](https://cybersectools.com/companies/cpacket-networks). Features, integrations, deployment and the company behind each one, side by side.

## Side-by-side comparison

| | mac_apt | Packet Capture (cStor®) |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Free | Commercial |
| Category | Digital Forensics | Digital Forensics |
| Verified | No | No |
| Deployment type | On-Premises | Hybrid |
| Company size fit | SMB, Mid-Market, Enterprise | Mid-Market, Enterprise |
| GitHub stars | 923 | – |
| Last commit | Sep 2025 | – |
| Company | – | cPacket Networks |
| Headquarters | – | – |

### Use cases and capabilities

| | mac_apt | Packet Capture (cStor®) |
|---|---|---|
| macOS | Yes | – |
| Packet Capture | – | Yes |
| PCAP | – | Yes |
| Network Forensic Analysis | – | Yes |
| Network Monitoring | – | Yes |
| Network Visibility | – | Yes |
| Packet Analysis | – | Yes |
| Observability | – | Yes |

### Core features

**mac_apt**

No features listed.

**Packet Capture (cStor®)**

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

### Integrations

**mac_apt**

No integrations listed.

**Packet Capture (cStor®)**

6 integrations listed. Sign in on the page to see them.

## Which one fits you

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

- [mac_apt](https://cybersectools.com/tools/macapt) fits if you need to run it on your own servers, you are a small business, you need a free product and you want an open-source product.
- [Packet Capture (cStor®)](https://cybersectools.com/tools/packet-capture-cstorr) fits if you need both cloud and on-premises options.

## mac_apt vs Packet Capture (cStor®) FAQ

Common questions when comparing mac_apt vs Packet Capture (cStor®) for digital forensics.

### What is the difference between mac_apt and Packet Capture (cStor®)?

**mac_apt**: Mac_apt is a versatile DFIR tool for processing Mac and iOS images, offering extensive artifact extraction capabilities and cross-platform support.

**Packet Capture (cStor®)**: Lossless packet capture & analysis appliance at 10–200 Gbps line rate, built by cPacket Networks.

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

### Who makes mac_apt and Packet Capture (cStor®)?

**mac_apt** is open-source with 923 GitHub stars. **Packet Capture (cStor®)** is made by cPacket Networks. The vendor behind a product decides its roadmap, support, and longevity, so check each company's profile before you commit.

### Is mac_apt a good alternative to Packet Capture (cStor®)?

Often, yes. mac_apt and Packet Capture (cStor®) are both Digital Forensics products. Key differences: mac_apt is Free while Packet Capture (cStor®) is Commercial, mac_apt is open-source. Use the table above to see where features, deployment and company size fit differ.

## Related comparisons

- [mac_apt vs Endace Full Packet Capture](https://cybersectools.com/compare/endace-full-packet-capture-vs-macapt)
- [mac_apt vs ExtraHop Packet Forensics](https://cybersectools.com/compare/extrahop-packet-forensics-vs-macapt)
- [mac_apt vs Telesoft TDAC](https://cybersectools.com/compare/macapt-vs-telesoft-tdac)
- [Packet Capture (cStor®) vs Endace Full Packet Capture](https://cybersectools.com/compare/endace-full-packet-capture-vs-packet-capture-cstorr)
- [Packet Capture (cStor®) vs ExtraHop Packet Forensics](https://cybersectools.com/compare/extrahop-packet-forensics-vs-packet-capture-cstorr)
- [Packet Capture (cStor®) vs Telesoft TDAC](https://cybersectools.com/compare/packet-capture-cstorr-vs-telesoft-tdac)

## Alternatives to each

- [See all mac_apt alternatives](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/macapt)
- [See all Packet Capture (cStor®) alternatives](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/packet-capture-cstorr)

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Source: https://cybersectools.com/compare/macapt-vs-packet-capture-cstorr

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

More on mac_apt and Packet Capture (cStor®): 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