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

[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). [Plaso](https://cybersectools.com/tools/plaso) is a free [digital forensics](https://cybersectools.com/categories/digital-forensics) solution. Features, integrations, deployment and the company behind each one, side by side.

## Side-by-side comparison

| | Packet Capture (cStor®) | Plaso |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Commercial | Free |
| Category | Digital Forensics | Digital Forensics |
| Verified | No | No |
| Deployment type | Hybrid | On-Premises |
| Company size fit | Mid-Market, Enterprise | Startup, SMB, Mid-Market, Enterprise |
| GitHub stars | – | 2,032 |
| Last commit | – | Feb 2026 |
| Company | cPacket Networks | – |
| Headquarters | – | – |

### Use cases and capabilities

| | Packet Capture (cStor®) | Plaso |
|---|---|---|
| Packet Capture | Yes | – |
| PCAP | Yes | – |
| Network Forensic Analysis | Yes | – |
| Network Monitoring | Yes | – |
| Network Visibility | Yes | – |
| Packet Analysis | Yes | – |
| Observability | Yes | – |
| Evidence Collection | – | Yes |
| Memory Forensics | – | Yes |

### Core features

**Packet Capture (cStor®)**

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

**Plaso**

No features listed.

### Integrations

**Packet Capture (cStor®)**

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

**Plaso**

No integrations listed.

## Which one fits you

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

- [Packet Capture (cStor®)](https://cybersectools.com/tools/packet-capture-cstorr) fits if you need both cloud and on-premises options.
- [Plaso](https://cybersectools.com/tools/plaso) 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.

## Packet Capture (cStor®) vs Plaso FAQ

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

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

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

**Plaso**: A Python-based engine for automatic creation of timelines in digital forensic analysis.

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

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

**Packet Capture (cStor®)** is made by cPacket Networks. **Plaso** is open-source with 2,032 GitHub stars. The vendor behind a product decides its roadmap, support, and longevity, so check each company's profile before you commit.

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

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

## Related comparisons

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

## Alternatives to each

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

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

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

More on Packet Capture (cStor®) and Plaso: 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