# Packet Capture (cStor®) vs SIFT: 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). [SIFT](https://cybersectools.com/tools/sift) 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®) | SIFT |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Commercial | Free |
| Category | Digital Forensics | Digital Forensics |
| Verified | No | No |
| Deployment type | Hybrid | Hybrid |
| Company size fit | Mid-Market, Enterprise | SMB, Mid-Market, Enterprise |
| GitHub stars | – | 516 |
| Last commit | – | Feb 2024 |
| Company | cPacket Networks | – |
| Headquarters | – | – |

### Use cases and capabilities

| | Packet Capture (cStor®) | SIFT |
|---|---|---|
| Packet Capture | Yes | – |
| PCAP | Yes | – |
| Network Forensic Analysis | Yes | – |
| Network Monitoring | Yes | – |
| Network Visibility | Yes | – |
| Packet Analysis | Yes | – |
| Observability | Yes | – |
| Linux | – | Yes |
| AWS | – | Yes |

### Core features

**Packet Capture (cStor®)**

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

**SIFT**

No features listed.

### Integrations

**Packet Capture (cStor®)**

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

**SIFT**

No integrations listed.

## Which one fits you

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

- [SIFT](https://cybersectools.com/tools/sift) fits if you are a small business, you need a free product and you want an open-source product.

## Packet Capture (cStor®) vs SIFT FAQ

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

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

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

**SIFT**: SIFT is a digital forensics toolkit that provides installation management, task execution, and machine image building capabilities for forensic investigations on Ubuntu systems.

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

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

**Packet Capture (cStor®)** is made by cPacket Networks. **SIFT** is open-source with 516 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 SIFT?

Often, yes. Packet Capture (cStor®) and SIFT are both Digital Forensics products. Key differences: Packet Capture (cStor®) is Commercial while SIFT is Free, SIFT 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)
- [SIFT vs Endace Full Packet Capture](https://cybersectools.com/compare/endace-full-packet-capture-vs-sift)
- [SIFT vs ExtraHop Packet Forensics](https://cybersectools.com/compare/extrahop-packet-forensics-vs-sift)
- [SIFT vs Telesoft TDAC](https://cybersectools.com/compare/sift-vs-telesoft-tdac)

## Alternatives to each

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

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

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 SIFT: 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