- LightAtom — Seeing every app's connections, destinations and domains
- Little Snitch — Monitoring plus blocking
- Activity Monitor — A quick free check
- TripMode — Saving data on hotspots
- Wireshark — Packet-level analysis
How we tested
We compared the questions each tool answers — how much data, which app, which server and where, which ports, what's inside — using vendors' documentation checked on 24 October 2026 and macOS 15 Sequoia for Apple's tools. LightAtom is our app; we've kept its entry to facts and listed its main limitation.
For quick checks without installing anything, Terminal's nettop -P and lsof -i cover a lot; see the related tutorials.
LightAtom
Best for Seeing every app's connections, destinations and domains
Pros
- Per-app connections, data, ports and domain names
- Map of where traffic goes
- No rules or alerts to manage
Cons
- Doesn't block connections
- We make it, so weigh this pick accordingly
Little Snitch
Best for Monitoring plus blocking
Pros
- Excellent monitor with a map
- Full outbound firewall
Cons
- €59
- Monitor stops after 30 days in demo mode
Activity Monitor
Best for A quick free check
Pros
- Built in
- Bytes sent and received per process
Cons
- No destinations, domains or ports
- No history
TripMode
Best for Saving data on hotspots
Pros
- Per-app data usage
- Block apps on metered connections
Cons
- Paid license
- Focused on data saving, not destinations
Wireshark
Best for Packet-level analysis
Pros
- Free and open source
- Decodes every protocol
Cons
- Not organised by app
- Steep learning curve
Comparison table
| LightAtom | Little Snitch | Activity Monitor | TripMode | Wireshark | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Not announced yet | €59 single license (free demo mode) | Free (built in) | Free download; paid license | Free |
| Platforms | macOS | macOS | macOS | macOS | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Blocks connections | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Per-app bytes / live rate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Map view | Yes | Yes | No | Not listed | Not listed |
| Open ports view | Yes | Not listed | No | Not listed | Not listed |
| DNS / domain names | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Not listed |
| Open source | Not listed | No | No | Not listed | Yes |
| macOS support | macOS 14 or later | Not listed | Built into every macOS version | Not listed | Not listed |
| Last checked | 24 Oct 2026 | 24 Oct 2026 | 24 Oct 2026 | 24 Oct 2026 | 24 Oct 2026 |
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free network monitor for Mac?
Activity Monitor's Network tab is built in and free, but shows only bytes per process. Wireshark is free for packet analysis. nettop in Terminal shows live traffic per process.
How do I see which apps are using the internet on my Mac?
Activity Monitor › Network for totals, or a network monitor for destinations, domains and ports per app.
What is the best bandwidth monitor for Mac?
For per-app usage, LightAtom or TripMode; TripMode also blocks apps on metered connections.
Does Little Snitch work as a network monitor?
Yes. Its monitor is excellent, and it's also a firewall. In demo mode the monitor stops after 30 days.