Radio Silence is for people who know which apps they want offline and never want a pop-up. Little Snitch is for people who want to decide connection by connection. Radio Silence is cheaper and calmer; Little Snitch is far more powerful, with rules per server, profiles, blocklists, encrypted DNS and a richer monitor.
Criterion by criterion
| Criterion | Little Snitch | Radio Silence |
|---|---|---|
| Price | €59 single license | $9 |
| Approach | Alerts on new connections, or silent modes | No alerts; block apps from a list |
| Block granularity | Per app, server, port and protocol | Per app |
| Profiles and blocklists | Yes | No |
| Network monitor | Detailed, with a map | Live connections list |
| Ease of use | Many options to learn | Very simple |
| macOS support | Current macOS versions | macOS 10.15 or later |
| Little Snitch | Radio Silence | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | €59 single license (free demo mode) | $9 |
| Platforms | macOS | macOS |
| Blocks connections | Yes | Yes |
| Per-app bytes / live rate | Yes | Not listed |
| Map view | Yes | Not listed |
| Open ports view | Not listed | Not listed |
| DNS / domain names | Yes | Not listed |
| Open source | No | Not listed |
| macOS support | Not listed | macOS 10.15 or later |
| Last checked | 24 Oct 2026 | 24 Oct 2026 |
Which to pick
Pick Little Snitch if…
- You want to allow an app to reach some servers but not others.
- You want profiles, blocklists or encrypted DNS.
- You like reviewing each new connection.
Pick Radio Silence if…
- You just want certain apps to never go online.
- Pop-ups would drive you mad.
- You want the cheapest paid option.
Frequently asked questions
Does Radio Silence show pop-up alerts?
No. It's deliberately silent. You add apps to its block list, and they're cut off without prompts.
Can Radio Silence block specific websites?
It blocks apps rather than individual servers. Little Snitch can allow an app to reach some servers while blocking others.
Which is easier to use?
Radio Silence, by a wide margin. Little Snitch rewards time spent learning it.
Is there a free option?
LuLu is a free, open-source outbound firewall with alerts, similar in approach to Little Snitch but simpler.