Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

GlassWire VS Portmaster

Compare GlassWire VS Portmaster and see what are their differences

GlassWire logo GlassWire

Visualize network activity in detail, get notified when new apps access the network, look out for...

Portmaster logo Portmaster

Is a Privacy Modular Privacy App which includes a "DNS over TLS" feature as well as an "Application Firewall".
  • GlassWire Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-20
  • Portmaster Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-21

GlassWire features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    GlassWire offers a visually appealing and intuitive interface that makes it easy for users to monitor network activity and understand data usage.
  • Comprehensive Network Monitoring
    GlassWire provides detailed insights into the user's network activity, including bandwidth usage, application connections, and geographic data for connected servers.
  • Real-Time Alerts
    The software offers real-time alerts for suspicious activity, helping users quickly respond to potential security threats.
  • Firewall Management
    GlassWire integrates firewall management features, allowing users to block specific applications from accessing the network.
  • Privacy Protection
    The software includes various privacy protection features, such as detecting spyware, malware, and other unwanted software.
  • Historical Data
    Users can access historical network activity data to analyze trends and identify unusual behavior over time.
  • Ease of Installation
    GlassWire is easy to install and set up, making it accessible even to users with minimal technical expertise.

Possible disadvantages of GlassWire

  • Cost
    Although GlassWire offers a free version, many advanced features are locked behind a paywall, which could be a drawback for cost-conscious users.
  • Resource Usage
    Some users have reported that GlassWire can consume a significant amount of system resources, potentially slowing down their computer.
  • Limited Cross-Platform Support
    While GlassWire supports Windows and Android, it lacks support for other popular platforms like macOS and iOS, limiting its usability for some users.
  • Complexity for Novices
    Despite its user-friendly design, some of GlassWire's more advanced features may be overwhelming for users who aren't familiar with network security concepts.
  • Periodic Connectivity Issues
    Some users have reported occasional connectivity issues, including problems with the service not starting or functioning properly.
  • Updating Issues
    There have been occasional reports of problems during the update process, where features may not work as expected or data may seem inconsistent post-update.
  • False Positives
    GlassWire's real-time alerts sometimes generate false positives, causing unnecessary alarms and potential inconvenience.

Portmaster features and specs

  • Enhanced Privacy
    Portmaster offers comprehensive network monitoring and filtering, giving users control over data leaving their devices, therefore enhancing privacy by minimizing data leaks.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The software features an intuitive and easy-to-navigate interface, making it accessible even for users who are not technically inclined.
  • Open Source
    Portmaster is open-source, which means its code is publicly available for scrutiny, helping to build trust through transparency and community contributions.
  • Customizable
    Users have the ability to customize settings and filters according to their needs, allowing for a personalized security and privacy configuration.
  • Real-Time Protection
    Provides real-time monitoring and protection, ensuring that users are alerted to and can block unwanted connections as they occur.

Possible disadvantages of Portmaster

  • Potential System Impact
    Depending on system specifications and usage, the software may cause noticeable performance impacts due to its real-time monitoring capabilities.
  • Learning Curve
    Despite its user-friendly interface, there is still a learning curve associated with understanding and effectively utilizing all features, particularly for non-tech-savvy users.
  • Limited Support Resources
    While it has community support, users may find professional support options limited compared to established commercial solutions.
  • Compatibility
    There may be compatibility issues with certain operating systems or network configurations, requiring additional troubleshooting.
  • False Positives
    As with many security solutions, there is a risk of false positives where legitimate connections are mistakenly blocked, potentially disrupting certain services.

GlassWire videos

Glasswire Firewall Review | Tested against Ransomware

More videos:

  • Review - BEST FIREWALL.... EVER?! // GlassWire Review - Personal Security & Privacy Monitoring
  • Review - Master Your Network With Glasswire 2.0

Portmaster videos

The Portmaster is Out in Pre-Alpha! - Progress Update #3

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to GlassWire and Portmaster)
Monitoring Tools
74 74%
26% 26
Firewall
75 75%
25% 25
Cyber Security
76 76%
24% 24
Security & Privacy
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using GlassWire and Portmaster. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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  1. User avatar
    Yed
    · 8 months ago
    · Reply

    Need update this post ! Really !

    1. Stan Bright avatar
      Stan Bright
      · 8 months ago
      · Reply

      What would you change?

      1. User avatar
        Yed
        · 8 months ago
        · Reply

        No change just update this post because portmaster is updated you have all for glasswire but not detailed portmaster...

        1. Stan Bright avatar
          Stan Bright
          · 8 months ago
          · Reply

          Thanks, Yed. A lot of the information on SaaSHub is user supplied. Do you think you could click the button "Edit details/Suggest Changes" and suggest the necessary amendments? Thanks!

Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare GlassWire and Portmaster

GlassWire Reviews

Best firewall software of 2024
Probably its best feature is the presentation of detailed statistics of network usage broken down by IP/Host, application, and type of network traffic. GlassWire has an ‘Ask to Connect’ mode to allow or deny new app connections. And you can create custom profiles, for instance, when you’re connected to your home WiFi or when you’re at work.
Best Free Firewalls for Windows, Mac & Android in 2024
GlassWire monitors incoming and outgoing traffic to protect against intrusions. It’s among the most beginner-friendly and intuitive firewall programs I’ve seen. The app provides useful graphs that make it easy to tell what each process is doing. Once you’re in the app, you’ll see 5 tabs that highlight the following details:
Source: www.wizcase.com
10 Best Free Firewall Software for Windows in 2024
The software in the list have different priorities, some of them are great for features, security, and privacy, the others have an edge on pricing. For optimal protection and prevention from threats, we would recommend you to go for ZoneAlarm, Comodo Firewall, or Glasswire. If you want visibility and control of your applications, then go for Peerblock, or Tinywall. The best...

Portmaster Reviews

We have no reviews of Portmaster yet.
Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Portmaster seems to be a lot more popular than GlassWire. While we know about 58 links to Portmaster, we've tracked only 2 mentions of GlassWire. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

GlassWire mentions (2)

  • What is the use of an Av when it can be bypassed easily?
    Don’t use netstat use Glasswire as it will help to monitor your network and let you know to where your data is being sent, including the file/service which is sending it. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Bandwidth - 20p-40p per day passive.
    I run the app behind pihole with sinkhole but if your looking to monitor the traffic it sends to see if its any good for you use something like glasswire.com The free version will allow you to monitor the outgoing traffic. Source: over 2 years ago

Portmaster mentions (58)

  • Manjaro is a free and open source Linux operating system that emphasizes privacy
    Manjaro actually includes Portmaster [0] as a package [1], which is now being moved to "extra". [0] https://safing.io/portmaster [1] https://software.manjaro.org/package/portmaster-stub. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Google contacts sync foss alternative
    I get it, but running an outdated OS with no patching is height risk for security, consider the tradeoff. If I'm not mistaken W7 is not supported anymore, meaning you are exposed to vulnerabilities. Consider checking online guides on how to harden W10 or consider migrating to a modern Linux distribution, that can even run some Windows programs. It is true that has reliability issues. VMs are another option and... Source: about 2 years ago
  • What do you guys think of Chromium-based Browsers or whatever engine it is made out of?
    Wouldn't a software like PiHole or Safing Portmaster help in this regard than to rely on ublock origin? Source: over 2 years ago
  • Do I need a firewall?
    You could look at something like Portmaster https://safing.io/portmaster/. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Is there a free and trustworthy Firewall
    You can also check Portmaster that is still on Alpha, but looks promising. Source: over 2 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing GlassWire and Portmaster, you can also consider the following products

TinyWall - Lightweight and non-intrusive firewall

simplewall - Simple tool to configure Windows Filtering Platform (WFP) which can configure network activity on...

Windows 10 Firewall Control - Windows 10 Firewall Control: simple and exhaustive solution for applications network activity controlling and monitoring.

Windows Firewall Control - Windows Firewall Control is not the built in firewall system in the Windows operating systems.

NetLimiter - NetLimiter is an ultimate Internet traffic control and monitoring tool designed for Windows.

Emsisoft Online Armor Firewall - Emsisoft Online Armor Firewall is a freemium online firewall protection system by the Emsisoft that is based on the own independent protection technology of the Emsisoft.