GlassWire vs SRS

GlassWire is a network monitoring and personal firewall application for Windows and Android that visualizes current and past network activity to help users spot malware, bandwidth hogs, and unfamiliar devices on their network. Its firewall includes an ask-to-connect mode that lets users approve or deny individual apps' network access, alongside a network time machine for reviewing historical connections. GlassWire also tracks data usage across devices and can alert users before they exceed set data limits, while its network scanner flags new or unknown devices joining a WiFi network. Over 53 million downloads have been recorded for the Windows and Android apps combined.

SRS (Simple Realtime Server) is a high-efficiency open-source media server for live video. It ingests and delivers streams over RTMP, WebRTC, HLS, HTTP-FLV, HTTP-TS, SRT, MPEG-DASH and GB28181, with codec support for H.264, H.265, AV1, VP9, AAC, Opus and G.711. The server is highly configurable, clusters well for large audiences, and integrates with existing workflows through its broad protocol support.

• Combines network monitoring and firewall in one lightweight app
• Very affordable premium pricing at $2.99/month
• Visual, easy-to-understand traffic graphs
• Available on both Windows and Android

• Free and open‑source
• Supports a wide range of streaming protocols
• Low latency suitable for interactive use cases
• Active community support via GitHub and forums

• Free tier limits network history to just 24 hours
• Windows and Android only, no Mac or Linux support
• Advanced threat detection features require Premium

• Requires manual self‑hosting and configuration
• Documentation can be fragmented for beginners
• Limited official commercial support options