NetGlobe vs LuLu
They both watch your outbound connections, but do opposite things with what they see. LuLu is Objective-See's free, open-source macOS outbound firewall — it alerts you to unknown connections and blocks them. NetGlobe is network intelligence — it shows you, in real time, every connection your machine makes, on Mac and Windows. Here's an honest, feature-by-feature comparison.
The short version
If you want to block unknown outbound traffic on a Mac for free, LuLu is a genuinely good choice — open-source, lightweight, and trusted by the security community.
If you want to see and understand what your machine is connecting to — geolocated on a live map, with WHOIS/RDAP, TLS, trust scoring, threat-intel feeds, and diagnostics — on Windows or Mac, then NetGlobe is built for that — a one-time $18.99 on either platform.
Different jobs — and they pair well.
Feature-by-feature.
Where the two tools overlap, and where they don't.
| NetGlobe | LuLu | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Real-time network intelligence & diagnostics | Free, open-source outbound firewall |
| Platforms | Windows 10/11 and macOS 11+ (Apple Silicon & Intel) | macOS only |
| Blocks / denies connections | No — visibility, not enforcement | Yes — its core feature |
| Price | $18.99 one-time · Windows & Mac | Free & open-source (donation-supported) |
| Live geolocated world map + 3D globe | Yes — 2D map and cinematic 3D globe | No — alert-based, not map-based |
| Per-endpoint intel (WHOIS / RDAP, TLS cert, reverse DNS) | Yes — one-click Endpoint Focus panel | Shows the remote address in its alert |
| Process trust scoring (code-signing, parent process, file age) | Yes — 0–100 score with reasons | Checks code-signing; rule-based, not scored |
| Threat-intel feeds (FireHOL, Spamhaus DROP/EDROP, ThreatFox, Tor) | Yes — built in, configurable | No |
| Diagnostics (traceroute, MTR, iperf3, speed test, port scan, path MTU) | Yes — full toolkit built in | No |
| Internet-health context (BGP instability, IODA / IHR) | Yes | No |
| Runs locally · no account · no telemetry | Yes | Yes (local firewall) |
Comparison reflects each product's primary design goal. LuLu's feature set is drawn from its public documentation and open-source repository; check Objective-See's site for the latest details.
Choose LuLu if…
- You want to block unknown outbound connections on your Mac, and you want it to be free.
- You value open-source software you can audit, from a trusted security team.
- You're macOS-only and don't need geolocation, threat intel, or a diagnostics toolkit.
Choose NetGlobe if…
- You want to see and understand every connection — geolocation, owner, TLS, trust score, threat-intel matches.
- You're on Windows, or you run both Windows and Mac and want one tool on each.
- You want traceroute, MTR, iperf3, and speed tests built into the same window.
Blocking vs. understanding.
LuLu answers the question "should this connection be allowed out?" When an app reaches the network for the first time, it pauses the app and asks you. That's what an outbound firewall should do, and LuLu does it well — free, with source you can read. Objective-See has earned its reputation.
NetGlobe answers a different question: "what is this connection, and should I be worried?" Click any line on the live map and NetGlobe pivots to that endpoint — the process behind it and its trust score, the network owner via WHOIS/RDAP, the TLS certificate, reverse DNS, path MTU, a live MTR trace, and any hits across FireHOL, Spamhaus, ThreatFox, or the Tor exit list. It's a lens, not a gate.
That's why the two coexist so naturally: LuLu decides what's allowed, and NetGlobe explains what's actually happening — then hands you traceroute, iperf3, and a speed test to chase down anything that looks off.
"I use LuLu, but I want to know what a connection actually is."
This is the most common reason people land here. LuLu's prompt tells you an app wants to reach an IP address — but not where it is, who owns it, or whether it's on a threat list. You end up pasting the IP into a browser and running lookups by hand before you click "Allow."
NetGlobe is the panel LuLu doesn't try to be. It geolocates every connection on a live map and 3D globe, resolves the network owner and TLS details in one click, scores the process behind the traffic, and flags threat-feed matches — so instead of guessing at an IP, you see the country, the company, and the risk. Run LuLu to enforce your rules and NetGlobe alongside it to make those allow/deny calls with real context. And because NetGlobe runs on Windows too, that visibility follows you off the Mac — somewhere LuLu can't go.
NetGlobe vs LuLu — FAQ
Is NetGlobe a firewall like LuLu?
No. LuLu is an outbound firewall — it alerts you to unknown outbound connections and can block them. NetGlobe is a visibility and diagnostics tool: it shows you every connection your machine makes, geolocated and analyzed in real time, but it does not block traffic. Many people run a firewall for enforcement and NetGlobe for understanding.
Is NetGlobe free like LuLu?
No. LuLu is free and open-source, developed by Objective-See and supported by donations. NetGlobe is a one-time $18.99 purchase on both platforms — on the Microsoft Store for Windows and as a direct download for Mac. It's a different, deeper tool: cross-platform visibility, geolocation, threat intel, and a full diagnostics toolkit rather than outbound blocking.
Can I run LuLu and NetGlobe together?
Yes. They solve different problems and don't conflict. LuLu decides what your Mac is allowed to connect to and blocks the rest; NetGlobe explains what it is connecting to — geolocation, network owner via WHOIS/RDAP, TLS certificate, process trust score, threat-intel matches, and route diagnostics. Running both gives you enforcement and understanding.
Is there a version of LuLu for Windows?
LuLu is macOS-only; there is no Windows version. If you're on Windows and want to see and understand every outbound connection, NetGlobe runs natively on Windows 10 and 11 (and on macOS), giving you deep visibility and diagnostics rather than firewall-style blocking.
Does NetGlobe work on Apple Silicon?
Yes. NetGlobe for Mac is a native build for both Apple Silicon and Intel, running on macOS 11 or later.
LuLu is a product of Objective-See, LLC. NetGlobe and Van Dien io are not affiliated with or endorsed by them. This comparison is provided for informational purposes; product details can change — verify current specifics on each vendor's site.
More NetGlobe comparisons
See where every connection really goes.
A one-time $18.99 — on the Microsoft Store for Windows, or a direct download for Mac.
No account. Runs entirely on your device. See the full feature list or the FAQ.