NetGlobe vs TCPView
If you've used TCPView, you already know the appeal: a free, instant, per-process list of every TCP and UDP endpoint your Windows PC has open. NetGlobe keeps that live per-process view and adds the layer TCPView never had — geolocation on a live map, per-endpoint intelligence, threat feeds, a full diagnostics toolkit, and a native Mac app. Here's an honest, feature-by-feature comparison.
The short version
If you want a fast, free, no-install list of connections on Windows — and the ability to close a connection on the spot — TCPView is a superb little tool and it's free from Microsoft.
If you want to understand those connections — where each endpoint is in the world, who owns the network, its TLS certificate, a process trust score, and whether it appears on a threat feed — plus traceroute, MTR, and speed tests in the same window, on Windows or Mac, then NetGlobe is built for that — a one-time $18.99 on either platform.
Different jobs. They sit well side by side.
Feature-by-feature.
Where the two tools overlap, and where they don't.
| NetGlobe | TCPView | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Real-time network intelligence & diagnostics | Live per-process TCP/UDP endpoint list (Sysinternals) |
| Platforms | Windows 10/11 and macOS 11+ (Apple Silicon & Intel) | Windows only |
| Price | $18.99 one-time · Windows & Mac | Free (part of Microsoft Sysinternals) |
| Setup | Installed app · Microsoft Store or direct download | Single lightweight executable · no install |
| Per-process attribution (which app owns each connection) | Yes | Yes — its core view |
| Close / terminate a connection or process | No — visibility, not enforcement | Yes — close connection / end process |
| Live geolocated world map + 3D globe | Yes — 2D map and cinematic 3D globe | No — table only |
| Per-endpoint intel (WHOIS / RDAP, TLS cert, reverse DNS) | Yes — one-click Endpoint Focus panel | No — remote address / hostname only |
| Process trust scoring (code-signing, parent process, file age) | Yes — 0–100 score with reasons | No |
| 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 utility) |
Comparison reflects each product's primary design goal. TCPView's feature set is drawn from Microsoft's public Sysinternals documentation; check Microsoft's site for the latest details.
Choose TCPView if…
- You want a free, instant, no-install endpoint list on Windows and nothing more.
- You need to close a connection or end a process right now during a quick troubleshoot.
- You're on Windows and don't need geolocation, threat intel, or a Mac build.
Choose NetGlobe if…
- You want to see where each connection goes — geolocated on a live map and globe, with owner, TLS, and trust score.
- You want threat-intel matching and a full diagnostics toolkit — traceroute, MTR, iperf3, speed test — built in.
- You're on macOS, or run both Mac and Windows and want the same tool on each.
A live list vs. a live map.
TCPView answers "what is my PC connected to right now?" as a fast, sortable table: process,
protocol, local and remote address, state, and — helpfully — the ability to close a connection or end
the process behind it. It's a single lightweight executable with no installer, it's free, and it has
long been the quickest way to turn netstat into something readable. If that's all you need
on Windows, it's hard to beat.
NetGlobe answers the next question: "what is that endpoint, and should I be worried?" It keeps the per-process attribution, then plots every connection on a live 2D map and 3D globe so you can see where your traffic goes. Click any line and NetGlobe pivots to that endpoint — the process and its 0–100 trust score (code-signing, parent process, file age), 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. A table row says a connection exists; NetGlobe tells you what it is.
The honest difference runs the other way too: NetGlobe does not close or terminate connections — it's a lens, not a switch. TCPView can drop a connection or kill a process on the spot; NetGlobe visualizes, geolocates, inspects, and threat-checks, but never blocks. That's why the two coexist so cleanly.
"Is there a TCPView for Mac?"
It's one of the most common searches around this tool, and the honest answer is no —
TCPView is part of Microsoft Sysinternals and runs only on Windows. macOS has command-line options like
lsof and nettop, but nothing with TCPView's simple per-process window. NetGlobe
fills that gap: it's a native Mac app (Apple Silicon and Intel, macOS 11+) with the same
live, per-process view — plus the geolocation, per-endpoint intel, threat feeds, and diagnostics TCPView
never had. Run it on Windows 10 and 11 too, and you get one consistent tool across both machines.
NetGlobe vs TCPView — FAQ
Is NetGlobe a replacement for TCPView?
Not exactly — they overlap but aim at different things. TCPView is a fast, free Sysinternals utility that lists every TCP and UDP endpoint per process and can close a connection on the spot. NetGlobe keeps that live per-process view and adds geolocation on a map and 3D globe, per-endpoint intel, threat-intel matching, and a full diagnostics toolkit — across Windows and macOS. If you just need a quick endpoint list on Windows, TCPView is free and hard to beat; NetGlobe is for when you want context and cross-platform coverage.
Is there a TCPView for Mac?
No. TCPView is part of Microsoft Sysinternals and runs only on Windows; there is no macOS build. NetGlobe runs natively on macOS 11 or later (Apple Silicon and Intel) as well as Windows 10 and 11, so you get a live, per-process view of your connections on the Mac too — with geolocation, per-endpoint intel, and diagnostics that TCPView doesn't include.
Can NetGlobe close or terminate connections like TCPView?
No. TCPView can close an individual connection or end the owning process, which is genuinely useful. NetGlobe is a visibility and diagnostics tool — it shows and analyzes every connection in real time but does not terminate them. If closing connections is your main need, keep TCPView for that; plenty of people run it alongside NetGlobe.
How much does NetGlobe cost compared to TCPView?
TCPView is free — it's part of the Microsoft Sysinternals suite. NetGlobe is a one-time $18.99 purchase on both platforms: on the Microsoft Store for Windows and as a direct download for Mac. You're paying for the extra layer TCPView doesn't have — geolocation, per-endpoint intel, threat feeds, diagnostics, and native macOS support.
Does NetGlobe show which process owns each connection, like TCPView?
Yes. Like TCPView, NetGlobe attributes each connection to the process behind it. It then goes further with a 0–100 process trust score based on code-signing, parent process, and file age, plus the remote endpoint's geolocation, network owner via WHOIS/RDAP, TLS certificate, reverse DNS, and any threat-intel matches.
TCPView and Sysinternals are products of Microsoft. NetGlobe and Van Dien io are not affiliated with or endorsed by Microsoft. This comparison is provided for informational purposes; product details can change — verify current specifics on each vendor's site.
See what your machine is really doing.
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.