Windows (built in)
- Latest release
- Part of Windows 10 and 11
- Price
- Free, included with Windows.
- Choose it if
- you only need a monthly usage figure per app now and then, and don’t want to install anything.
Bytevane compared
How Bytevane stacks up against Windows’ own tools and six other network monitors for Windows, including where they do more.
The short answer
Bytevane is the one to pick if you want live speeds next to the clock on Windows 11 and an alert naming the app that’s using your data, free, without an account.
Pick NetLimiter or NetBalancer if you need to limit how fast an app downloads, which Bytevane can’t do.
Pick GlassWire for security features such as prompts for new connections, and TrafficMonitor for a free meter that also shows CPU and temperatures.
Side by side
Scroll sideways to see every product.
| Feature | Bytevane | Windows (built in) | GlassWire | NetLimiter 5 | TrafficMonitor | Net Speed Meter | NetBalancer | DU Meter 9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free; Pro USD 24.99 once | Free | Free; Premium USD 2.99/month, billed yearly | EUR 19 a year (subscription) | Free | Free; Premium USD 14.99/year | USD 49.95 once, 1 year of updates | One-time; price by region |
| Speed on the Windows 11 taskbar | Yes:Next to the clock, Windows 10 and 11 | No:No speed on the taskbar | No:Desktop mini graph (Premium) | Partly, or with a limit:Separate InfoBar, Windows 10 only | Yes:Yes, with Windows 11 placement caveats | Partly, or with a limit:A widget you pin over the taskbar | Partly, or with a limit:Tray or taskbar toolbar; Windows 11 not listed | Partly, or with a limit:Windows 11 needs third-party taskbar mods |
| Data usage per app | Yes:15 minutes to 30 days | Yes:Last 30 days, in Settings | Yes:Free: 1 day; Premium: unlimited | Yes:Long-term statistics | Not documented by the vendor:Not documented; whole-PC daily history | Partly, or with a limit:Live per process (Premium) | Yes:Since install | Not documented by the vendor:Not documented |
| Usage per network | Yes:Each Wi-Fi, hotspot and Ethernet | Partly, or with a limit:Per adapter, with a data limit per network | Not documented by the vendor:Not documented | Partly, or with a limit:Networks usable in filters | Partly, or with a limit:Choose which connections to count | Partly, or with a limit:Per interface (Premium) | Partly, or with a limit:Adapter and Wi-Fi name in rules | Not documented by the vendor:Not documented |
| Alert when one app uses a lot | Yes:Per app, every minute | Not documented by the vendor:Not documented | Partly, or with a limit:Bandwidth alerts; anomaly alerts described in 2023 | Not documented by the vendor:Not documented | Not documented by the vendor:Not documented | Not documented by the vendor:Not described | Not documented by the vendor:Not documented | Not documented by the vendor:Not documented |
| Block an app | Yes:Pro, through Windows Firewall | Partly, or with a limit:A manual rule in Windows Defender Firewall | Yes:Premium | Yes:Its own connection blocker | Not documented by the vendor:Not documented | Not documented by the vendor:Not described | Yes:Its own rules | Not documented by the vendor:Not documented |
| Limit an app’s upload | Yes:Pro, per app or whole PC | Partly, or with a limit:Group Policy QoS, for administrators | Not documented by the vendor:Not documented | Yes:Yes | Not documented by the vendor:Not documented | Not documented by the vendor:Not described | Yes:Yes | Not documented by the vendor:Not documented |
| Limit an app’s download | No:Only Windows Update and Store | No:Only update downloads, via Delivery Optimization | Not documented by the vendor:Not documented | Yes:Yes | Not documented by the vendor:Not documented | Not documented by the vendor:Not described | Yes:Yes | Not documented by the vendor:Not documented |
| Monthly cap with alerts | Yes:Pro, with a forecast | Yes:Warns near and over; doesn’t block | Yes:Data plan alert | Yes:Quotas with a notification or rule | Partly, or with a limit:Alert on a daily total | Yes:Data plan alerts (Premium) | Partly, or with a limit:Quotas slow or block; no alert listed | Yes:Weekly or monthly, email, optional cutoff |
| No account needed | Yes:None needed | Yes:None needed | Partly, or with a limit:Premium signs in to a management console | Yes:None; licence key by email | Yes:None needed | Yes:None needed | Partly, or with a limit:Only for optional Cloud Sync | Yes:None; serial number |
| No telemetry | Yes:None | Not applicable:Windows’ own diagnostic settings | No:Device diagnostics and software inventory | Yes:None, per its privacy notice | Not documented by the vendor:No privacy policy found | Yes:None, per its privacy policy | Not documented by the vendor:Not covered by its privacy policy | Partly, or with a limit:Optional diagnostics |
| Runs natively on ARM64 | Yes:Native build | Yes:Yes | Yes:ARM64 build | Not documented by the vendor:Not documented | Yes:arm64ec build | Not documented by the vendor:Neutral package | Not documented by the vendor:Only x64 mentioned | No:x64 only |
YesPartly, or with a limitNoNot documented by the vendorNot applicable
Where others do more than Bytevane
- Limiting an app’s download speed: NetLimiter and NetBalancer can; Bytevane can only cap Windows Update and Store downloads.
- Firewall prompts for each new connection: GlassWire Premium and NetLimiter ask before an app connects; Bytevane blocks whole apps.
- Acting automatically at a limit: NetLimiter and NetBalancer can slow or block at a quota, and DU Meter can cut the connection; Bytevane alerts you instead.
- Managing several PCs: NetLimiter, NetBalancer and GlassWire offer remote control or monitoring.
- More on the taskbar: TrafficMonitor also shows CPU, memory and temperatures, and its source is public.
- Network tools: Net Speed Meter Premium adds a speed test and Wi-Fi details.
Each alternative in brief
GlassWire
- Latest release
- 3.11.1183, 9 November 2026
- Price
- Free; Premium from USD 2.99 a month, billed yearly (a subscription).
- Choose it if
- you want security features: prompts for new connections, lockdown mode, a network scanner and suspicious-host warnings.
NetLimiter 5
- Latest release
- 5.3.28.0, 9 October 2026
- Price
- EUR 19 for 1 year or EUR 29 for 2 years per PC, before VAT; after it expires, new rules and statistics stop.
- Choose it if
- you need to limit how fast an app downloads, set per-connection rules, or manage other PCs remotely.
TrafficMonitor
- Latest release
- V1.86, 29 March 2026
- Price
- Free; source code public on GitHub.
- Choose it if
- you want a free taskbar meter that also shows CPU, memory and temperatures, with skins and plug-ins, and don’t need per-app usage.
Net Speed Meter
- Latest release
- Microsoft Store update, 8 October 2026
- Price
- Free; Premium USD 14.99 a year (a subscription).
- Choose it if
- you want a floating speed widget plus a speed test, Wi-Fi details and network tools.
NetBalancer
- Latest release
- v12.6.1, 30 September 2025
- Price
- USD 49.95 once per PC, with a year of updates; renewal USD 34.95.
- Choose it if
- you need download and upload limits or priorities per app, and rules by country, adapter or Wi-Fi name. Its listed requirements stop at Windows 10.
DU Meter 9
- Latest release
- 9.50, 4 August 2026
- Price
- One-time purchase with 9.x updates; the price depends on your region.
- Choose it if
- you want weekly or monthly usage alerts by email, an automatic internet cutoff at a limit, or Windows Server support.
GlassWire, NetLimiter, TrafficMonitor, Net Speed Meter, NetBalancer and DU Meter are trademarks of their owners. Bytevane isn’t affiliated with any of them. Spotted something out of date? Email bytevane@appzlr.com and we’ll fix it.
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