# Stream vs Web Inspector

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Web Inspector at none against Stream's 2. Web Inspector also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks). Stream's advantage is review sentiment (79% vs 65%) and iOS requirement (9 vs 15.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Stream sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Web Inspector asks for nothing beyond the download.

Stream holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 3.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 133 and 152 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 79% of Stream's written reviews are positive against 65% of Web Inspector's.

Stream ships an update every 3 weeks, Web Inspector weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Stream | Web Inspector |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.1 (133 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stream-network-debug-tool/id1312141691/reviews)** | [3.9 (152 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/web-inspector/id1584825745/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 133 | **152** |
| Positive reviews | **78.9% of reviews** | 65.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | #65 | **#49** |
| Size | 33 MB | 2 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Stream Lab Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1499306893) | [And a Dinosaur](https://appshunter.io/developer/475577301) |

## What reviewers say

### Stream

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stream-network-debug-tool/id1312141691)

**Currently charting:** #65 Top Free · Developer Tools (US App Store)

This tool allows developers to inspect HTTP and HTTPS network traffic on iOS devices. It enables capturing requests, replaying them, and managing host configurations for testing different environments. Essential for debugging network issues and understanding application behavior.

**Highlights:** Sniff HTTP & HTTPS requests, Capture and preview request/response bodies, Compose and replay HTTP requests, Configure hosts for environment switching, Import and replay HAR files, Compatible with iPhone X and iPad multitasking

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Coke | $0.99 | one-time |
| Coffee | $2.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Free and powerful HTTP packet sniffer tool
- 👍 Simple and intuitive user interface
- 🔧 Useful for network debugging and troubleshooting
- 💡 Built-in JSON viewer and utilities (RSA, Base64 encryption/decryption)
- ✏️ Ability to edit and resend requests

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Certificate installation fails on iOS 18.x versions
- 🐛 Gacha history recording not working properly
- 🐛 'Code 0' error when generating JSON links
- 🐛 VPN profile conflicts requiring app reinstallation
- ⚠️ Requires installing system certificates (security concern)

**Reported bugs**

- Certificate installation fails on iOS 18.1 and 18.2
- Gacha/wish history not being captured correctly
- Code 0 error when retrieving JSON links
- VPN profiles becoming non-functional after app use
- Server connection issues (192.168.0.2:8081 unreachable)

**Requested features**

- Select all requests button for bulk export
- Ability to delete individual capture sessions/records
- Gzip response content decompression
- Breakpoint setting for request modification
- Media file saving capability


### Web Inspector

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/web-inspector/id1584825745)

**Currently charting:** #49 Top Free · Developer Tools (US App Store)

This app provides a suite of web development tools for Safari on mobile devices. Inspect and edit the DOM, view element styles, execute JavaScript commands, monitor network requests, and examine stored resources like cookies.

**Highlights:** DOM inspection and editing, Element style viewer, JavaScript console, Network request monitoring, Resource storage details

**Features:** Safari Extension, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Efficient web inspector
- 👍 Useful debugging tools
- 🔍 Helpful for web development
- 💡 Brings desktop-like functionality to mobile

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and bugs
- 🔍 Limited functionality compared to desktop tools
- 🔍 Inconsistent performance
- 🔍 Difficult to use or navigate

**Reported bugs**

- Disappears when reloading webpage
- Doesn't work on newer iOS versions
- Doesn't load on crashed tabs
- Permissions issues

**Requested features**

- CSS editing capabilities
- Resizable panel
- Improved console functionality
- Better integration with Safari


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Stream free?

Stream is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Web Inspector free?

Web Inspector is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Stream or Web Inspector?

Stream is rated higher. Stream averages 4.1 out of 5 from 133 ratings, while Web Inspector averages 3.9 from 152 ratings.

### Do Stream or Web Inspector have ads?

Neither Stream nor Web Inspector shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Stream or Web Inspector?

Stream ships an update every 3 weeks, and Web Inspector weekly. Most recently, Stream was updated on September 22, 2026 and Web Inspector on September 23, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Stream or Web Inspector?

Stream currently peaks at #65 in the App Store charts, and Web Inspector at #49. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*