# Surge 5 vs Network Sniffer

The clearest difference is rating: Network Sniffer at 4.6 against Surge 5's 4.1. Network Sniffer also leads on review sentiment (71% vs 52%) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.0). Surge 5's advantage is chart position (#5 vs #208) and ratings volume (1K vs 199). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Surge 5 sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per year and Network Sniffer sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Network Sniffer holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Surge 5 has 1K ratings behind it against 199, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 52% of Surge 5's written reviews are positive against 71% of Network Sniffer's.

Surge 5 ships an update monthly, Network Sniffer every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Surge 5 | Network Sniffer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.1 (1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/surge-5/id1442620678/reviews) | **[4.6 (199 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/network-sniffer/id6450956188/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1K** | 199 |
| Positive reviews | 51.7% of reviews | **71.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#5** | #208 |
| Size | 73 MB | 65 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.6** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Surge Networks Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1442620677) | [CHENGDU MIAOZHI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1465440799) |

## What reviewers say

### Surge 5

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/surge-5/id1442620678)

**Currently charting:** #5 Top Grossing · Developer Tools, #22 Top Free · Developer Tools (US App Store)

This advanced network utility allows developers to intercept, process, and forward network traffic. It offers deep control over connections, including URL redirection, local file mapping, and HTTPS decryption. Ideal for debugging and network analysis.

**Highlights:** Network connection takeover, Modify network requests/responses, Forward traffic to other proxies, Intercept and save network data, Decrypt HTTPS traffic, Rule-based forwarding, Ad blocking by domain

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Feature Subscription | $14.99 | per year |
| Surge Pro | $49.99 | one-time |


### Network Sniffer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/network-sniffer/id6450956188)

**Currently charting:** #208 Top Free · Developer Tools (US App Store)

Analyze your device's network activity to understand app behavior. Identify which apps are connecting to the internet, their data usage, and potential privacy risks. Gain control over your network with detailed visual reports and advanced inspection tools.

**Highlights:** Deep network analysis with visual reports, Capture HTTP/HTTPS/WebSocket traffic, External proxy for custom inspection, JavaScript scripting for custom rules, Request replay and rewrite, Real-time speed and data usage widgets

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Lifetime Premium | $7.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Surge 5 free?

Surge 5 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Network Sniffer free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Surge 5 or Network Sniffer?

Network Sniffer is rated higher. Surge 5 averages 4.1 out of 5 from 1K ratings, while Network Sniffer averages 4.6 from 199 ratings.

### Do Surge 5 or Network Sniffer have ads?

Neither Surge 5 nor Network Sniffer shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Surge 5 or Network Sniffer?

Surge 5 ships an update monthly, and Network Sniffer every 3 weeks. Most recently, Surge 5 was updated on November 2, 2026 and Network Sniffer on November 3, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Surge 5 or Network Sniffer?

Surge 5 currently peaks at #5 in the App Store charts, and Network Sniffer at #208. 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.*