# NorthernView vs IP Scanner

The clearest difference is review sentiment: IP Scanner at 60% against NorthernView's 11%. IP Scanner also leads on rating (4.6 vs 1.7) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 5 months). NorthernView's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 26). On price and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. IP Scanner sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. NorthernView asks for nothing beyond the download.

IP Scanner holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 1.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: IP Scanner has 891 ratings behind it against 33, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 11% of NorthernView's written reviews are positive against 60% of IP Scanner's.

NorthernView ships an update every 5 months, IP Scanner fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | NorthernView | IP Scanner |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.7 (33 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/northernview/id1507863508/reviews) | **[4.6 (891 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ip-scanner/id6443819966/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 33 | **891** |
| Positive reviews | 10.5% of reviews | **60.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 114 MB | 33 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 26 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, Apple Watch, Vision Pro** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [宏宝 刘](https://appshunter.io/developer/1289135112) | [Matia labs, inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1726732402) |

## What reviewers say

### NorthernView

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/northernview/id1507863508)

Monitor your NorthernView devices remotely with advanced camera features like panoramic and thermal imaging. Receive instant alerts for security events and access recordings quickly. Enjoy a new UI with smoother playback and easy device sharing.

**Highlights:** Remote device monitoring, Advanced camera features (panoramic, fisheye, thermal), Thermal anomaly alarms, IP camera IVS event notifications, Smart NVR/DVR alarm push notifications, Quick access to recordings and playback, Brand-new UI with enhanced visual experience

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### IP Scanner

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ip-scanner/id6443819966)

This app scans your local network to identify all active devices. It offers fast results, customizable device information, and tools like PING and Wake on LAN. Save and manage past scans for easy reference.

**Highlights:** Fast network scanning, Customizable device names and icons, Save and review past scans, PING, Wake on LAN, Port Scan tools, Save and import custom device lists, Import/export scan results

**Features:** Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| IP Scanner Pro Upgrade (iOS) | $19.99 | one-time |
| IP Scanner Pro Upgrade (MacOS) | $19.99 | one-time |
| IP Scanner Ultra (from Pro) | $19.99 | one-time |
| IP Scanner Ultra | $39.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and effective
- 🚀 Immediate response to issues
- 📈 Indispensable for home and SMB networks
- 🔍 Useful network scanning tool
- 🔧 Helps identify devices on the network

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes on startup or update
- 💰 Expensive for full functionality
- 🤔 Confusing or non-intuitive UI
- 🔍 Difficulty identifying some devices
- 🔋 Resource-intensive scanning

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes on startup
- Unstable on macOS
- Inconsistent scan results across devices
- Loses custom device names after scans
- Detects devices that are no longer on the network

**Requested features**

- Ability to print selected fields
- Include notes in printouts
- Resizable settings window
- Option to block or remove devices
- Improved device identification


## Frequently asked questions

### Is NorthernView free?

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

### Is IP Scanner free?

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

### Which has better reviews, NorthernView or IP Scanner?

IP Scanner is rated higher. NorthernView averages 1.7 out of 5 from 33 ratings, while IP Scanner averages 4.6 from 891 ratings.

### Do NorthernView or IP Scanner have ads?

Neither NorthernView nor IP Scanner shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, NorthernView or IP Scanner?

NorthernView ships an update every 5 months, and IP Scanner fortnightly. Most recently, NorthernView was updated on October 15, 2026 and IP Scanner on October 17, 2026.

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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.*