# The FireBeam BLUE vs IP Scanner

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: The FireBeam BLUE at none against IP Scanner's 4. The FireBeam BLUE also leads on iOS requirement (17.6 vs 26). IP Scanner's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 11 months) and device support (6 vs 2). On price and ads there is nothing between them.

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

The FireBeam BLUE ships an update every 11 months, IP Scanner fortnightly. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | The FireBeam BLUE | IP Scanner |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[4.6 (896 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ip-scanner/id6443819966/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **896** |
| Positive reviews | — | 60.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 11 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | — | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 31 MB | 33 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.6** | 26 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, Apple Watch, Vision Pro** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [The Fire Beam Company Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1515546513) | [Matia labs, inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1726732402) |

## What reviewers say

### The FireBeam BLUE

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-firebeam-blue/id1515546514)

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**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 The FireBeam BLUE free?

The FireBeam BLUE is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is IP Scanner free?

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

### Do The FireBeam BLUE or IP Scanner have ads?

Neither The FireBeam BLUE nor IP Scanner shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, The FireBeam BLUE or IP Scanner?

The FireBeam BLUE ships an update every 11 months, and IP Scanner fortnightly. Most recently, The FireBeam BLUE was updated on November 3, 2026 and IP Scanner on November 3, 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.*