# Circuit Playground vs NetSpot WiFi Analyzer

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Circuit Playground at 86% against NetSpot WiFi Analyzer's 15%. Circuit Playground also leads on rating (4.3 vs 3.7) and in-app purchases (none vs 3). NetSpot WiFi Analyzer's advantage is price (Free vs $2.99) and ratings volume (354 vs 19). On ads and device support there is nothing between them.

NetSpot WiFi Analyzer is free to download; Circuit Playground costs $2.99 up front. NetSpot WiFi Analyzer sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per month. Circuit Playground asks for nothing beyond the download.

Circuit Playground holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: NetSpot WiFi Analyzer has 354 ratings behind it against 19, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 86% of Circuit Playground's written reviews are positive against 15% of NetSpot WiFi Analyzer's.

Circuit Playground ships an update every 6 weeks, NetSpot WiFi Analyzer every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Circuit Playground | NetSpot WiFi Analyzer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $2.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.3 (19 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/circuit-playground/id492487671/reviews)** | [3.7 (354 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/netspot-wifi-analyzer/id1490247223/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 19 | **354** |
| Positive reviews | **86.0% of reviews** | 15.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 27 MB | 51 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 15.5 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Adafruit Industries](https://appshunter.io/developer/492487674) | [Etwok Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1483084004) |

## What reviewers say

### Circuit Playground

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/circuit-playground/id492487671)

This app serves as a comprehensive electronics reference and calculation tool. It helps makers and hobbyists by simplifying complex calculations for various circuits, deciphering component codes, and providing essential diagrams.

**Highlights:** Circuit value calculations, Resistor and capacitor code deciphering, Ohm's Law and power calculators, Number and character conversions, Series/parallel component calculations, IC and connector pinout diagrams

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Clean, intuitive, easy-to-use interface
- 🚀 Fast load times and responsive performance
- 📚 Comprehensive reference tools and calculators
- 🎯 Resistor and capacitor color code tools
- 📍 Useful pinout references for various boards

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and stability issues
- ⚠️ Outdated and needs regular updates
- ❌ Limited calculator functionality and flexibility
- 🎨 Poor visual design in some areas
- 📱 Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when opening multiple capacitors section
- LED Resistor Help Menu crashes the app
- Wavelength to Colour slider inoperable until text field activated
- Capacitor code function broken (incorrect default values)
- Number converter only accepts value 50

**Requested features**

- Update USB Type-C connector information
- Add transistor pinouts and HFE values
- Transistor and op-amp calculators
- Voltage divider calculator
- Arduino and Raspberry Pi pinout references


### NetSpot WiFi Analyzer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/netspot-wifi-analyzer/id1490247223)

Analyze and troubleshoot wireless networks with interactive heatmaps and speed tests. Discover connected devices and test network latency. Visualize WiFi coverage and identify areas needing improvement.

**Highlights:** WiFi heatmaps, Internet speed tests, Ping tests, Device discovery, Network analysis, Site survey projects

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| NetSpot Plus Monthly | $8.99 | per month |
| NetSpot Plus | $6.99 | one-time |
| NetSpot Plus Lifetime | $29.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Helped identify Wi-Fi issues
- 💡 Useful for mapping Wi-Fi coverage
- 🚀 Speedy and accurate

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Limited functionality on iOS
- 🔒 Requires expensive hardware to unlock full features
- 🔒 Misleading about hardware requirements
- 🐛 Inaccurate speed test results
- 🐛 Confusing to set up and use

**Reported bugs**

- Unable to scan for data points beyond a certain distance
- Crashes when trying to create heat maps
- Speed test functionality is unreliable

**Requested features**

- Add ability to scan for nearby Wi-Fi networks
- Improve heat mapping capabilities
- Allow importing floor plans without external hardware
- Provide more detailed signal strength analysis


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Circuit Playground free?

Circuit Playground costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is NetSpot WiFi Analyzer free?

NetSpot WiFi Analyzer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Circuit Playground or NetSpot WiFi Analyzer?

Circuit Playground is rated higher. Circuit Playground averages 4.3 out of 5 from 19 ratings, while NetSpot WiFi Analyzer averages 3.7 from 354 ratings.

### Do Circuit Playground or NetSpot WiFi Analyzer have ads?

Neither Circuit Playground nor NetSpot WiFi Analyzer shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Circuit Playground or NetSpot WiFi Analyzer?

Circuit Playground ships an update every 6 weeks, and NetSpot WiFi Analyzer every 2 weeks. Most recently, Circuit Playground was updated on October 21, 2026 and NetSpot WiFi Analyzer on October 24, 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.*