PCWorld Digital Magazine US vs Network Toolbox Net security
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
PCWorld Digital Magazine US
Access expert reviews, analysis of tech trends, and practical tips for navigating the computer world. Enjoy engaging content optimized for your device, with offline reading and text-to-speech options.
- Optimized reading modes
- Offline access
- Bookmark and share articles
- Text-to-speech functionality
- New issue alerts
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PCWorld helps you navigate the computer ecosystem to find the products you want and the advice you need to get the job done. PCWorld offers buying advice through opinionated reviews of new products, provides authoritative analysis of technology news and trends, and gives practical tips on everything from troubleshooting Windows to securing wireless networks. Engaging, jargon-free writing and friendly design make the magazine as enjoyable as it is useful. PCWorld Magazine is published 12 times a year. Subscriptions Available: • 1-year subscription - $19.99, automatically renewed until canceled • 1-month subscription - $1.99, automatically renewed until canceled • Single-issue - $7.99 SUBSCRIBERS’ AUTOMATIC-RENEWAL FEATURE: Your subscription will be charged to your iTunes account at confirmation of purchase and will automatically renew unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period. Your iTunes account will automatically be charged at the same price for renewal, as stated above, within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period. Current subscriptions may not be cancelled during the active subscription period, but you can manage your subscription and/or turn off auto-renewal by visiting your iTunes Account Settings after purchase. NOTE: WHEN PURCHASING A SUBSCRIPTION OR SINGLE-COPY OF THIS TITLE, YOU AGREE TO THE PRIVACY POLICY AND TERMS OF SERVICE WHICH CAN BE VIEWED BY GOING TO: Privacy Policy: https://www.idg.com/terms-of-service-agreement/ Terms of Service: https://www.idg.com/terms-of-service-agreement/ KEY FEATURES: • OPTIMIZED FOR YOUR DEVICE: Easily toggle between the traditional magazine layout and the innovative text mode for a seamless reading experience, built for your iOS device • OFFLINE READING: Download your magazines to your device to read them whenever and wherever you want, even without an internet connection • BOOKMARK AND SHARE: Bookmark articles to read later, or share them with your friends • TEXT TO SPEECH: Listen to your favorite magazines and all of your articles on the go • NEW ISSUE ALERTS: Be the first to read the latest issues of your favorite magazines with new issue reminders
Network Toolbox Net security
Analyze local and public networks for security issues and misconfigurations with over 50 tools. Features include IP scanning, port scanning, exploit tests, and SHODAN integration to expose online devices.
- WiFi Network IP scanning
- Port scanning
- SHODAN scan engine
- Security exploit tests
- Device information
- NS-Lookup with domain info
- Visual Traceroute
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*** THE ORIGINAL - NetworkToolbox *** Read the Manual at: https://www.networktoolbox.de/ios-manual/ This App with its 50+ individual Tools helps to analyse local or public networks for security issues or wrong configurations. It provides various scanning options such as WiFi Network IP scanning, Port scanning and integrates the SHODAN scan engine, Security exploit tests and more. Feature summary: DEVICE INFORMATION ■ Device and public IP Address ■ Network interfaces (WiFi, 3G/4G) SHODAN AND MORPHEUS SEARCH ■ Expose online devices ■ Search by keyword, country, port, network, hostname MAP SEARCH ■ Search and expose online devices for on a given location NS-LOOKUP with DOMAIN INFORMATION ■ Provides information for a certain domain or ip ■ Provide information about the number of attacks (ISC) ■ Location of IP or Host display on a map ■ DNS records such as MX, A, TXT etc. WIFI NETWORK SCAN ■ Discover all devices on your network ■ Including IP, MAC, Vendor, Network Name PING ■ Ping IP or domain ■ Show Errors and RTT ■ Display results graphically WHOIS ■ Find out who is behind a certain domain DNS ■ Query ANY! DNS Server ■ See DNS record information such as A,TXT,CNAME,MX,SOA etc. ■ See and compare DNS Server response times VISUAL TRACEROUTE ■ Analyze how packets get to their destination SOCKETS ■ Socket analysis and terminal tool ■ Predefined protocols for Telnet, FTP, HTTP, POP3 and IMAP ■ Inspect server responses ■ Send arbitrarily data to the server FTP and SFTP CLIENT ■ Browse remote directory tree ■ Direct file viewing ■ File and directory operations ■ Upload and download of multiple files to device ■ Default password list check of FTP server ■ Public / Private Key support (New!) SSH CLIENT ■ Terminal client for SSL ■ Default password list check of server SFTP CLIENT ■ Same functionality as FTP MAC ADDRESS DB ■ Find out which vendor is responsible for which MAC address and v/v IP CALCULATION ■ Calculate net-masks, first-,last- addresses etc. HTTP BROWSER ■ Site Default password check ■ Possibility to select user agents from Blackberry over Firefox, IE, Safari and iOS ■ Display source code, plain text or hirachically browse XML SPIDER ■ Crawl website and collect all contained links ■ Analyze robots.txt ■ Both, websites and disallows robots content can be further analyzed BLUETOOTH ■ Scan and reveal Bluetooth LE devices CERTIFICATES ■ Inspect Server (e.g. HTTPS) certificates in a readable format BONJOUR and UPnP ■ Scan and discover Bonjour or UPnP services MAIL SERVER CHECK ■ Analyze issues with your mail settings LOCAL FILES ■ Handle files downloaded via FTP or SFTP or HTTP (New!) ■ File and directory operations ■ File viewer (PDF, Text, Image, HTML) ■ Open files in other apps, installed on your device ■ Send file via E-Mail HELP TEXTS ■ Each tool has a detailed description of their purpose and how to use Subscribe to access to premium app features; subscription details are the following: • Length: weekly, monthly, yearly • Your payment will be charged to your iTunes Account as soon as you confirm your purchase • You can manage your subscriptions and turn off auto-renewal from your Account Settings after the purchase • Your subscription will renew automatically, unless you turn off auto-renew at least 24 hours before the end of the current period • The cost of renewal will be charged to your account in the 24 hours prior to the end of the current period • When cancelling a subscription, your subscription will stay active until the end of the period. Auto-renewal will be disabled, but the current subscription will not be refunded • Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when purchasing a subscription Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
PCWorld Digital Magazine US and Network Toolbox Net security both sit at 4.4 stars, but that hides the real split: 75% of Network Toolbox Net security's written reviews are positive against 12% of PCWorld Digital Magazine US's. Network Toolbox Net security also leads on monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription) and ratings volume (3.4K vs 85). PCWorld Digital Magazine US's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, rating, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. PCWorld Digital Magazine US sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Network Toolbox Net security sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Network Toolbox Net security holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Network Toolbox Net security has 3.4K ratings behind it against 85, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 12% of PCWorld Digital Magazine US's written reviews are positive against 75% of Network Toolbox Net security's.
PCWorld Digital Magazine US ships an update every 5 months, Network Toolbox Net security every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | PCWorld Digital Magazine US | Network Toolbox Net security |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.4 (85 ratings) | 4.6 (3.4K ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 11.8% of reviews | 75.3% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 85 | 3.4K — better |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | Every 2 months — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Subscription | Free with in-app purchases — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 13.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 77 MB | 152 MB |
| Age rating | +17 | 17+ |
| Developer | IDG Communications Inc. | WHATSTICKER APPS SRL |
Customer experience
PCWorld Digital Magazine US
Network Toolbox Net security
User reviews
PCWorld Digital Magazine US
From 85 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Easy to read content
- 👍 Excellent content and recommendations
- 👍 Improved performance, fun to read again
- 👍 Graphics sharp and clear on Retina display
Room to improve
- 🐛 App crashes constantly
- 🐛 App freezes frequently
- 🐛 App loses subscription status
- 🐛 App loses place in articles
- 🐛 Updates wipe out library
Network Toolbox Net security
From 3.4K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Comprehensive networking tools
- 🚀 Powerful and efficient
- 💡 Excellent learning resource
- 🔒 Helps identify security issues
- 👍 User-friendly interface
Room to improve
- 🔒 Privacy concerns with new ownership
- 💰 Switched to subscription model
- 🐛 Stability issues after updates
- 💰 Expensive subscription fees
- 🔒 Tracking and data collection
Bugs and requests
PCWorld Digital Magazine US
Reported bugs
114 issues- Unable to ascertain subscription status
- Randomly loses subscription access
- Update wipes out library and does not restore
- App crashes constantly
- App never remembers where you left off
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- App freezes
- App locks up the iPad
- App crashes within a minute or two
- App does not remember where you were
- Asked if you want to restore purchases every time
- App blocks access to issues
- App never remembers subscription
- Loses previously downloaded issues
- App asks to subscribe even with active subscription
- White screen and no magazine displayed
- App often requests purchase of latest issue despite subscription
- Cannot change orientation
- App crashes within 5 seconds with iOS update
- No user feedback during account login
- Subscription ends soon, considering lapse
- App crashes before displaying available issues
- Uninstall/reinstall has no effect
- App crashes after you log in
- Zinio support is email only and slow
- App fails to work at all
- App crashes frequently
- Will not download articles
- Support is not helpful
- Loses all back issues with every renewal
- Cannot reliably read recent issues
- Login and download doesn't work
- Cannot restore purchases due to error
- Internal Server Error on renewal
- App wants to buy every issue
- Cannot download latest issue
- Subscription website is broken
- Cannot get issues and cannot reset password
- Customer service takes a long time to help
- September issue content is non-existent
- App is telling users they need to buy every issue
- Cannot download issues
- Customer service states incompetence
- App loads at a snail's pace
- Often have to start over
- App does not remember last location
- Only November magazine is available in December
- App has never worked correctly
- App never has worked
- Update still does not work
- Previous paid content vanished after subscription expired
- Unable to connect, retrieve past or present issues
- App asks for subscription number at login
- Instructions to find subscription number online don't work
- Cannot download latest edition
- Does not allow any connection
- Access is almost impossible
- Downloading is a ridiculous process
- Never received all paid issues
- Super Guides could not be downloaded
- No response from customer service
- Account cancelled
- Digital subscription no longer works on iPad
- Bounced back to Newsstand
- Workaround reported by other subscribers has worked
- App broke, will not download new issues
- App freezes and bounces back to Newsstand
- Upgrading iOS didn't help
- Deleting and reinstalling didn't help
- App won't even run anymore
- Crashes right after startup
- No way to access previously downloaded editions
- No way to get new editions
- Lost all issues after recent update
- My account button is missing
- Review link went to wrong page
- Link and text missing
- Page numbering issues
- Review recommended a scam app
- Articles about irrelevant topics
- App is a nightmare
- Quick index does nothing
- Always searching from page 1
- Cannot access first four pages of an issue
- New cover shown but doesn't work
- No magazine displayed
- No way to bring up bottom menu
- Moved print version verbatim over
- Dull reading experience
- Slow loading and memory hog
- Cannot pinch and zoom inside the app
- Have to get a Zinio account
- Still can't see the issue already paid for
- Zero option to use the app without paying
- Cannot zoom in the app
- Very slow to download
- Resource hog
- Cannot read in landscape orientation
- Unfriendly digital version
- Cannot adjust text size or brilliance
- Lost Internet connection while downloading
- Restarted download at 0 meg
- Cannot save downloaded progress
- File size is too large
- Only June copy available on August 6th
- App logs you out of account
- Won't let you log back in
- Sends to Google Play for update
- No way to access account from iPad
- No digital version for print subscribers
- Not tied in with paper subscription
- Paying twice for the same issue
- Not cutting edge of the electronic age
- App is adequate but needs zoom and text size options
- Option to view in portrait or landscape would be better
Requested features
8 requests- Allow users to go to the last read page
- Add a zoom feature
- Increase text size options
- Allow viewing in landscape orientation
- Provide a dark mode option
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- Improve customer support response time
- Integrate digital with print subscriptions
- Allow deletion of duplicate issues
Network Toolbox Net security
Reported bugs
3 issues- Bluetooth configuration issues
- Unreliable website links
- Freezing and crashing on certain devices
Requested features
4 requests- Dark mode option
- More advanced network scanning capabilities
- Improved documentation and tutorials
- Restore previous one-time purchase model
In-app purchases
PCWorld Digital Magazine US
- 1 Month | PCWorld Magazine$1.991 Month
- 1 Year | PCWorld Magazine$19.991 Year
- PCWorld November 2012$6.99
- PCWorld February 2015$6.99
- PCWorld September 2015$6.99
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- PCWorld March 2016$6.99
- PCWorld April 2016$6.99
- PCWorld April 2017$6.99
- PCWorld May 2017$6.99
- PCWorld July 2017$6.99
- February 2024$6.99
- September 2023$6.99
- August 2023$6.99
Network Toolbox Net security
- Wekkly Premium7 Days trial$2.997 Days
- Weekly premium$2.997 Days
- Weekly premium$4.997 Days
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- Weekly premium7 Days trial$4.997 Days
- Monthly premium7 Days trial$9.991 Month
- Monthly premium$9.991 Month
- Yearly premium7 Days trial$29.991 Year
- Yearly premium$29.991 Year
- Yearly premium7 Days trial$49.991 Year
- Yearly premium$49.991 Year
- Yearly premium7 Days trial$79.991 Year
- Yearly premium$79.991 Year
Questions
Is PCWorld Digital Magazine US free?
Is Network Toolbox Net security free?
Which has better reviews, PCWorld Digital Magazine US or Network Toolbox Net security?
Do PCWorld Digital Magazine US or Network Toolbox Net security have ads?
Which is updated more often, PCWorld Digital Magazine US or Network Toolbox Net security?
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