Comparison

Network Utility vs Magic Smoke

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Network Utility

This app provides a comprehensive suite of network analysis tools for your device. Monitor data usage, scan your local network, perform DNS lookups, and get detailed IP information. Export results and utilize widgets for quick access to network stats.

Highlights
  • Network Information
  • Cellular Data Monitor
  • LAN Scanner
  • Ping Tool
  • Geo IP Lookup
  • DNS Lookup (DIG, NSLOOKUP)
  • Domain WHOIS
  • Widgets
Features
Read full description

Keep under control your network with Network Utility, an user friendly set of network tools that will help you to analyze your LAN, and not only that. ► NETWORK INFO A complete and easy to understand report of your device's network interfaces. In that tab you'll find information like the IP, IPv6, other addresses or the data usage statistics about your Wi-Fi, Internet or Cellular connection (if any). ► CELLULAR DATA MONITOR Don't lose sight of your data usage, with four taps you'll have a data monitor configured and ready to use. The following data usage plans' period are supported: - Daily - Weekly - Monthly - 28 days - 30 days - 90 days ► LAN SCANNER Analyze your Wi-Fi with the LAN Scanner tool. Discovering who is connected to your network and Ping it, is a matter of two taps. Easily manage custom subnets to scan only a portion of your LAN. ► PING Ping a LAN device, Ping a server, ping whatever you want. IPv6 addresses are supported too and advanced options like packet size, timeouts, intervals, etc.. are available and easily configurable. The results of your Ping are available numerically in the aggregated stats, graphically in the real time graph or listed, a row per ICMP response received. ► GEO IP Have you ever wondered where a server or any other IP is located? That's the tool for you, show the location on a map and get additional details like the ISP or the ASN in the details pane. ► DIG A DNS lookup utility made simple. A list clearly shows the result of your query and the advanced options allow you to customize your request from the type of query to the DNS server. ► WHOIS Find any information about a domain name and it's owner e.g. the status, creation date, registrant email and address and many more. ► NSLOOKUP A no-frills textual DNS lookup utility. ► WIDGET * Network Utility comes with an useful widget that brings network informations and the cellular data usage into your notification center, home screen e lock screen. ► EXPORT RESULTS ANYWHERE Every utility has an export button that allows you to export the result of your task to the File app, to the Notes app and many other apps or simply copy the raw textual result. ► MAC APP Network Utility is also available on the Mac App Store as Network Kit X, the same app but tuned to take advantage of macOS. Start a tool on your iPhone/iPad a continue it on your Mac thanks to Handoff and Continuity. !! N.B. - Cellular data monitor is available only on iPhone or iPad with Cellular. - Due to an operating system limitation, LAN Scanner can only show the MAC address of detected devices on iOS 27 and later. Hostname resolution is only available when the LAN gateway is used as the DNS server. - Widgets are updated only at scheduled intervals (e.g. every 5 minutes), so they can show outdated info. Open the app to get info updated in real time. - Data usage widget, full featured network state widgets and lock screen widgets are available only with the Pro upgrade

About

Magic Smoke

Establish custom TCP connections to send specific commands. Save up to ten commands for quick access, or type any message directly. This utility is ideal for testing network connections and embedded systems.

Highlights
  • Custom TCP connection setup
  • Save up to ten custom commands
  • Send any typed message
  • Appends carriage return and linefeed
  • Supports IP address and port input
Features
Read full description

This app allows you to send custom commands via a TCP connection. You input the IP address and port number for the TCP connection you would like to create, and then you can customize the ten buttons to have ten saved commands. The “Any Command” text field can send any message that is typed into the text field. A carriage return and linefeed are appended to all messages. It was originally developed for the NCSU Embedded Systems course ECE 306, but it works for any TCP connection you would like to create!

Screenshots

Network Utility4 screens
Magic Smoke3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Magic Smoke at none against Network Utility's 1. Magic Smoke also leads on ads (none vs shown) and rating (5.0 vs 4.6). Network Utility's advantage is ratings volume (625 vs 10) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 5 months). On price 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Network Utility sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Magic Smoke asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Magic Smoke holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Network Utility has 625 ratings behind it against 10, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 81% of Network Utility's written reviews are positive against 100% of Magic Smoke's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Network Utility ships an update every 2 months, Magic Smoke every 5 months. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
Network Utility versus Magic Smoke: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNetwork UtilityMagic Smoke
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (625 ratings)5.0 (10 ratings) — better
Positive reviews80.8% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings625 — better10
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 5 months
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS18.613.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size19 MB1 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperFausto RistagnoCaleb Barnett Wheeler

Customer experience

Network Utility

All ratings625 ratings
Positive89.1%
Neutral4.8%
Negative6.1%
Written reviews318 reviews
Positive80.8%
Neutral5.3%
Negative13.8%

Magic Smoke

All ratings10 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Network Utility

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Incorrect IP address detection
  • Ping feature not working as expected
  • Inability to change subnet mask

Requested features

4 requests
  • Dark mode option
  • Improved IPv6 support
  • Ability to reset data usage
  • More detailed network information

Magic Smoke

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Network Utility

One-time1
  • PRO Upgrade$2.99
None

Magic Smoke

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Network Utility free?
Network Utility is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Magic Smoke free?
Magic Smoke is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Network Utility or Magic Smoke?
Magic Smoke is rated higher. Network Utility averages 4.6 out of 5 from 625 ratings, while Magic Smoke averages 5.0 from 10 ratings.
Do Network Utility or Magic Smoke have ads?
Network Utility shows ads; Magic Smoke does not.
Which is updated more often, Network Utility or Magic Smoke?
Network Utility ships an update every 2 months, and Magic Smoke every 5 months. Most recently, Network Utility was updated on September 24, 2026 and Magic Smoke on September 24, 2026.

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