# IP Scanner vs Spectrum SDR (RTL

IP Scanner and Spectrum SDR (RTL both sit at 4.6 stars, but that hides the real split: 100% of Spectrum SDR (RTL's written reviews are positive against 60% of IP Scanner's. Spectrum SDR (RTL also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). IP Scanner's advantage is ratings volume (891 vs 2) and device support (6 vs 3). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. IP Scanner sells 4 one-off in-app purchases and Spectrum SDR (RTL sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for IP Scanner against 4.5 for Spectrum SDR (RTL. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: IP Scanner has 891 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 60% of IP Scanner's written reviews are positive against 100% of Spectrum SDR (RTL's.

IP Scanner ships an update fortnightly, Spectrum SDR (RTL every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | IP Scanner | Spectrum SDR (RTL |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (891 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ip-scanner/id6443819966/reviews)** | [4.5 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spectrum-sdr-rtl-sdr/id6764391865/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **891** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 60.3% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 11 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 33 MB | 7 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26 | 26.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, Apple Watch, Vision Pro** | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Matia labs, inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1726732402) | [James Mainwaring](https://appshunter.io/developer/1895761181) |

## What reviewers say

### 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


### Spectrum SDR (RTL

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spectrum-sdr-rtl-sdr/id6764391865)

Explore radio signals with your RTL-SDR dongle. Listen to AM/FM/SSB/CW, view FFT and waterfall displays, and customize your experience. Requires a remote rtl_tcp instance over WiFi.

**Highlights:** Full frequency range support, AM, FM, SSB, CW reception, FFT and Waterfall displays, Adjustable sample rates, Bias tee and gain controls, Squelch functionality, Customizable display options

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Full Version | $2.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is IP Scanner free?

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

### Is Spectrum SDR (RTL free?

Spectrum SDR (RTL is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, IP Scanner or Spectrum SDR (RTL?

IP Scanner is rated higher. IP Scanner averages 4.6 out of 5 from 891 ratings, while Spectrum SDR (RTL averages 4.5 from 2 ratings.

### Do IP Scanner or Spectrum SDR (RTL have ads?

Neither IP Scanner nor Spectrum SDR (RTL shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, IP Scanner or Spectrum SDR (RTL?

IP Scanner ships an update fortnightly, and Spectrum SDR (RTL every 11 days. Most recently, IP Scanner was updated on October 17, 2026 and Spectrum SDR (RTL on October 10, 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.*