Comparison

IP Scanner vs NFS Files

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

Head to head
About

IP Scanner

This utility scans your local network to identify all active devices and machines. It offers fast, customizable results with tools like PING and Wake on LAN. A free version identifies up to 15 devices, with an in-app purchase to unlock unlimited devices and more advanced features.

Highlights
  • Fast network scanning
  • Customizable device names and icons
  • Save and review past scans
  • PING, Wake on LAN, Port Scan
  • Import/export scan results
  • iCloud sync for device lists
Features
Read full description

IP Scanner for iOS scans your local area network to determine the identity of all active machines and internet devices on the LAN. Powerful results, yet easy, quick and intuitive to use. Key features: * Extremely fast scan results * Customizable results - assign your own names and icons to discovered devices * Save and consult past scans * PING, Wake on LAN and Port Scan tools built right in * Save and import custom device lists, or sync via iCloud * Import/export scan results via email or bonjour * Clean, professional design that is customizable and easy to use The free version has no restrictions at all on functionality and can identify up to 15 devices at a time. * To unlock unlimited devices in a scan, we offer an in-app upgrade to Pro. * For even more features, including realtime push notifications on network changes, a network DVR-style history browser and a true universal app bundle with native, optimized versions for Mac, iPhone, iPad, Apple TV and Apple Watch, check out IP Scanner Ultra in the app store https://apple.co/3gz0tu6

About

NFS Files

Access files on your NAS, Raspberry Pi, Linux server, or Mac with this focused NFS client. It automatically discovers servers, previews files, and supports fast transfers. Offers an ad-free upgrade.

Highlights
  • Automatic NFS server discovery
  • Find shared folders directly
  • Live server status indicators
  • Fast browsing and sorting
  • In-app file previews
  • Two-way file transfers
  • NFSv3 and NFSv4 support
  • File management (rename, delete, create)
Features
Read full description

CAN'T CONNECT TO YOUR NAS? NFS FILES TELLS YOU WHY. When a connection fails, NFS Files works out what's wrong — NFS switched off on the NAS, a name that doesn't resolve, a blocked port, the Local Network permission — and shows you the fix right in the error. Email Support is one tap away from every error. Point your iPhone, iPad, or Mac at a NAS, Raspberry Pi, or Linux box that shares folders over NFS, and NFS Files gets you into your files without touching a terminal. Type an IP address and servers on your network appear as you type. Can't remember the address? Scan My Network checks every address on your network and lists what each server shares. Tap "Find Shared Folders" and the app asks the server directly for its export list — no more guessing /volume1/media or /mnt/tank. From there: folders-first browsing, instant search, full-screen preview for photos, video, and PDFs, upload and download with progress, select many items at once, download whole folders, rename, move, delete, new folder, Get Info (size, dates, owner, permissions), hidden files tucked away until you want them, and free space at a glance. WHEN A SERVER WON'T LET YOU IN NFS has no logins, which is why it fails in ways a password never explains. A failed connect now diagnoses itself — wrong export path, a firewall blocking the portmapper, a refused mount — and tells you which one in plain language, with a Test Connection check before you even save. Inspect Server goes further: what identity the server is treating you as, who owns the export, whether reads and writes actually succeed, and how the server's squash settings are affecting you, plus every export's allowed clients and the server's registered RPC services, so you can see at a glance whether a host speaks NFSv3, NFSv4, or both. A working export on a Linux server or Pi usually looks like: /srv/share 192.168.1.0/24(rw,sync,insecure,no_subtree_check,all_squash,anonuid=1000,anongid=1000) • insecure — required for iPhone and iPad apps, which can't use privileged ports • your subnet instead of * — only devices on your network can connect • all_squash + anonuid — every client acts as one designated user, so your personal account stays private and access is easy to revoke • On Synology, enable "Allow connections from non-privileged ports" in the shared folder's NFS permissions Behind a firewall that blocks the portmapper? NFSv4 now connects directly on port 2049, and Advanced lets you pin exact MOUNT/NFS ports per server, with presets for Synology and TrueNAS. WHAT PRO ADDS One purchase. Pay once, use forever — never a subscription. • Your NAS in the Files app — it appears as a location, so any app can open and save to it directly, with no export step. • Stream video and audio — play movies and music straight off the NAS with no full download first; MKV and AVI hand off to VLC or Infuse. • Permission editor — change a file or folder's owner, group, and read/write/execute bits from your phone. If the server says no, the app explains the squash rule behind it instead of a bare "permission denied". • No ads, ever. Runs with Synology, QNAP, TrueNAS, UGREEN, Unraid, Raspberry Pi, and any Linux or macOS box exporting NFS. Speaks both NFSv3 and NFSv4 — it tries v4 first and falls back automatically. A native, from-scratch engine tuned for modern networks: server-negotiated transfer sizes, instant directory listings, and smooth large-file downloads over gigabit. Ads pay for development; Pro turns them off.

Screenshots

IP Scanner4 screens
NFS Files4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: IP Scanner at none against NFS Files's shown. IP Scanner also leads on ratings volume (896 vs 2) and device support (6 vs 3). NFS Files's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.6) and iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. IP Scanner sells 4 one-off in-app purchases and NFS Files sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

NFS Files holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: IP Scanner has 896 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

IP Scanner ships an update fortnightly, NFS Files every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on November 12, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
IP Scanner versus NFS Files: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterIP ScannerNFS Files
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (896 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews60.4% of reviews—
Number of ratings896 — better2
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 8 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, Apple Watch, Vision Pro — betteriPhone, iPad, Mac
Requires iOS2617.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size38 MB9 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMatia labs, inc.James Baker

Customer experience

IP Scanner

All ratings896 ratings
Positive90.7%
Neutral3.8%
Negative5.5%
Written reviews144 reviews
Positive60.4%
Neutral11.1%
Negative28.5%

NFS Files

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

IP Scanner

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • 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

5 requests
  • Ability to print selected fields
  • Include notes in printouts
  • Resizable settings window
  • Option to block or remove devices
  • Improved device identification

NFS Files

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

4 purchases

IP Scanner

One-time4
  • IP Scanner Pro Upgrade (iOS)$19.99
  • IP Scanner Pro Upgrade (MacOS)$19.99
  • IP Scanner Ultra (from Pro)$19.99
Show 1 more
  • IP Scanner Ultra$39.99
1 purchases

NFS Files

One-time1
  • NFS Files Pro$7.99

Questions

Is IP Scanner free?
IP Scanner is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is NFS Files free?
NFS Files is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, IP Scanner or NFS Files?
NFS Files is rated higher. IP Scanner averages 4.6 out of 5 from 896 ratings, while NFS Files averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do IP Scanner or NFS Files have ads?
NFS Files shows ads; IP Scanner does not.
Which is updated more often, IP Scanner or NFS Files?
IP Scanner ships an update fortnightly, and NFS Files every 8 days. Most recently, IP Scanner was updated on November 12, 2026 and NFS Files on October 31, 2026.

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