Comparison

NEXT IQ vs Drone Scanner (gen.2)

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

Head to head
About

NEXT IQ

Manage your Smart Home Wi-Fi network with this application. It offers features like parental controls, network security, and guest network setup for subscribers.

Highlights
  • Smart Home Wi-Fi Network Management
  • Parental Controls
  • Network Security
  • Guest Wi-Fi Network Setup
Features
Read full description

NEXT IQ is a mobile application that allows subscribers to manage their Smart Home Wi-Fi Network. This app features parental controls, network security, setting up guest Wi-Fi networks, and much more.

About

Drone Scanner (gen.2)

Transform your iPhone into a real-time drone detection tool. See nearby drones, monitor their activity, and gain visibility into the skies. Enhance detection range with an optional dedicated hardware detector.

Highlights
  • Real-time drone detection
  • Monitor drone activity
  • Display pilot location
  • Map and list view
  • Supports Bluetooth and Wi-Fi scanning
  • Compatible with Remote ID regulations
Features
Read full description

Drone Scanner by Dronetag transforms your iPhone into a real-time drone detection tool, allowing you to see what’s flying nearby, monitor drone activity, and gain visibility into the skies from your pocket. You can scan drones using your mobile device or connect to a Dronetag RIDER, our dedicated drone detector with significantly greater range. RIDER can detect drones up to 5 km (3 mi) away with its default antenna and up to 10 km (6 mi) with a directional antenna. New in the next-generation Drone Scanner: 
- A completely redesigned interface and an intuitive scans list - Recent scans are stored locally on your phone and can be exported to open formats - Scan using Dronetag RIDER for enhanced range and Wi-Fi scanning support on iPhones
 
Core Features: 
 - Detect drones using Bluetooth 4, Bluetooth 5, Wi-Fi Beacon, and Wi-Fi NAN 
 - Display pilot location (if available) 
 - Monitor height, direction, and operation type 
 - Browse nearby drones on a map or in list view 
 - Compatible with EU, US, and Japanese Remote ID regulations 
 - Developed by Dronetag, a global leader in drone Remote ID solutions  Feature availability depends on your device and OS limitations. iOS restricts access to certain Wi-Fi channels - only Bluetooth-based scanning may work. If you're using Drone Scanner on an iOS device, some drones that transmit their identification data via Wi-Fi may not be visible to you. This is a system-level restriction, not a bug in the app.    How It Works:  Remote ID is a feature that transmits identification and flight data from drones using wireless signals like Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. Manufacturers implement this in different ways, using various technologies. Drone Scanner captures these signals using your phone’s built-in hardware - or via the Dronetag RIDER for extended detection range and higher reliability.

Screenshots

NEXT IQ4 screens
Drone Scanner (gen.2)3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: NEXT IQ at 100% against Drone Scanner (gen.2)'s 25%. NEXT IQ also leads on rating (4.6 vs 1.9). Drone Scanner (gen.2)'s advantage is update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 3 months). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

NEXT IQ holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 1.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5 and 11 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of NEXT IQ's written reviews are positive against 25% of Drone Scanner (gen.2)'s.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

NEXT IQ ships an update every 3 months, Drone Scanner (gen.2) every 5 weeks. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
NEXT IQ versus Drone Scanner (gen.2): the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNEXT IQDrone Scanner (gen.2)
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (5 ratings) — better1.9 (11 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better25.0% of reviews
Number of ratings511 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 5 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.015.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size138 MB52 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNEXT, Powered by NAECDronetag

Customer experience

NEXT IQ

All ratings5 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Drone Scanner (gen.2)

Written reviews4 reviews
Positive25.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative75.0%

In-app purchases

None

NEXT IQ

No in-app purchases

None

Drone Scanner (gen.2)

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is NEXT IQ free?
NEXT IQ is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Drone Scanner (gen.2) free?
Drone Scanner (gen.2) is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, NEXT IQ or Drone Scanner (gen.2)?
NEXT IQ is rated higher. NEXT IQ averages 4.6 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while Drone Scanner (gen.2) averages 1.9 from 11 ratings.
Do NEXT IQ or Drone Scanner (gen.2) have ads?
Neither NEXT IQ nor Drone Scanner (gen.2) shows ads.
Which is updated more often, NEXT IQ or Drone Scanner (gen.2)?
NEXT IQ ships an update every 3 months, and Drone Scanner (gen.2) every 5 weeks. Most recently, NEXT IQ was updated on October 24, 2026 and Drone Scanner (gen.2) on October 24, 2026.

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