W vs Modbus Explorer
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
W
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The W-Modbus app has arrived! Upgrade firmware for LumenRadio W-Modbus devices by connecting to and upgrading the LumenRadio Gateway in the network through the app. In the Network map you will find a system overview where you can see signal strength, edit names of wireless nodes as well as seeing the health of the RS485 bus including which Modbus RTU address that is connected to that wireless node. You can also connect to any node in the network and change their name (up to 20 characters). The W-Modbus app requires W-Modbus firmware 3.1.1 and above, which can be downloaded from the LumenRadio support webpage. Note that you need to install FW 3.1.1 or above on the gateway from the nRF connect app to enable the functionality. It is also required to have at least 3.0.0 or above on all nodes in the network. You will need to update all nodes individually if they are on version 2.2.3. This will be the last time this is required. All future updates can be done by either this app or from the nRF connect app.
Modbus Explorer
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Modbus Explorer helps automation engineers, field technicians, and maintenance teams discover and diagnose Modbus TCP devices on local industrial networks. Scan your network to find Modbus TCP devices, identify available device information, review open ports, and inspect communication health from one place. Key features: • Fast Modbus TCP device discovery • Device identification where supported • Open port overview • OSI-based diagnostics for physical, network, transport, and application layers • UID scan for Modbus TCP devices • Modbus read/write request tools • Network statistics including ping, jitter, packet loss, and response timing • Modbus TCP performance testing • Communication dashboard per device • PDF and CSV diagnostic reports • Optional engineer, company, and logo information for professional reports • Live Modbus HMI dashboard with configurable register cards • Saved networks with persistent HMI cards and PDF/CSV reports Modbus Explorer is designed for real industrial troubleshooting scenarios involving PLCs, HMIs, drives, gateways, and other Modbus TCP equipment. Whether you are commissioning a new panel, checking a device on site, documenting a network, or diagnosing communication issues, Modbus Explorer gives you a practical toolset for understanding what is happening on the wire. Some device identification and diagnostic information depends on the target device configuration and supported Modbus services. Türkçe | Deutsch | English | Français | Italiano | Español | Português | Русский | Azərbaycanca | 中文 | 日本語.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: W at none against Modbus Explorer's 1. W also leads on device support (3 vs 1). Modbus Explorer's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, ads and iOS requirement 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. Modbus Explorer sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. W asks for nothing beyond the download.
W ships an update every 2 months, Modbus Explorer every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 11, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | W | Modbus Explorer |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 15 — better | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 45 MB | 5 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | LumenRadio AB | HASAN BARAN |
In-app purchases
W
No in-app purchases
Modbus Explorer
- Modbus Explorer Pro$14.99








