Comparison

Network Toolbox Net security vs Instant Guard

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

Head to head
About

Network Toolbox Net security

Analyze local and public networks for security issues and misconfigurations with over 50 tools. Features include IP scanning, port scanning, exploit tests, and SHODAN integration to expose online devices.

Highlights
  • WiFi Network IP scanning
  • Port scanning
  • SHODAN scan engine
  • Security exploit tests
  • Device information
  • NS-Lookup with domain info
  • Visual Traceroute
Features
Read full description

*** THE ORIGINAL - NetworkToolbox *** Read the Manual at: https://www.networktoolbox.de/ios-manual/ This App with its 50+ individual Tools helps to analyse local or public networks for security issues or wrong configurations. It provides various scanning options such as WiFi Network IP scanning, Port scanning and integrates the SHODAN scan engine, Security exploit tests and more. Feature summary: DEVICE INFORMATION ■ Device and public IP Address ■ Network interfaces (WiFi, 3G/4G) SHODAN AND MORPHEUS SEARCH ■ Expose online devices ■ Search by keyword, country, port, network, hostname MAP SEARCH ■ Search and expose online devices for on a given location NS-LOOKUP with DOMAIN INFORMATION ■ Provides information for a certain domain or ip ■ Provide information about the number of attacks (ISC) ■ Location of IP or Host display on a map ■ DNS records such as MX, A, TXT etc. WIFI NETWORK SCAN ■ Discover all devices on your network ■ Including IP, MAC, Vendor, Network Name PING ■ Ping IP or domain ■ Show Errors and RTT ■ Display results graphically WHOIS ■ Find out who is behind a certain domain DNS ■ Query ANY! DNS Server ■ See DNS record information such as A,TXT,CNAME,MX,SOA etc. ■ See and compare DNS Server response times VISUAL TRACEROUTE ■ Analyze how packets get to their destination SOCKETS ■ Socket analysis and terminal tool ■ Predefined protocols for Telnet, FTP, HTTP, POP3 and IMAP ■ Inspect server responses ■ Send arbitrarily data to the server FTP and SFTP CLIENT ■ Browse remote directory tree ■ Direct file viewing ■ File and directory operations ■ Upload and download of multiple files to device ■ Default password list check of FTP server ■ Public / Private Key support (New!) SSH CLIENT ■ Terminal client for SSL ■ Default password list check of server SFTP CLIENT ■ Same functionality as FTP MAC ADDRESS DB ■ Find out which vendor is responsible for which MAC address and v/v IP CALCULATION ■ Calculate net-masks, first-,last- addresses etc. HTTP BROWSER ■ Site Default password check ■ Possibility to select user agents from Blackberry over Firefox, IE, Safari and iOS ■ Display source code, plain text or hirachically browse XML SPIDER ■ Crawl website and collect all contained links ■ Analyze robots.txt ■ Both, websites and disallows robots content can be further analyzed BLUETOOTH ■ Scan and reveal Bluetooth LE devices CERTIFICATES ■ Inspect Server (e.g. HTTPS) certificates in a readable format BONJOUR and UPnP ■ Scan and discover Bonjour or UPnP services MAIL SERVER CHECK ■ Analyze issues with your mail settings LOCAL FILES ■ Handle files downloaded via FTP or SFTP or HTTP (New!) ■ File and directory operations ■ File viewer (PDF, Text, Image, HTML) ■ Open files in other apps, installed on your device ■ Send file via E-Mail HELP TEXTS ■ Each tool has a detailed description of their purpose and how to use Subscribe to access to premium app features; subscription details are the following: • Length: weekly, monthly, yearly • Your payment will be charged to your iTunes Account as soon as you confirm your purchase • You can manage your subscriptions and turn off auto-renewal from your Account Settings after the purchase • Your subscription will renew automatically, unless you turn off auto-renew at least 24 hours before the end of the current period • The cost of renewal will be charged to your account in the 24 hours prior to the end of the current period • When cancelling a subscription, your subscription will stay active until the end of the period. Auto-renewal will be disabled, but the current subscription will not be refunded • Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when purchasing a subscription Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Instant Guard

This app provides a secure VPN connection, allowing you to browse anonymously and protect your financial information on public Wi-Fi. It enables remote access to your home ASUS router, ensuring your privacy and security wherever you go.

Highlights
  • One-click VPN connection
  • Secured and encrypted connectivity
  • Anonymous browsing
  • Change IP address and location
  • Remote ASUS router access
Features
Read full description

Instant Guard is basing on VPN feature of ASUS Router and only available for manager now. Use the Instant Guard app when you connect to public Wi-Fi and just as you are using safety network at home - ensuring your personal privacy remains safe and financial information protected. Instant Guard allows you easily access to your ASUS router at home while you are away and keeps 100% anonymous while you browser bank, shop and chat with Virtual Private Network (VPN) connection. In the future, this feature will improve to allow to share VPN connection permissions to your friends or family members. Key Feature : 1.One-Click Operation 2.Secured and encrypted connectivity 3.Surf Anonymously 4.Change your IP Address and Location *The ASUS routers sold in the CN region do not support Instant Guard. Instant Guard app supports the following ASUS router. RT-BE96U RT-AXE7800 RT-AX92U RT-AX89X RT-AX88U_Pro RT-AX88U RT-AX86U_PRO RT-AX86U RT-AX86S RT-AX82U_V2 RT-AX82U RT-AX68U RT-AX59U RT-AX58U_V2 RT-AX58U RT-AX57_Go RT-AX57 RT-AX56U RT-AX55 RT-AX5400 RT-AX54 RT-AX53U RT-AX52 RT-AC88U RT-AC86U RT-AC3100 RT-AC5300 GS-AX3000 GS-AX5400 GT6 GT-AC2900 GT-AC5300 GT-AX11000 GT-AX11000_PRO GT-AX6000 GT-AXE11000 GT-AXE16000 TUF-AX3000 TUF-AX3000_V2 TUF-AX4200 TUF-AX5400 TUF-AX6000 ZenWiFi CT8 ZenWiFi XD4 ZenWiFi XD5 ZenWiFi XD6 ZenWiFi XP4 ZenWiFi XT9 ZenWiFi AX (XT8) ZenWiFi AX Hybrid (XC5) ZenWiFi ET8 ZenWiFi Pro ET12 ZenWiFi Pro XT12

Screenshots

Network Toolbox Net security4 screens
Instant Guard4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Network Toolbox Net security at 4.6 against Instant Guard's 3.4. Network Toolbox Net security also leads on review sentiment (75% vs 38%) and ratings volume (3.3K vs 61). Instant Guard's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 12) and ads (none vs shown). On price, update cadence, device support 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Network Toolbox Net security sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. Instant Guard asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Network Toolbox Net security holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Network Toolbox Net security has 3.3K ratings behind it against 61, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 75% of Network Toolbox Net security's written reviews are positive against 38% of Instant Guard's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Network Toolbox Net security versus Instant Guard: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNetwork Toolbox Net securityInstant Guard
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (3.3K ratings) — better3.4 (61 ratings)
Positive reviews75.3% of reviews — better37.7% of reviews
Number of ratings3.3K — better61
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 months
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.013.0
Further details — not scored
Size152 MB64 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperWHATSTICKER APPS SRLASUS

Customer experience

Network Toolbox Net security

All ratings3,303 ratings
Positive89.5%
Neutral3.6%
Negative6.9%
Written reviews396 reviews
Positive75.3%
Neutral4.0%
Negative20.7%

Instant Guard

All ratings61 ratings
Positive54.1%
Neutral9.8%
Negative36.1%
Written reviews53 reviews
Positive37.7%
Neutral13.2%
Negative49.1%

User reviews

Network Toolbox Net security

From 3.3K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Comprehensive networking tools
  • 🚀 Powerful and efficient
  • 💡 Excellent learning resource
  • 🔒 Helps identify security issues
  • 👍 User-friendly interface

Room to improve

  • 🔒 Privacy concerns with new ownership
  • 💰 Switched to subscription model
  • 🐛 Stability issues after updates
  • 💰 Expensive subscription fees
  • 🔒 Tracking and data collection

Instant Guard

From 61 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Simple and does its job
  • 🔒 Great security focused VPN
  • 👍 Setup is straightforward
  • 💰 Cost-effective solution
  • 🚀 Works great for remote access

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Auto connection conflicts
  • 🐛 Fails to connect on iOS update
  • 🐛 Cellular data severely affected
  • 🐛 No internet when connected
  • 🐛 Auto protect on cellular

Bugs and requests

Network Toolbox Net security

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Bluetooth configuration issues
  • Unreliable website links
  • Freezing and crashing on certain devices

Requested features

4 requests
  • Dark mode option
  • More advanced network scanning capabilities
  • Improved documentation and tutorials
  • Restore previous one-time purchase model

Instant Guard

Reported bugs

31 issues
  • Auto connection still conflicts
  • Cannot connect after current iOS update
  • Cellular data severely affected
  • Auto protect feature comes on when on cellular network
  • IP Address did not change
Show 26 more
  • App has stopped working
  • No longer works
  • Breaks internet connection completely
  • Useless - Won't connect
  • Stuck at finding router
  • Not a VPN as IP address does not change
  • Auto protect feature ignores settings
  • Share feature simply doesn't work
  • iOS 17 still not working
  • Stopped working after updating
  • Not working with iOS 16.5.1
  • No luck on Mac Studio
  • Won't connect
  • iOS 16.5 incompatible
  • Disconnects every hour or so
  • Can't share connection
  • Connection drops
  • Super buggy app
  • Terrible app with terrible support
  • Worked before, now stopped
  • No ability to share connection
  • Router not detected
  • No Internet connection
  • Kills internet connection
  • Slower upload compared to OpenVPN
  • Router crashed multiple times when connected to WiFi

Requested features

11 requests
  • Add split tunnelling
  • Automatic connection when leaving home network
  • Ability to automatically connect/disconnect based on WiFi network
  • Shortcuts widget for one-touch control
  • Automation capabilities
Show 6 more
  • Family sharing option
  • Set time for VPN disconnection or make disconnection longer
  • Improve auto connect function on iOS
  • Fix auto protect feature on cellular
  • More information on app and web admin page
  • Add option to turn VPN on/off automatically

In-app purchases

12 purchases

Network Toolbox Net security

Subscriptions12
  • Wekkly Premium7 Days trial$2.997 Days
  • Weekly premium$2.997 Days
  • Weekly premium$4.997 Days
Show 9 more
  • Weekly premium7 Days trial$4.997 Days
  • Monthly premium7 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • Monthly premium$9.991 Month
  • Yearly premium7 Days trial$29.991 Year
  • Yearly premium$29.991 Year
  • Yearly premium7 Days trial$49.991 Year
  • Yearly premium$49.991 Year
  • Yearly premium7 Days trial$79.991 Year
  • Yearly premium$79.991 Year
None

Instant Guard

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Network Toolbox Net security free?
Network Toolbox Net security is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Instant Guard free?
Instant Guard is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Network Toolbox Net security or Instant Guard?
Network Toolbox Net security is rated higher. Network Toolbox Net security averages 4.6 out of 5 from 3.3K ratings, while Instant Guard averages 3.4 from 61 ratings.
Do Network Toolbox Net security or Instant Guard have ads?
Network Toolbox Net security shows ads; Instant Guard does not.
Which is updated more often, Network Toolbox Net security or Instant Guard?
Network Toolbox Net security ships an update every 2 months, and Instant Guard every 2 months. Most recently, Network Toolbox Net security was updated on October 16, 2026 and Instant Guard on October 12, 2026.

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