mDNSShark vs NextDNS Remote
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
mDNSShark
Explore your local Wi-Fi network with ease. This app discovers printers, media servers, and IoT devices by tapping into network protocols. It offers a simple, private way to understand what's connected and how services communicate, with no external servers or data collection.
- Local network scanning
- mDNS, DNS-SD, SSDP protocol support
- Device and service discovery
- Private and no data collection
- Open-source development
- User-friendly interface
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mDNSShark is an open-source iPhone application created by a small team of engineers who wanted a simpler, clearer way to explore local networks. By tapping into protocols like Multicast DNS (mDNS), DNS-SD, and SSDP, mDNSShark quickly uncovers printers, media servers, IoT gadgets, and other active services on your home or office Wi-Fi - no convoluted setup required. If you've ever wondered what devices are really on your network, or how various services talk to each other, mDNSShark is designed to give you those answers efficiently and privately. Simplicity is key: we've stripped away clutter so you can focus on scanning and understanding results. Every discovery operation runs right on your phone, with no external servers involved. We also do not collect or share any usage data - there's no telemetry, no user analytics, and certainly no hidden trackers. You remain fully in control, deciding if and when to allow local network access, which is all the app needs to function. Built by Engineers, Open to Everyone: mDNSShark was created by engineers who love transparent, lightweight solutions - yet it's also friendly for anyone curious about local network behavior. If you're a fellow engineer, a technologist, or just someone who enjoys problem-solving, you'll find plenty of ways to contribute. Newcomers can help refine the interface, add new features, or even propose deeper networking enhancements. Veterans can dive into advanced scanning logic, integrate emergent protocols, and optimize performance. We firmly believe that collectively, we can build an indispensable network tool for iPhone users everywhere. Current Development: mDNSShark is still in active development, with regular updates that refine performance, expand support for various network protocols, and polish the user experience. We welcome your ideas - whether it's a new device detection trick, an easier UI flow, or an innovative scanning feature. Our public repository provides a transparent view of current issues and ongoing discussions, letting you jump in wherever your skills or interests fit best.
NextDNS Remote
Manage your NextDNS configuration remotely. Monitor analytics, review query logs, and adjust blocking settings and lists. Supports multiple accounts and profiles for comprehensive control.
- View analytics and statistics
- Explore query logs
- Edit blocklists and allowlists
- Change security and privacy settings
- Manage multiple NextDNS accounts
- Create new profiles
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NextDNS Remote is a third party app for controlling your NextDNS setup. You can view statistics and logs, as well as change blocking settings and lists. *Analytics* See the number of (blocked) queries and a chart of your recent activity, grouped by profile. Furthermore, you can see different analytics about domains, devices, security, and more. The timespan of the charts & statistics is configurable. *Query Log* Explore what requests your devices make (including a 'live updating' feature), as well as see details about the query and device. For blocked queries you can find out why they're blocked. *Blocking* Edit your blocklist, deny & allowlist, native tracking protection, and more. Quickly toggle blocking for services and categories. *Settings* You have the ability to change all security, privacy, and parental control settings. *Multiple accounts* There's support for multiple NextDNS accounts and you can switch between them seamlessly. Multiple profiles are supported too: you can even create new profiles right from the app. A NextDNS+ purchase or subscription is required to use more than one account, the ability to do mutable actions (like changing settings or creating a profile), access the Live Log, remove limits, and more. You can get NextDNS+ with a one-time purchase or optional subscription. == Note: You need a NextDNS account for this app to function. NextDNS Remote is a third party app which uses the NextDNS API and is in no way affiliated with NextDNS. Find out more about NextDNS at https://nextdns.io/. This app offers a "NextDNS+" version with additional features, in the form of a lifetime purchase, a monthly subscription, or a yearly subscription. Subscriptions will automatically renew unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period and will be charged to your iTunes account. You can turn off auto-renew/manage subscriptions in your iTunes Account Settings after purchase. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: mDNSShark at none against NextDNS Remote's 3. mDNSShark also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.6). NextDNS Remote's advantage is ratings volume (41 vs 1). On price, update cadence, ads and device support 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. NextDNS Remote sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. mDNSShark asks for nothing beyond the download.
mDNSShark holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: NextDNS Remote has 41 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.
mDNSShark ships an update every 3 weeks, NextDNS Remote fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | mDNSShark | NextDNS Remote |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better | 4.6 (41 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | — | 88.9% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 41 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPad — better |
| Requires iOS | 18.2 | 18.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 3 MB | 23 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | ShapeHaven Innovations LLC | RocketScience IT |
Customer experience
mDNSShark
NextDNS Remote
In-app purchases
mDNSShark
No in-app purchases
NextDNS Remote
- NextDNS+ Monthly$0.991 Month
- NextDNS+ Yearly$3.991 Year
- NextDNS+ Lifetime$8.99
Questions
Is mDNSShark free?
Is NextDNS Remote free?
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Which is updated more often, mDNSShark or NextDNS Remote?
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