mDNSShark vs PingKit
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.
PingKit
Understand your home network with AI-powered explanations and 19 free tools. Identify devices, test speeds, and monitor connections privately on your iPhone. Offers advanced features and monitoring through optional subscriptions.
- On-device AI for network explanations
- 19 professional-grade network tools
- Siri and Shortcuts integration
- Device discovery and identification
- Connection monitoring and uptime watch
- Optional subscription for advanced features
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Is it your Wi-Fi, or is it your ISP? PingKit answers the question you actually have. It checks your device, your network, your router and the internet beyond it, then tells you in plain language where the problem is. Ask "Why is my internet slow?" and get a real answer instead of a number. Every device on your network is identified automatically. No jargon, no guesswork. 19 professional-grade network tools, completely free. AI THAT EXPLAINS YOUR NETWORK: Answers are written on your iPhone by Apple Intelligence, or by Apple Private Cloud Compute, wherever your iPhone and your language allow. PingKit's own service is the last resort, and PingKit asks your permission before it ever receives anything. Every AI feature is free without a subscription: answers written on your iPhone are unlimited, and PingKit's own service gives you 15 a week, up to 5 a day. NEW IN 3.1: • Session Watch: is your connection game-ready? A free one-minute check grades it A to F, with latency, jitter and packet loss. Keep PingKit open while you play: iOS does not let apps measure in the background. • Router mode: your router's status, public address, uptime and line rate, free, no login. • Wake from anywhere: with Guardian and PingKit Agent on a Mac at home, wake a computer while you are away. SIRI & SHORTCUTS: Speed test, "How's My Wi-Fi?", a gaming check, wake your computer, ping, port scan and DNS lookup, straight from Siri, Spotlight and Shortcuts. 19 FREE TOOLS: Smart Diagnostics, Speed Test, Ping, Visual Traceroute, MTR, Connection Monitor, Port Scanner, Bonjour Browser, Security Scan, Device Discovery, My Network, DNS Lookup, Whois, IP Geolocation, SSL Inspector, HTTP Analyzer, Subnet Calculator, Wake-on-LAN, Network Interfaces. MONITOR TAB: Live connection, Uptime Watch, Cert Monitor, Mac Agent, scheduled speed tests and reports in one place. Cert Monitor and Uptime Watch each include one permanently free slot. GUARDIAN ($2.99/mo): • Where the problem is: your device, your network, your router, your ISP, or beyond • Session Watch: game regions, two-hour sessions, lag under load, and where the lag is • Router mode: every port your router forwards from the internet • Cameras on your network, and whether each answers from the internet • Wake from anywhere through your Mac, with a Control Center button per device • Watch Mode, trends per network, and what changed since your last checkup • Fix It walkthrough: an ordered checklist for your exact router • Uptime Watch: 10 sites or TCP ports checked every 5 minutes, with down/recovered alerts • Cert Monitor: 5 domains, with expiry alerts • 24/7 monitoring with the companion Mac Agent: a morning briefing, alerts for the devices you choose, and a scan or speed test from anywhere • Apple Private Cloud Compute: answers questions too large for the model on your iPhone to hold on its own • Private iCloud sync between the Mac Agent and your iPhone GUARDIAN PLUS ($9.99/mo): • Cert Monitor: 50 domains • Alerts by email, with a Monday summary, or to a webhook • Sleep, restart and shut down your Macs and Linux machines • Four- and eight-hour gaming sessions, and your history as a spreadsheet • Several Macs, and 90 days of history • Scheduled reports and the signed ISO 27001 Compliance PDF • Everything in Guardian NOW IN 27 LANGUAGES. PRIVACY FIRST: All 19 diagnostic tools run on your device. No accounts, no tracking, no advertising. The Mac Agent syncs through your personal iCloud. When an answer needs PingKit's own service, PingKit asks first, and you can withdraw that permission at any time. PingKit Guardian: $2.99/mo or $24.99/yr. Guardian Plus: $9.99/mo or $79.99/yr. 1-week free trial on every plan. Cancel anytime. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://pingkit.app/privacy-policy.html Terms of Service: https://pingkit.app/terms-of-service.html
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: mDNSShark at none against PingKit's 10. PingKit's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs every 3 weeks) and ratings volume (7 vs 1). On price, rating, 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. PingKit sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. mDNSShark asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for mDNSShark against 5.0 for PingKit. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PingKit has 7 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.
mDNSShark ships an update every 3 weeks, PingKit every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and October 4, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | mDNSShark | PingKit |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) | 5.0 (7 ratings) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 7 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 3 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — better |
| Requires iOS | 18.2 | 17.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 3 MB | 33 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | ShapeHaven Innovations LLC | PAUL SNYMAN |
Customer experience
mDNSShark
PingKit
In-app purchases
mDNSShark
No in-app purchases
PingKit
- PingKit Pro Monthly7 Days trial$1.991 Month
- PingKit Guardian7 Days trial$2.991 Month
- PingKit Agent Monthly$3.991 Month
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- PingKit Everything Monthly$4.991 Month
- PingKit Pro Yearly7 Days trial$9.991 Year
- PingKit Guardian Plus7 Days trial$9.991 Month
- PingKit Agent Yearly$19.991 Year
- PingKit Everything Yearly$24.991 Year
- PingKit Guardian7 Days trial$24.991 Year
- PingKit Guardian Plus7 Days trial$79.991 Year
Questions
Is mDNSShark free?
Is PingKit free?
Which has better reviews, mDNSShark or PingKit?
Do mDNSShark or PingKit have ads?
Which is updated more often, mDNSShark or PingKit?
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