Comparison

mDNSShark vs BeaconWave

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • Local network scanning
  • mDNS, DNS-SD, SSDP protocol support
  • Device and service discovery
  • Private and no data collection
  • Open-source development
  • User-friendly interface
Features
Read full description

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.

About

BeaconWave

Features
Read full description

The complete Bluetooth toolkit for developers and engineers. BeaconWave lets you manage, scan, and broadcast Bluetooth beacons — all from one app. Whether you're testing a beacon installation or building an indoor positioning system, everything you need is right here. MANAGE YOUR BEACONS Register beacons with UUID, Major, and Minor values. Your entire beacon inventory, organized and always at hand. SCAN FOR iBEACONS Add scan target UUIDs — preset or custom — and detect iBeacon signals in range. Know exactly which beacons are broadcasting nearby. DISCOVER BLE DEVICES Switch to BLE mode to scan for any Bluetooth device around you. Signal strength in dBm and proximity labels, updated in real time. BROADCAST YOUR OWN Turn your iPhone into an iBeacon. Configure UUID, Major, Minor, and TX Power to simulate any beacon — no extra hardware needed. Add a name and memo to track your test setups. Perfect for: • Retail beacon deployment and testing • Indoor navigation development • IoT and smart space prototyping • Bluetooth education and exploration

Screenshots

mDNSShark4 screens
BeaconWave4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: BeaconWave at 15.0 against mDNSShark's 18.2. On price, ads, in-app purchases 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Scorecard1 real difference · 8 level
mDNSShark versus BeaconWave: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParametermDNSSharkBeaconWave
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPod — better
Requires iOS18.215.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size3 MB28 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperShapeHaven Innovations LLCHironori Tsumuraya

In-app purchases

None

mDNSShark

No in-app purchases

None

BeaconWave

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is mDNSShark free?
mDNSShark is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is BeaconWave free?
BeaconWave is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do mDNSShark or BeaconWave have ads?
Neither mDNSShark nor BeaconWave shows ads.

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