Comparison

Kestrel LITE vs NetState Tool

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

Head to head
About

Kestrel LITE

Analyze network packet capture files directly on your iPhone or iPad. Inspect packet details, reassemble TCP streams, and view host inventories and DNS queries. This app operates entirely offline and on-device, ensuring your data privacy.

Highlights
  • Packet list with hex+ASCII inspector
  • TCP stream reassembly
  • Flow records with bidirectional counts
  • Host inventory with DNS resolution
  • Protocol classification
  • Timeline view of capture activity
  • Chain-of-custody log
Features
Read full description

Kestrel Lite is a network packet analyzer for iPhone and iPad — open a PCAP or PCAPNG file, see what's inside, and triage it from your phone or tablet. CORE FEATURES Dashboard with tappable widgets — jump from any metric to the relevant tab Packets list with hex+ASCII inspector and filter syntax (port, host, protocol, length) TCP stream reassembly with full payload view (captures under 1 GB) Flow records with bidirectional byte/packet counts Host inventory with hostname resolution from DNS observed in the capture DNS queries with full A/AAAA/CNAME/MX/TXT response data Protocol classification: TCP, UDP, ICMP, HTTP, HTTPS, DNS, SSH, FTP, SMTP, TLS, ARP, SMB, mDNS, DHCP, NTP, SNMP, SSDP, QUIC Timeline view of capture activity Chain-of-custody log with SHA-256 file integrity hash PRIVACY GUARANTEE 100% offline — no network access 100% on-device — your captures never leave your device No account required, no sign-in Free with no ads IDEAL FOR Network engineers triaging captures on the go Security analysts doing first-pass review Students learning packet analysis and networking Anyone curious about what's actually in their PCAP files LIMITATIONS PCAP files are processed up to 50,000 packets per capture Raw payload search is not included TCP reassembly disables automatically above 1 GB to protect device memory Upgrade to Kestrel Sight to get: Unlimited packet capacity — no 50,000-packet cap Analyst Bookmarks — flag any packet, flow, host, DNS query, or stream with a note. Bookmarks are included in the PDF export Enhanced IPv6 support — addresses displayed in canonical RFC 5952 form, search matches any textual representation of the same address Refined PDF reports — human-readable durations, complete Top Talkers, paginated bookmarks Refined CSV exports SUPPORT Questions, issues, or feature requests? Email support@tracivex.com — we read every message and use your feedback to guide development.

About

NetState Tool

Features
Read full description

NetState is a comprehensive network diagnostic toolkit designed for network administrators, gamers, and IT professionals. Analyze your connection stability, scan your local network, and monitor device performance in real-time. KEY FEATURES: • LAN Scanner Discover devices connected to your Wi-Fi network. Identify IP addresses and manufacturer details instantly. • Ping & Latency Monitor Check response times to popular servers (Gaming, DNS, Web) to diagnose lag or packet loss. • Network Diagnostics Port Scanner: Check for open ports on target IPs. DNS Lookup: Fetch A, MX, NS records. Whois: View domain registration details. • Device Dashboard Monitor system uptime, storage usage, and battery health in a clean, futuristic interface. NetState is 100% free and designed for offline diagnostic use. No accounts or subscriptions required.

Screenshots

Kestrel LITE4 screens
NetState Tool2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: NetState Tool at every 9 days against Kestrel LITE's every 2 months. NetState Tool also leads on iOS requirement (16.5 vs 18.6). 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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Kestrel LITE ships an update every 2 months, NetState Tool every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on June 30, 2026 and September 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
Kestrel LITE versus NetState Tool: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterKestrel LITENetState Tool
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 9 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS18.616.5 — better
Further details — not scored
Size2 MB50 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJohn AlthausenKK STUDIO

In-app purchases

None

Kestrel LITE

No in-app purchases

None

NetState Tool

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Kestrel LITE free?
Kestrel LITE is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is NetState Tool free?
NetState Tool is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Kestrel LITE or NetState Tool have ads?
Neither Kestrel LITE nor NetState Tool shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Kestrel LITE or NetState Tool?
Kestrel LITE ships an update every 2 months, and NetState Tool every 9 days. Most recently, Kestrel LITE was updated on June 30, 2026 and NetState Tool on September 13, 2026.

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