Comparison

ApiCatcher vs NetScanner

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

Head to head
About

ApiCatcher

This tool captures and debugs HTTP/HTTPS traffic on your mobile device. It allows you to modify, resend, and analyze requests, generate API documentation, and apply custom rules for flexible customization. All data is stored locally for privacy.

Highlights
  • Capture HTTP/HTTPS traffic
  • Modify and resend requests
  • Generate API documentation
  • Rewrite and script rules
  • Export traffic as HAR files
  • API scanning and statistics
Features
Read full description

ApiCatcher is a user-friendly mobile HTTP/HTTPS/WS/WSS packet capture and debugging tool. ApiCatcher also offers macOS and Windows versions (ApiCatcher Desktop), and the ApiCatcher can sync captured traffic to ApiCatcher Desktop in real time. [Key Features] • Traffic Capture: Capture HTTP, HTTPS, WS, and WSS traffic (WS: WebSocket; WSS: WebSocket over TLS). • Data Manipulation: Copy, export, encrypt, and decrypt Query Params, Headers, and Bodies. • Host Filtering: Configure blacklists and whitelists to filter captured hosts. • Request Replay: Modify and resend requests. • Combo Replay: Schedule and execute multiple requests sequentially based on dependencies, with support for dynamic parameter injection. • Scheduled Replay: Automate and trigger request replays at set intervals. • Auto-Generated API Docs: Automatically generate API documentation and export directly to Postman or Apifox. • Rewrite Rules: Mock responses, redirect requests, modify requests/responses, or drop requests/responses. • Scripting Engine: Extend capabilities with script plugins to flexibly modify requests and responses on the fly. • History Export: Batch export captured traffic as HAR files. • API Scanner: Run rule-based vulnerability/error detection and statistics on captured traffic, with support for custom scanning rules. • Media Export: Batch export images and videos, with automatic merging for segmented download requests. • Real-Time Sync: Stream captured HTTP/HTTPS traffic instantly to ApiCatcher Desktop for advanced analysis and debugging. It also supports syncing to Burp Suite, which requires installing the plugin provided by ApiCatcher on Burp Suite. • DNS mapping/spoofing: Bypass DNS resolution by sending requests for specified domain names to a designated IP address, achieving an effect similar to editing the hosts file on a computer. • Support decoding request/response bodies encoded with the Protobuf protocol, such as gRPC requests. If a .desc descriptor file is provided, field names can also be decoded. [Personalization Settings] • Configurable code highlighting styles with multiple built-in themes, supporting JSON/XML/HTML/JS. • AI assistant mode available: directly capture and analyze packets through AI dialogue. [How It Works] ApiCatcher establishes a local VPN connection on your device to route all network traffic through a local Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) service. As long as the VPN is active, ApiCatcher can capture any HTTP/HTTPS/WS/WSS traffic passing through Wi-Fi or cellular data. [Data Privacy & Security] ApiCatcher's root certificate is a self-signed certificate generated entirely on your own device. All captured HTTP/HTTPS/WS/WSS data is stored locally on your device and is never uploaded to any remote servers. [Description of automatic subscription service] 1.Subscription service: a) Ultimate Monthly (1 month) b) Ultimate Yearly (12 months) 2.Payment: After the user confirms the purchase and makes payment, it will be credited to the iTunes account 3.Automatic renewal: Apple iTunes account will be charged within 24 hours before the expiration date, and the subscription period will be extended by one subscription period after the successful deduction 4.Close the service: You can close the service by going to "Settings" on your iPhone, entering "iTunes Store and App Store", clicking on "Apple ID", selecting "View Apple ID", entering the "Account Settings" page, clicking on "Subscriptions", and managing automatic subscription services. If you need to cancel, you can close it 24 hours before the end of each billing cycle, and no further charges will be deducted within 24 hours before the expiration date 5.Service Agreement: https://apicatcher.net/en/terms-of-service 6.Privacy Agreement: https://apicatcher.net/en/privacy-policy

About

NetScanner

This tool allows developers to inspect HTTP and HTTPS traffic directly on their iPhone. It captures requests and responses in real-time, aids in debugging, and offers built-in utilities for analysis and testing.

Highlights
  • Real-time traffic inspection
  • HTTPS setup and debugging
  • Request analysis and editing
  • Rewrite rules for local debugging
  • Session history and HAR export
  • Built-in developer utilities
Features
Read full description

NetScanner is a native iPhone network debugging tool built for developers, testers, security researchers, and advanced users who need to inspect HTTP and HTTPS traffic directly on device. It is designed to make mobile traffic inspection faster, clearer, and more practical for day-to-day debugging work. With NetScanner, you can capture requests and responses in real time, review key request details, manage HTTPS certificate setup, and keep your debugging workflow on the device. The app focuses on practical inspection and troubleshooting, while also providing utilities that help speed up API testing and request analysis. 1. Real-time traffic inspection Capture HTTP and HTTPS traffic on iPhone and review requests, responses, status codes, timing, headers, body content, and other key details in one place. 2. HTTPS setup and debugging workflow Follow guided certificate setup steps, inspect request and response data more clearly, and use the app as a daily debugging companion for interface analysis and issue investigation. 3. Request analysis and editing Review request content in detail, replay requests, edit parameters, and quickly verify API behavior during testing and troubleshooting. 4. Rewrite rules and local debugging Apply rewrite rules for request or response debugging, adjust traffic behavior, and support more flexible development and verification scenarios. 5. Session history and HAR export Keep captured sessions organized, review previous traffic records, and export HAR files when you need to share or archive debugging results. 6. Built-in developer utilities Use integrated tools such as JSON formatting, URL encode/decode, Base64 encode/decode, regex testing, hash generation, and timestamp conversion without leaving the app. Captured traffic and debugging data stay on device unless you explicitly choose to export or share them. - Terms of Service:https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ - Privacy Policy:https://my.feishu.cn/wiki/WoLPwKrZEiXEb3kCutlcgpw9nff

Screenshots

ApiCatcher4 screens
NetScanner4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: ApiCatcher at 100% against NetScanner's 50%. ApiCatcher also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.7) and update cadence (every 5 days vs monthly). NetScanner's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases 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. ApiCatcher sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month and NetScanner sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

ApiCatcher holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 6 and 3 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of ApiCatcher's written reviews are positive against 50% of NetScanner's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ApiCatcher ships an update every 5 days, NetScanner monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 18, 2026 and September 11, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
ApiCatcher versus NetScanner: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterApiCatcherNetScanner
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (6 ratings) — better3.7 (3 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings6 — better3
Update frequencyEvery 5 days — betterMonthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS17.0 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size57 MB30 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNanning Signalling Network Technology Co., Ltd艳 罗

Customer experience

ApiCatcher

All ratings6 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews12 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

NetScanner

All ratings3 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

In-app purchases

4 purchases

ApiCatcher

Subscriptions2
  • Ultimate$9.991 Month
  • Ultimate$49.991 Year
One-time2
  • Lifetime Pro$39.99
  • Lifetime Ultimate$89.99
2 purchases

NetScanner

Subscriptions1
  • Annual Pro$19.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Pro$39.99

Questions

Is ApiCatcher free?
ApiCatcher is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is NetScanner free?
NetScanner is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, ApiCatcher or NetScanner?
ApiCatcher is rated higher. ApiCatcher averages 5.0 out of 5 from 6 ratings, while NetScanner averages 3.7 from 3 ratings.
Do ApiCatcher or NetScanner have ads?
Neither ApiCatcher nor NetScanner shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ApiCatcher or NetScanner?
ApiCatcher ships an update every 5 days, and NetScanner monthly. Most recently, ApiCatcher was updated on September 18, 2026 and NetScanner on September 11, 2026.

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