Comparison

404 Network vs NoirShield

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

Head to head
About

404 Network

This app offers a comprehensive suite of network diagnostic tools for iOS and macOS. It provides professional-grade features for network engineers and security enthusiasts, with options for advanced AI assistance and remote diagnostics.

Highlights
  • Real ICMP Ping with live latency charts
  • Visual Traceroute with hop-by-hop analysis
  • DNS Lookup with multiple server comparison
  • Port Scanner with service detection
  • AI Assistant powered by Claude or Apple Intelligence
  • Remote Sensor dispatch
  • NFC Toolkit
Features
Read full description

404 Network brings network diagnostic tools to iOS and macOS. Whether you're a network engineer troubleshooting connectivity or a security enthusiast auditing your home network, 404 gives you professional-grade tools in a beautiful native app. CORE TOOLS (FREE) • Real ICMP Ping with live latency charts • Visual Traceroute with hop-by-hop analysis • DNS Lookup with multiple server comparison • Speed Test with ISP detection • WiFi Info with signal strength monitoring • Port Scanner with service detection • Network Discovery with live topology map • Wake-on-LAN for remote device power • HTTP Probe for web server testing • Whois domain lookup PRO FEATURES • 70+ network diagnostic tools • Unlimited saved devices with background monitoring • Full port scan results with banner grabbing • 30-day diagnostic history with CSV/JSON/PDF export • Structured PDF reports: measurements, observations, context and available-data limits • Color tags, device groups, and topology presets • Community speed map — compare ISP performance in your area • Security Audit with vulnerability detection • WiFi Channel Analyzer • Smart Home device diagnostics • LAN Speed Test and Micro Speed Logger PRO+ ADVANCED • AI Assistant powered by Claude or on-device Apple Intelligence • AI-guided Security Audit and Penetration Test flows • Remote Sensor dispatch — run tools from multiple network vantage points • BLE Scanner Pro with GATT exploration and characteristic writing • NFC Toolkit — read, write, and clone-detect NFC tags • SSH Tester, SNMP Walker, Credential Checker • Subdomain Finder, CORS Checker, CSP Analyzer • Packet Crafter, Payload Library, Directory Scanner PRIVACY FIRST • No ads. No tracking. No analytics. • Supported history and saved records can sync through your private iCloud database when iCloud is available • Optional public speed sharing rounds coordinates to a coarse grid; permitted Wi-Fi survey records can retain precise coordinates privately • On-device AI is available on supported devices. Optional cloud AI sends the context you authorize to the selected provider using your API key • Review export, deletion and sharing controls in the app and the privacy policy TERMS OF USE Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

NoirShield

Features
Read full description

NoirShield is a network tool that runs entirely on your device. It encrypts your DNS lookups and can match them against blocklists stored on the device. Your traffic is never routed through a server of ours: there is nothing to relay it through, and your IP address does not change. ENCRYPTED DNS Resolve names over DNS-over-HTTPS or DNS-over-TLS. Choose from built-in encrypted resolvers or enter your own custom endpoint. Measure them on the network you are on and switch to the fastest. ON-DEVICE FILTERING Optional lists for ads and trackers, malware, phishing and crypto mining — 470,943 domains, matched on the device. Every list is off until you turn it on. You can import your own list and add your own allow and block rules, which take priority. DIAGNOSTICS Fourteen checks: reachability, IPv4 and IPv6, captive portals, latency, DNS resolution, DNS interception, DoH, DoT, HTTPS, TLS, QUIC, WebSocket and UDP. AUTOFIX Measures the network, applies a compatibility profile, verifies the result and remembers what worked for that network. NO ACCOUNT No sign-up, no sign-in, no subscription. Nothing about your lookups is uploaded. The activity log stays in memory and is gone when the app closes, unless you switch on "Keep activity after restart" in Settings. The app reaches our server for two things only: signed blocklist updates, and the connection tests while you are running diagnostics. NoirShield is not a country-switching VPN. It has no relay or proxy server, does not change your IP address and never decrypts HTTPS. On iPhone and iPad, iOS shows its own VPN badge whenever an on-device tunnel is running; NoirShield uses that tunnel only to hand DNS queries to the resolver on your device.

Screenshots

404 Network4 screens
NoirShield4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: NoirShield at none against 404 Network's 3. NoirShield also leads on iOS requirement (16.0 vs 26.2). 404 Network's advantage is device support (5 vs 2). On price and ads 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. 404 Network sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. NoirShield asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
404 Network versus NoirShield: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
Parameter404 NetworkNoirShield
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.5 (2 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings2 — better—
Update frequencyWeekly—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS26.216.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size187 MB29 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperChristine Martin7Stockapp OU

In-app purchases

3 purchases

404 Network

Subscriptions2
  • Pro+ Monthly$4.991 Month
  • Pro+ Annual7 Days trial$49.991 Year
One-time1
  • 404 Pro$9.99
None

NoirShield

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is 404 Network free?
404 Network is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is NoirShield free?
NoirShield is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do 404 Network or NoirShield have ads?
Neither 404 Network nor NoirShield shows ads.

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