Comparison

Robin vs M3U8 Spark

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

Head to head
About

Robin

Features
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Robin turns your iPhone or iPad into a control panel for remote packet capture. It connects over SSH to your own OpenWrt router or Linux host, runs tcpdump remotely, and sends a standard pcap straight back to your iPhone or iPad. Robin offers two capture sources: • Air capture — use monitor mode on a compatible Wi-Fi radio to capture 802.11 frames. Robin can scan nearby access points and configure the radio, channel, and width. • Interface capture — capture packets visible to an existing Linux interface such as br-lan or eth0. Monitor-mode support is not required, and Robin does not change the interface state. Robin does not require jailbreaking your iPhone or iPad or attaching a USB Wi-Fi adapter to it. The capture runs on the remote host; your iPhone or iPad handles connection, detection, configuration, control, and download. Robin is not a generic SSH client. It is a guided workflow built for remote packet capture: • Connect — securely over SSH with password or Ed25519/RSA key authentication. Passphrase-protected private keys are supported, and host keys are pinned on first use. • Detect — check whether air and interface capture are available, including radios, Linux interfaces, required tools, and permissions. • Configure — choose a capture source, channel, or network interface, then add an optional BPF filter, stop timer, and output directory. • Focus — narrow interface captures to this device’s address as seen by the SSH server, a specific IP address, a CIDR network, or a MAC address, and combine the scope with BPF. Only traffic visible at the selected interface can be captured. • Filter — get basic BPF validation as you type, with common examples, a combination builder, and a syntax reference. • Capture — start a detached tcpdump task that keeps running if SSH disconnects. Interface capture excludes the current SSH control connection by default and has a protective file-size limit. • Download — pull the .pcap to your iPhone or iPad and open it in Wireshark or your tool of choice. ROOM TO WORK: View lists and details side by side on wider screens such as iPad. Your selection and capture state stay in place when you resize. Live metrics and controls adapt to the available space, with support for larger text. WORKS WITH: • OpenWrt routers, usually with root login • Regular Linux hosts using an existing active network interface • A monitor-mode-compatible Wi-Fi radio for air capture; interface capture does not require one • Root, file capabilities, passwordless sudo, or password-based sudo • Standard Dropbear / OpenSSH targets, with no SFTP required BUILT FOR: Network engineers, Wi-Fi troubleshooters, and security researchers who need a fast, portable way to collect pcaps from infrastructure they own or are authorized to test. GOOD TO KNOW: • Try capture free for 7 days, then unlock Start Capture with a one-time Robin Pro purchase. Connection, scanning, health checks, history, and file browsing remain free. • Robin requires an SSH-accessible remote device with tcpdump. Only air capture requires Wi-Fi monitor mode. • Captures survive SSH disconnects and can be resumed after reconnecting. • Credentials are stored in the iOS Keychain, never on the remote device. • Air capture on a single-radio router may drop your Wi-Fi control link. Interface capture does not switch the radio mode, and Robin warns you when the air-capture risk applies. Robin is a capture and transfer tool. Use it only on networks you own or have explicit permission to test. Capturing traffic on networks without authorization may be illegal in your jurisdiction.

About

M3U8 Spark

Easily download videos from websites and convert them to MP4 format. This tool offers seamless integration with Safari extensions and provides offline library management for your media files.

Highlights
  • Safari Extension Integration
  • Download videos from websites
  • Convert to MP4 format
  • Offline library management
  • Cross-device playback compatibility
Features
Read full description

A powerful management tool designed for your media files. You can use it to download videos from websites and convert them to MP4. Key Features: - Download videos from websites - Supports background downloads (merging video segments still requires the app to remain in the foreground) - Supports online playback - Efficient Conversion: Quickly export to standard MP4 format, ensuring your files play on any device or player. - Offline Library Management: Organize and access your personal media library anytime, anywhere, even without an internet connection.

Screenshots

Robin4 screens
M3U8 Spark2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Robin at Free against M3U8 Spark's $0.99. M3U8 Spark's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and update cadence (every 3 days vs weekly). On ads 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

Robin is free to download; M3U8 Spark costs $0.99 up front. Robin sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. M3U8 Spark asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Robin ships an update weekly, M3U8 Spark every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Robin versus M3U8 Spark: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRobinM3U8 Spark
PriceFree — better$0.99
Rating—5.0 (7 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—83.3% of reviews
Number of ratings—7 — better
Update frequencyWeeklyEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size16 MB25 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer博 邢一文 陈

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Robin

One-time1
  • Robin Pro$4.99
None

M3U8 Spark

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Robin free?
Robin is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is M3U8 Spark free?
M3U8 Spark costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do Robin or M3U8 Spark have ads?
Neither Robin nor M3U8 Spark shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Robin or M3U8 Spark?
Robin ships an update weekly, and M3U8 Spark every 3 days. Most recently, Robin was updated on October 24, 2026 and M3U8 Spark on October 28, 2026.

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