Comparison

Robin vs Network Scan

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

Head to head
About

Robin

Features
Read full description

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: β€’ Air capture β€” 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. β€’ Interface capture β€” 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: β€’ Connect β€” securely over SSH with password or Ed25519/RSA key authentication. Passphrase-protected private keys are supported, and host keys are pinned on first use. β€’ Detect β€” check whether air and interface capture are available, including radios, Linux interfaces, required tools, and permissions. β€’ Configure β€” choose a capture source, channel, or network interface, then add an optional BPF filter, stop timer, and output directory. β€’ Focus β€” 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. β€’ Filter β€” get basic BPF validation as you type, with common examples, a combination builder, and a syntax reference. β€’ Capture β€” 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. β€’ Download β€” 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: β€’ OpenWrt routers, usually with root login β€’ Regular Linux hosts using an existing active network interface β€’ A monitor-mode-compatible Wi-Fi radio for air capture; interface capture does not require one β€’ Root, file capabilities, passwordless sudo, or password-based sudo β€’ 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: β€’ 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. β€’ Robin requires an SSH-accessible remote device with tcpdump. Only air capture requires Wi-Fi monitor mode. β€’ Captures survive SSH disconnects and can be resumed after reconnecting. β€’ Credentials are stored in the iOS Keychain, never on the remote device. β€’ 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

Network Scan

Features
Read full description

KNOW WHAT IS ON YOUR NETWORK Network Scan discovers devices on the Wi-Fi networks you join and gives you a clear, private inventory on your iPhone and iPad. See responding hosts, names, likely device types, services, open ports, and last-seen details without creating an account. WAKE A COMPUTER FOR FREE Save a compatible machine and send a Wake-on-LAN magic packet from your phone or tablet. Wake works best with wired desktops and servers that have Wake-on-LAN enabled in firmware and the operating system. SSH IS PRO Use a real, interactive SSH terminal with multiple sessions and essential keys above the keyboard. On iPhone, the terminal fills the screen and a slide-up drawer keeps saved hosts and open sessions close at hand. On iPad, a persistent Connections sidebar keeps hosts and sessions visible beside the terminal. Pro also adds: - Wake + SSH in one tap. Wake the machine, wait for its SSH service, and connect automatically. - Sleep requests over SSH, with presets for Linux, macOS, and Windows. - Custom device names, larger port scans, CSV export, and full scan history. CURRENT, HISTORY, AND SAVED Keep today's network view separate from dated scan snapshots and the machines you intentionally save. Watch network can check for changes for up to 10 minutes while the app is open, with optional alert tones. PRACTICAL NETWORK TOOLS Use Ping, DNS lookup, TCP checks, port scanning, banner checks, subnet tools, and other focused diagnostics. Results stay connected to the work you started. PRIVATE BY DESIGN Network Scan has no app account, advertising SDK, analytics SDK, or SEM cloud service. Scan history and saved connections stay on your device. Passwords and private keys are stored in iOS Keychain only when you choose to save them. FREE AND PRO Network scanning, essential diagnostics, and Wake-on-LAN are free. SSH is Pro. - Yearly: $19.99 USD, with a 7-day free trial for eligible new subscribers. - Lifetime: $49.99 USD as a one-time purchase. - No monthly plan. Payment is charged to your Apple Account at purchase confirmation. Subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel in App Store settings. A free trial converts to a paid subscription unless cancelled before the trial ends. Lifetime is a one-time purchase, not a subscription. Wake-on-LAN requires compatible hardware, host configuration, and local network access. Wake + SSH requires a reachable SSH service and saved credentials. Sleep requests require an SSH account permitted to suspend the host. A sent request does not by itself prove that the computer woke or slept. Use Network Scan only on networks and systems you own or are authorized to administer. Privacy Policy: https://superextramega.com/networkscan/privacy/ Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Robin4 screens
Network Scan4 screens

Verdict

The call

Robin and Network Scan are too close to call on the numbers: across 6 compared parameters β€” price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases among them β€” neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

Scored on Price Β· Rating Β· Positive reviews Β· Number of ratings Β· Update frequency Β· Ads Β· In-app purchases Β· Monetization Β· Best chart rank Β· Devices Β· Requires iOS

CostPrice Β· In-app purchases Β· Ads Β· Monetization

Both are free to download. Robin sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Network Scan sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
Robin versus Network Scan: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRobinNetwork Scan
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyWeeklyWeekly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.0 β€” better18.0
Further details β€” not scored
Size16 MB13 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer博 ι‚’Earl Jones

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Robin

One-time1
  • Robin Pro$4.99
3 purchases

Network Scan

Subscriptions2
  • Network Scan Pro (Monthly)$2.991 Month
  • Network Scan Pro (Yearly)7 Days trial$19.991 Year
One-time1
  • Network Scan Pro β€” Lifetime$49.99

Questions

Is Robin free?
Robin is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Network Scan free?
Network Scan is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Robin or Network Scan have ads?
Neither Robin nor Network Scan shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Robin or Network Scan?
Robin ships an update weekly, and Network Scan weekly. Most recently, Robin was updated on October 31, 2026 and Network Scan on October 25, 2026.

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