# HE.NET Network Tools vs XCAL

The clearest difference is rating: XCAL at 5.0 against HE.NET Network Tools's 4.0. XCAL also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 76%) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). HE.NET Network Tools's advantage is ratings volume (72 vs 1) and device support (4 vs 2). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

XCAL holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: HE.NET Network Tools has 72 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 76% of HE.NET Network Tools's written reviews are positive against 100% of XCAL's.

HE.NET Network Tools ships an update every 2 months, XCAL every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | HE.NET Network Tools | XCAL |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.0 (72 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/henet-network-tools/id858241710/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xcal-ismart/id1185372106/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **72** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 75.9% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 9 MB | 9 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Hurricane Electric, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/317969600) | [Innowireless Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1645003818) |

## What reviewers say

### HE.NET Network Tools

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/henet-network-tools/id858241710)

A comprehensive suite of network diagnostic tools for professionals. It offers features like ARP/NDP lookup, DNS queries, IP calculations, bandwidth testing, and port scanning. Securely manage two-factor authentication codes and view network routing tables.

**Highlights:** ARP/NDP lookup, DNS lookup, IP Calculator, iperf bandwidth test, Port Scan, SSL/TLS Information, Two-factor authentication code storage

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🎯 Comprehensive network diagnostic tools in one app
- 💰 Completely free with no ads or paywalls
- 🔒 Privacy-friendly and no data collection
- ⚡ Lightweight and efficient performance
- 🛠️ Advanced features like SSL cert chain analysis

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes on Interface Information tool
- 🐛 Dark mode text readability issues
- 🐛 iperf3 tool unreliable and buggy
- 🐛 DNS resolver doesn't show NXDOMAIN responses
- 🐛 App crashes when scrolling tool menu

**Reported bugs**

- Interface Information crashes app immediately
- iperf3 fails with 'operation not permitted' error
- iperf2 crashes on iOS 8+
- DNS lookups not responding after updates
- iperf3 only runs for 1 second despite longer duration settings

**Requested features**

- Vision Pro compatibility and controls
- SRV record lookup in DNS tool
- IPv6 subnet calculator
- WOL (Wake-on-LAN) magic packet support
- MTR (My Traceroute) tool


### XCAL

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xcal-ismart/id1185372106)

This application allows for Quality of Service and Quality of Experience testing across various network technologies. It runs as a standalone app on iPhones and supports automated testing for comprehensive network analysis.

**Highlights:** QoS and QoE testing, Supports all network technologies, Handheld stand-alone application, Automated testing capabilities, iPhone compatible

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is HE.NET Network Tools free?

HE.NET Network Tools is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is XCAL free?

XCAL is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, HE.NET Network Tools or XCAL?

XCAL is rated higher. HE.NET Network Tools averages 4.0 out of 5 from 72 ratings, while XCAL averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do HE.NET Network Tools or XCAL have ads?

Neither HE.NET Network Tools nor XCAL shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, HE.NET Network Tools or XCAL?

HE.NET Network Tools ships an update every 2 months, and XCAL every 3 weeks. Most recently, HE.NET Network Tools was updated on October 29, 2026 and XCAL on October 4, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*