Comparison

HE.NET Network Tools vs Simplifi Connect

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

Head to head
About

HE.NET Network Tools

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
Read full description

This suite of networks tools implements most of the network diagnostics that you need as a Network Engineer or System Administrator. Please help us improve it by giving us feedback. + ARP / NDP: Lookup local devices found on your network using either ARP (IPv4) or NDP (IPv6). + Bonjour Browser: See what DNS-SD/Bonjour services are available on your network + DNS lookup: Search for a servers DNS zone records such as SOA, NS, A, AAAA, MX, PTR. + Interface Information: Get information regarding your device's current network state. + IP Calculator: Calculate the Netmask, Wildcard, Network, Host range, and Broadcast for a given subnet. + iperf: Check bandwidth against remote iperf services. + One Time Password: Securely store and view your TOTP and HOTP (two-factor authentication) codes. TOTP codes are available on the Apple Watch. + Ping: Send ICMP packets to a single IPv4/IPv6 address. + Ping Sweep: Send ICMP packets to an entire subnet range. + Traceroute: Find the route packets take to reach your destination. + Progressive Traceroute: Get detailed statistics for a given route. + Port Scan: Scan a list of TCP ports on any server. + Routing Table: See your local device's routing table. + SSL/TLS Information: Check available ciphers, protocols and what's being used when connecting to a remove service. + Whois: Get information regarding network resources. + NO ADS! Note: Recent iOS releases secure certain low-level network information, and as such will not be available in-app, such as MAC addresses for other network devices.

About

Simplifi Connect

Easily manage your enterprise networking with this intuitive app. It simplifies router setup, monitoring, and security features like failover protection, all from your mobile device.

Highlights
  • Intuitive router setup guide
  • QR code router onboarding
  • Remote router management
  • Failover protection setup
  • Parental controls with MAC filtering
  • Network health monitoring
  • Firmware updates and password changes
Features
Read full description

Makes enterprise networking with the Simplifi Connect router extremely intuitive and easy. With its simple design, QR Code Scanner, and easy-to-follow steps, the Simplifi Connect App helps you to not just understand and manage the basics of networking (set-up, checking cellular signal strength, updating firmware, changing passwords, seeing devices on the network, etc.), but it’s also the only app designed to help set up failover protection, so your business and home is protected in case an internet disruption happens. The app and all of its features are free and work remotely over the internet or a local WiFi connection to the Simplifi Connect router and can be used to manage one router or hundreds through one app. KEY FEATURES • Helpful interactive guide to set up your Simplifi Connect routers out of the box. • Easily onboard your router using QR code scan. • Create a user account with your email and remotely manage & monitor your routers 24/7 from any mobile device. • Quick login via identity providers: Apple, Google, Microsoft. • Parental control using MAC address filtering with scheduler. • View and monitor your router remotely: ◦ Monitor Voicelink (Simplifi POTS line replacement). ◦ Graphical presentation of your network health. ◦ Select and view a router’s status from an interactive list or map. ◦ In real-time, monitor your routers' failover status (armed, active, disabled). ◦ Monitor essential environmental information such as cellular signal strength, carrier, connected devices, IMEI, and firmware version. ◦ Monitor critical network details including IP address, DNS configuration, uptime, and gateway address. ◦ Receive alerts on your mobile device: ◦ Network health and status changed. ◦ A new client joins the WiFi network. ◦ Network failover status changed. ◦ Manage your router remotely: ◦ Change WiFi network name, and password. ◦ Block and unblock devices and guests from accessing WiFi networks. ◦ Initiate firmware update. ◦ Reset Simplifi Connect to default settings. ◦ Schedule router reboots. ◦ Set your data usage limit for alerts. ◦ Force cellular band(s).

Screenshots

HE.NET Network Tools4 screens
Simplifi Connect4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Simplifi Connect at 5.0 against HE.NET Network Tools's 4.0. Simplifi Connect also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 78%). HE.NET Network Tools's advantage is ratings volume (70 vs 4) and device support (4 vs 2). On price, update cadence, 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Simplifi Connect 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 70 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 78% of HE.NET Network Tools's written reviews are positive against 100% of Simplifi Connect's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 2, 2026 and June 4, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
HE.NET Network Tools versus Simplifi Connect: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHE.NET Network ToolsSimplifi Connect
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (70 ratings)5.0 (4 ratings) — better
Positive reviews77.8% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings70 — better4
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS13.013.0
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB53 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperHurricane Electric, LLCBrightSky LLC

Customer experience

HE.NET Network Tools

All ratings70 ratings
Positive72.9%
Neutral5.7%
Negative21.4%
Written reviews99 reviews
Positive77.8%
Neutral10.1%
Negative12.1%

Simplifi Connect

All ratings4 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

HE.NET Network Tools

Reported bugs

12 issues
  • 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
Show 7 more
  • iperf3 fails to start intermittently
  • App crashes when selecting tools from menu
  • Crashes on iOS 11 and later versions
  • Neighbor Discovery crashes on iPhone 6
  • Dark mode text hard to read on iPhone
  • App crashes on iPad for multiple functions
  • Ping and basic tools crash on iOS 11+

Requested features

12 requests
  • 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
Show 7 more
  • Telnet command for port testing
  • Stop/pause button for running tests
  • Multiple iperf test execution
  • Configurable iperf parameters and bandwidth limits
  • LAN device scanning capability
  • Dark mode text color options
  • Apple Watch app with full functionality

Simplifi Connect

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

HE.NET Network Tools

No in-app purchases

None

Simplifi Connect

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is HE.NET Network Tools free?
HE.NET Network Tools is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Simplifi Connect free?
Simplifi Connect is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, HE.NET Network Tools or Simplifi Connect?
Simplifi Connect is rated higher. HE.NET Network Tools averages 4.0 out of 5 from 70 ratings, while Simplifi Connect averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.
Do HE.NET Network Tools or Simplifi Connect have ads?
Neither HE.NET Network Tools nor Simplifi Connect shows ads.
Which is updated more often, HE.NET Network Tools or Simplifi Connect?
HE.NET Network Tools ships an update every 2 months, and Simplifi Connect every 2 months. Most recently, HE.NET Network Tools was updated on September 2, 2026 and Simplifi Connect on June 4, 2026.

Other comparisons