# HE.NET Network Tools vs Air Observer

The clearest difference is rating: Air Observer at 5.0 against HE.NET Network Tools's 4.0. Air Observer also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 78%). HE.NET Network Tools's advantage is update cadence (every 2 months vs every 28 months) and ratings volume (70 vs 4). 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.

Air Observer 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 Air Observer's.

HE.NET Network Tools ships an update every 2 months, Air Observer every 28 months. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | HE.NET Network Tools | Air Observer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.0 (70 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/henet-network-tools/id858241710/reviews) | **[5.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/air-observer/id989644506/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **70** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 77.8% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 28 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 9 MB | 2 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Hurricane Electric, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/317969600) | [Peter Thornycroft](https://appshunter.io/developer/862687029) |

## 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


### Air Observer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/air-observer/id989644506)

This app helps diagnose Wi-Fi connection issues on iOS devices. It measures local Wi-Fi health and wide area connection to a server, helping users understand signal strength and potential interference.

**Highlights:** Diagnose Wi-Fi connection health, Measure local Wi-Fi signal strength, Assess wide area connection to server, Identify wireless interference, Differentiate Wi-Fi vs. Internet issues

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**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 Air Observer free?

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

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

Air Observer is rated higher. HE.NET Network Tools averages 4.0 out of 5 from 70 ratings, while Air Observer averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.

### Do HE.NET Network Tools or Air Observer have ads?

Neither HE.NET Network Tools nor Air Observer shows ads.

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

HE.NET Network Tools ships an update every 2 months, and Air Observer every 28 months. Most recently, HE.NET Network Tools was updated on October 9, 2026 and Air Observer on October 1, 2026.

---

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