Best Network Diagnostic Software in 2026
Updated
In short: NetSpot is ranked #1 of 39 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of PingPlotter and iperf2. The best-ranked option with a free plan is PingPlotter. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Globalping at $10/mo.
Network diagnostics can help investigate issues such as name resolution, packet loss, or the path traffic takes. Compared on DNS diagnostics, packet-loss analysis, and path visualization, the entries offer distinct capabilities to consider for the questions you need to answer. Command-line interface, deployment, supported platforms, and target limit can help you assess fit for your environment. NetSpot, PingPlotter, and iperf2 are among the options, with nPerf and SoftPerfect Bandwidth Manager also listed. Check free-plan availability and paid-from pricing alongside these technical details. Whether you are examining a particular connection or a wider set of systems, focus on the diagnostic functions and platform support relevant to your situation.
39 network diagnostic software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
Recognised 40% · Phone app 26% · Documented 20% · Free plan 14% of the score
- 1 NetSpot iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.8Free
- 2 PingPlotter iPhone only RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.8$29/mo Deployment: hybridPath visualization: Yes
- 3 iperf2 Android only RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.8 Deployment: desktop
- 4 nPerf iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.8 Deployment: hybrid
- 5 SoftPerfect Bandwidth Manager No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.4Free Deployment: desktopPath visualization: Yes
- 6 Buddi No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.3Free Deployment: desktop
- 7 DNSViz No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.3Free Deployment: hybridPath visualization: YesDNS diagnostics: Yes
- 8 iperf3 No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.3Free Deployment: desktopPath visualization: NoDNS diagnostics: No
- 9 Nmap No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.3$9,980/mo Deployment: desktopPath visualization: YesDNS diagnostics: Yes
- 10 Angry IP Scanner No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.2Free Deployment: desktopDNS diagnostics: Yes
- 11 Globalping No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.2$10/mo Deployment: hybridDNS diagnostics: Yes
- 12 inSSIDer No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.2$16.67/mo
- 13 NETworkManager No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.2Free Deployment: desktopPath visualization: YesDNS diagnostics: Yes
- 14 RIPE Atlas No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.2Free Deployment: hybridPath visualization: YesDNS diagnostics: Yes
- 15 WhatInStartup No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.6 Deployment: desktopPath visualization: NoDNS diagnostics: No
- 16 Acrylic Wi-Fi Heatmaps No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.5
- 17 GRC DNS Benchmark No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.4 Deployment: desktopDNS diagnostics: Yes
- 18 SolarWinds Free SFTP/SCP Server No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.4 Deployment: desktopDNS diagnostics: Yes
- 19 WifiInfoView No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.4 Deployment: desktopPath visualization: NoDNS diagnostics: No
- 20 WinMTR No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.4 Deployment: desktopPath visualization: NoDNS diagnostics: No
- 21 DNSViz Toolkit No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.3 Deployment: hybridPath visualization: YesDNS diagnostics: Yes
- 22 WhatRoute No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.3 Deployment: desktopPath visualization: YesDNS diagnostics: Yes
- 23 Advanced IP Scanner No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.2 Deployment: desktop
- 24 Advanced Port Scanner No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.2 Deployment: desktop
- 25 Ethr No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.2 Deployment: desktop
Is your app on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which network diagnostic software is ranked first on Samsung Mobile US Press?
NetSpot is ranked #1 of 39 with a score of 7.8. PingPlotter is second and iperf2 third.
How many of these have a free plan?
12 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, Globalping has the lowest first paid tier we found: $10/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked mobile-first: a phone app alongside the web or desktop product, a free tier and the depth of its documentation. Paid placements never change a rank.