Best Free and Paid WiFi Survey Software Compared
We compared five WiFi survey tools across free access, heatmaps, predictive planning, platform support, plus real pricing. NetSpot offers the best balance for most home or small-business projects.
NetSpot is the best WiFi survey software for most people. Its free edition handles network inspection, while the $59 Home tier adds practical heatmaps without forcing buyers into a costly annual plan. PRO is a sensible step up for commercial surveys or predictive planning.
NetSpot
9.2/10Best for: Home users, consultants, or small IT teams wanting approachable heatmaps without enterprise-level costs
- Free inspector for nearby-network analysis
- Clear heatmaps with little setup friction
- Windows plus macOS included with one purchase
- Home license costs far less than professional survey suites
Hamina
8.8/10Best for: Network designers who want to model a small deployment in a browser before buying survey hardware
- Useful free predictive-design account
- Fast browser-based floor-plan workflow
- WiFi 7 plus multi-floor modeling
- Interactive 2D or 3D reports on paid plans
TamoGraph Site Survey
8.5/10Best for: Independent wireless consultants who prefer desktop software with passive, active, predictive, plus GPS survey options
- Passive, active, plus predictive surveys
- Windows plus macOS support
- WiFi 7 network analysis
- GPS-assisted outdoor survey capability
Free or Paid WiFi Survey Software Compared
The table compares free access, predictive planning, entry price, plus our overall score for each WiFi survey platform. Scores reflect editorial judgment based on workflow, capability, platform reach, plus value rather than a controlled RF accuracy benchmark.
| Tool | Free Use | Predictive Planning | Price | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. NetSpot PICK | ● Yes | ● Yes | $59 one-time | 9.2/10 |
| 2. Hamina | ● Yes | ● Yes | $980/yr | 8.8/10 |
| 3. TamoGraph Site Survey | ● No | ● Yes | $499/6 mo | 8.5/10 |
| 4. Acrylic WiFi Heatmaps | ● No | ● Yes | $129/mo | 8.1/10 |
| 5. Ekahau AI Pro | ● No | ● Yes | Quote required | 7.9/10 |
The 5 Best Free or Paid WiFi Survey Tools, Reviewed
01 NetSpot
Windows, macOS, Android, iOS · Etwok
9.2/10
NetSpot
Windows, macOS, Android, iOS · Etwok
NetSpot gave us the smoothest route from a blank floor plan to a readable coverage map. In our two-floor sample project, map calibration, measurement-point collection, plus heatmap switching required less cleanup than the more technical desktop tools. PRO supports 50 zones, 50 snapshots per zone, plus 500 data points per snapshot.
The free edition is useful for checking nearby networks, channels, signal levels, or security details, though proper survey heatmaps require Home or higher. Home costs $59 once, while PRO costs $200 once with commercial rights, predictive planning, more than 20 survey visualizations, plus a technician license. That price ladder makes sense for someone starting with a home WiFi problem before taking on paid survey work.
It is not a replacement for dedicated spectrum hardware. Still, NetSpot covers the tasks most readers actually need, including dead-zone mapping, AP placement checks, active throughput maps, PDF reporting, plus cross-platform project work.
Best forHome users, consultants, or small IT teams wanting approachable heatmaps without enterprise-level costs
- Free inspector for nearby-network analysis
- Clear heatmaps with little setup friction
- Windows plus macOS included with one purchase
- Home license costs far less than professional survey suites
- PRO adds predictive planning plus commercial use rights
- Free edition does not provide full survey heatmaps
- Home has strict zone, snapshot, access-point, plus visualization limits
- No dedicated spectrum analyzer hardware included
02 Hamina
Browser, iOS, iPadOS, macOS · Hamina Wireless
8.8/10
Hamina
Browser, iOS, iPadOS, macOS · Hamina Wireless
Hamina has the strongest genuinely useful free planning option in this group. Our sample office could be scaled, outlined with custom walls, then modeled with up to three simulated APs without installing desktop software. The free account also permits five AI wall-drawing runs, though PDF exports, unlimited AP placement, plus richer reporting require Planner.
The browser interface handled multi-floor design more naturally than most desktop alternatives. Planner costs $980 per user each year. Actual walk-through surveys are separate, requiring Hamina Onsite at $780 yearly plus a $1,710 Nomad device.
This split matters. Hamina Free or Planner is excellent for predictive work, yet neither is a substitute for an on-site validation kit. Choose it if design comes first, collaboration matters, or your team prefers interactive web reports over static files.
Best forNetwork designers who want to model a small deployment in a browser before buying survey hardware
- Useful free predictive-design account
- Fast browser-based floor-plan workflow
- WiFi 7 plus multi-floor modeling
- Interactive 2D or 3D reports on paid plans
- Planner includes unlimited simulated AP placement
- Planner alone cannot collect walk-through survey data
- Onsite work requires an annual plan plus dedicated hardware
- Costs rise quickly for multi-user teams
03 TamoGraph Site Survey
Windows, macOS · TamoSoft
8.5/10
TamoGraph Site Survey
Windows, macOS · TamoSoft
TamoGraph feels more technical than NetSpot, though its survey depth is substantial. In our office-floor project, passive survey data, active throughput checks, plus predictive RF modeling could be viewed inside one desktop workspace. It supports WiFi 7, automatic AP location, GPS mapping, plus reports in PDF, HTML, or ODT.
The $499 six-month Pro license is practical for a defined deployment project. A one-year Pro license costs $999, while perpetual Pro costs $1,999. Standard is $1,499 once, though it leaves out predictive surveys, GPS support, plus report customization.
No permanent free edition is offered, so this is not our first suggestion for a homeowner. For consultants who dislike annual subscriptions, however, the perpetual option may prove easier to budget over several years.
Best forIndependent wireless consultants who prefer desktop software with passive, active, predictive, plus GPS survey options
- Passive, active, plus predictive surveys
- Windows plus macOS support
- WiFi 7 network analysis
- GPS-assisted outdoor survey capability
- Time-limited or perpetual Pro licenses
- No permanent free plan
- Interface has a steeper learning curve than NetSpot
- Spectrum analysis requires compatible external hardware
04 Acrylic WiFi Heatmaps
Windows · Tarlogic Security
8.1/10
Acrylic WiFi Heatmaps
Windows · Tarlogic Security
Acrylic WiFi Heatmaps is built around Windows fieldwork. Our project produced coverage, SNR, channel-overlap, plus interference views, with up to 15 heatmap types in Advanced. Editable DOCX reports are especially handy when a client needs branding, notes, or recommendations added after collection.
The trial lasts 15 days. Basic starts at $129 for one month, while Advanced starts at $149 for one month. Longer licenses reduce the effective monthly cost, so the short plan makes more sense for a one-off project than continuous use.
Advanced adds spectrum-analyzer integration, client identification, monitor mode, plus wider adapter support. The limitation is simple: macOS users need another tool. Pricing also becomes heavy if the software stays active year-round.
Best forWindows-based technicians needing editable Word reports, temporary licenses, or monitor-mode adapter support
- 15-day evaluation period
- WiFi 7 support across 2.4, 5, plus 6 GHz
- Short-term licenses suit one-off jobs
- Editable DOCX, CSV, plus KMZ reports
- Advanced works with more than 250 monitor-mode adapters
- Windows only
- Trial output carries evaluation restrictions
- Perpetual pricing is high for occasional users
05 Ekahau AI Pro
Windows, macOS · Ekahau
7.9/10
Ekahau AI Pro
Windows, macOS · Ekahau
Ekahau AI Pro remains the heavyweight option for complex WLAN design, high-density modeling, spectrum-aware validation, plus standardized enterprise reporting. In our workflow review, its project depth made the most sense for campuses, hospitals, warehouses, or organizations with a dedicated wireless team.
The tradeoff is purchasing friction. Ekahau does not post a simple self-service dollar price for AI Pro, so we could not verify a current software tier suitable for this pricing table. Hardware, support, training, plus subscription terms may form part of the real deployment cost.
For occasional home or small-office surveys, it is excessive. For a team already standardized on Ekahau Sidekick hardware, repeatable collection plus mature analysis may matter more than the higher total cost.
Best forDedicated WLAN teams already using Ekahau hardware, training, workflows, or enterprise reporting standards
- Built for complex enterprise WLAN projects
- Strong predictive plus measured-survey workflow
- Integration with dedicated Sidekick hardware
- Detailed capacity, interference, plus spectrum analysis
- Broad professional training ecosystem
- No simple public software price to compare
- Hardware plus training can add substantial cost
- Too complex for most home-network fixes
How We Compared Free or Paid WiFi Survey Software
We built the comparison around a two-floor office scenario with multiple access points, interior walls, a weak conference-room signal, plus a crowded 5 GHz channel plan. Each product was assessed for floor-plan setup, predictive modeling, walk-through collection, heatmap clarity, reporting, supported platforms, plus the number of steps needed to reach a useful result.
Scores also account for free-tier usefulness, published pricing, hardware requirements, commercial-use rights, plus how easily a new user can tell which license is needed. We did not assign laboratory accuracy percentages because laptop radios, adapters, client devices, building materials, plus survey paths can change readings substantially.
How to Choose WiFi Survey Software for Your Network
First decide if you need planning or measurement. Predictive planning estimates coverage before access points are installed. A passive walk-through survey records real beacon data after deployment, while an active survey tests the connection or throughput from a client device. Many cheap tools do only one of these jobs.
Next, check platform support, 6 GHz or WiFi 7 compatibility, report formats, floor-plan limits, plus commercial licensing. A $59 home license can be enough for a house, yet a consultant may need custom reports, unlimited projects, GPS mapping, spectrum integration, or transferable team seats.
Common WiFi Survey Software Mistakes to Avoid
Do not treat a colorful signal map as proof that the network performs well. Strong RSSI can still hide poor SNR, channel contention, roaming trouble, low capacity, or an upstream internet problem. Review signal, noise, overlap, throughput, plus client experience together.
Another mistake is surveying with only one device, then assuming every phone or laptop behaves the same way. Test at least one weaker client, keep the laptop orientation consistent, use evenly spaced measurement points, plus verify important rooms during normal occupancy rather than in an empty building.
Which WiFi Survey Software Should You Choose?
NetSpot earns the top spot because it covers everyday network inspection, visual surveys, active measurements, plus predictive planning without the price or learning curve of a large enterprise suite. Home users can start free, then pay $59 once when actual heatmaps become necessary.
Pick Hamina for browser-based predictive design, TamoGraph for a perpetual professional desktop license, or Acrylic for short Windows projects with editable reports. Ekahau makes more sense where dedicated survey hardware, formal WLAN processes, plus enterprise budgets are already in place.
Start with your actual floor plan plus the free version of NetSpot or Hamina, then pay only after confirming the tool supports the heatmaps, exports, survey hardware, plus licensing rights your project needs.