The Best IP Scanners for Mac 2024: top recommendations

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An essential responsibility for any network administrator is to discover the live IP addresses by making connections to each one in turn and seeing if they respond. This is typically done with the tried-and-true ‘ping’ command, but it can be time-consuming and tiresome when working with large networks with many IP addresses. Thankfully, there are resources available that greatly improve the efficiency of this process. For those of you who use Macs and have been searching for the “Best IP Scanners for Mac,” you’re in luck. We went ahead and did the legwork to find the best IP scanning software for Mac OS X and put together a comprehensive list for your perusal. These programs shorten the time and effort required to scan for functional IP addresses on your network.

If you’re a Mac user seeking for a utility that automates IP address scanning, you’ve come to the correct spot. We’ve done a lot of the legwork for you, and we’re going to go through some of the finest IP scanners for Mac OS X. We’ll start by talking about IP address scanning in general. We’ll go through the many reasons for scanning IP addresses since, as much as it’s useful to know which IP addresses are in use, there needs to be a justification for doing so. The ping utility will next be examined in further depth. Ping is not a scanning tool, although it is the foundation of many IP address scanning programs. Below we have mentioned some of the best IP Scanners for Mac.

Importance of IP Scanners for Mac

IP monitors for Mac are very important for managing networks, making sure they are safe, and fixing problems. Why are they so important?

• Network Discovery: IP scanners help find all the live devices on a network and make a list of them. This is important for knowing how the network works, finding devices that are connected, and making sure that only authorized devices are on the network.
• Inventory Management: For businesses and organizations to keep track of and handle their assets, they need to keep an inventory of connected devices. IP scanners help keep a list up to date.
• Security: Scanning networked devices for open ports and security holes helps find possible security risks. Administrators can fix these problems before they are used by people who want to do harm.

Best IP Scanners for Mac Comparison Table

Conducting security audits with the assistance of regular network scans is an effective way to ensure that network configurations are in accordance with industry standards and security regulations.

IP Scanner	Platform	Ease of use	Port scanning	Subnet scanning	Ping scanning	Exporting results	Plugins	Download Link
Angry IP Scanner	Windows, Mac, Linux	Easy to use, both as a GUI tool and via command-line	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes, to CSV, XML, and other formats	Yes	Download Now
Advanced IP Scanner	Windows	Easy to use, with a simple interface	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes, to CSV and XML formats	Yes	Download Now
Network Scanner	Windows, macOS, Linux	Easy to use, with a simple interface	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes, to CSV and XML formats	No	Download Now
Fing	Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Linux	Easy to use, with a simple interface	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes, to CSV and XML formats	No	Download Now
Hping	Windows, macOS, Linux	Easy to use, with a command-line interface	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes, to CSV and XML formats	No	–

Best IP Scanners for Mac

When there are problems with a network, using an IP scanner might help locate the source of the issue. Network managers can swiftly address connectivity difficulties if they can first identify the source of the problem. This helps to keep downtime to a minimum. IP scanners are helpful tools for managing the allocation of IP addresses. They contribute to the prevention of IP conflicts by ensuring that each device is given a unique address, which is essential for the stability of the network.

Angry IP Scanner

Feature	Description
IP Address Scanning	Scan IP addresses and hostnames on your network.
Port Scanning	Identify open ports on scanned devices.
Multi-threaded Scanning	Perform fast and efficient scans with multiple threads.
Customizable Filters	Apply filters to focus on specific devices or ports.
Export Results	Save scan results in various formats for analysis.
	Download Now

As one of the first and most extensively used IP scanning tools, Angry IP Scanner is a simple, quick, and user-friendly solution that is ideal for beginners. It is a free and open-source project that is accessible for Windows, macOS, and Linux platforms. It can search both your local network and the Internet. All you have to do is input an IP range and push proceed, then wait.

The program displays a list of all available IP addresses in the range. Open ports, listening services, domain names, and ping times are all examples of this It may also be used to scan particular hosts or collect NetBIOS information. It is also extendable through plugins. As a result, any Java programmer may improve on the source code. Overall, this is one of the best IP Scanners for Mac that you can download. you can also read more information on its official website.

Advanced IP Scanner

Feature	Description
IP Address Scanning	Discover devices on your network by IP or hostname.
Port Scanning	Identify open ports on scanned devices.
Remote Control	Access shared folders and remotely control PCs.
MAC Address Detection	Display MAC addresses of connected devices.
Export Results	Save scan results as reports or CSV files.
	Download Now

Advanced IP Scanner is a basic LAN administration tool. It is a free tool that allows you to easily scan any network and utilise its available resources. It returns a list of all available devices, together with their IP address, manufacturer, and MAC address. You may then dive down on each device to see what capabilities are available, such as shared folders. This is the best IP Scanners for Mac.

You can also use Radmin to connect to other computers, giving you additional control over the system, including the ability to turn it off remotely. On the negative side, Advanced IP Scanner lacks port scanning and other network analysis tools. However, it is an excellent tool for monitoring a basic network. It has almost 60 million downloads.

Network Scanner

Feature	Description
IP and Port Scanning	Scan IP addresses and ports on your network.
OS Detection	Identify the operating system of scanned devices.
Traceroute	Perform traceroute to discover network paths.
DNS Lookup	Resolve hostnames to IP addresses and vice versa.
Export Results	Save scan results in various formats.
	Download Now

First Row’s Network Scanner is a free, ad-supported IP scanning tool. Network Scanner may create a report of all devices on your network and collect data such as IP address, MAC address, ping, hostname, and vendor. You may also use Network Scanner to ping devices, traceroute, check for ports, and perform wake on LAN. You can eliminate the app’s advertisements for a one-time charge. For now, this is one of the best IP Scanners for Mac you can consider.

Fing

Feature	Description
IP Network Discovery	Discover devices and services on your network.
Device Recognition	Automatically identify devices by type and brand.
Port Scanning	Check open ports and vulnerabilities on devices.
Network Security Score	Assess network security and prioritize issues.
Remote Device Blocking	Block unwanted devices from accessing your network.
	Download Now

Fing is another free IP scanner that may create a list of network devices. It collects IP address, MAC address, device name, model, vendor, and manufacturer information, same like Network Scanner. Fing, on the other hand, can give advanced analysis of NetBIOS, UPnP, SNMP, and Bonjour names and attributes, unlike Network Scanner. Fing supports port scanning, traceroute, DNS search, and device ping. It also comes with a network speed test tool. Fing is free, however there is a paid edition that incorporates more IT and security capabilities. Currently, this is the best IP Scanners for Mac you can check now.

Hping

Feature	Description
Custom Packet Crafting	Craft and send custom packets for network analysis.
Ping and Traceroute	Perform ping and traceroute operations.
Port Scanning	Scan for open ports and services on remote hosts.
Firewall Testing	Evaluate firewall rules and policies.
Scriptable	Supports scripting for complex tasks and testing.

Hping is a free command-line utility that is based on ping. It is available for Mac OS X, most Unix-like operating systems, and Windows. Although it is no longer being developed, it is still widely used, demonstrating how useful it is. The tool is similar to ping, however there are significant differences. For starters, Hping will not simply issue ICMP echo queries. Actually, it can send TCP, UDP, or RAW-IP packets. It also has a traceroute mode and the ability to transmit files manager.

Nmap/Zenmap

Feature	Description
Comprehensive Scanning	Perform network discovery, host, and service scans.
OS and Version Detection	Identify the operating system and software versions.
Scriptable	Customize scans with Nmap scripting engine.
Output Formats	Export scan results in various formats (XML, NSE, etc.).
Zenmap GUI	Zenmap provides a graphical user interface.
	Download Now

This one is almost as ancient as ping; Nmap has been around for a long time and is often used for network mapping (thus the name) and various other activities. Overall, this is the best IP Scanners for Mac you can consider.

Nmap, for example, may be used to scan a range of IP addresses in order to reply to hosts and open IP ports. However, this is a command-line program for those who prefer graphical user interfaces. Its creators have released Zenmap, a graphical user interface for this sophisticated program. Both programs may be installed on Mac OS X, Windows, Linux, and Unix.

Acunetix

Feature	Description
Web Application Scanning	Specialized in scanning web applications for vulnerabilities.
Automated Scans	Conduct automated scans for common web issues.
OWASP Top Ten Detection	Identify vulnerabilities listed in the OWASP Top Ten.
SQL Injection Detection	Detect SQL injection and other web app attacks.
Detailed Reports	Generate detailed reports with remediation advice.
Integration Capabilities	Integrate with other security tools and platforms.
	Download Now

Digital developers looking for the finest protection for their web assets should look into Acunetix’s corporate security and pen-testing solution. This scanner can find over 7,000 online vulnerabilities, which you can address to save your organization time and money.

These flaws include anything from weak passwords to exposed databases, SQL injections, and cross-site scripting. Acunetix is also quick and simple, with automation features to simplify your life. It also comes with a vulnerability management system. Integration with other popular trackers such as GitHub and Bugzilla makes operations easier.

Nmap

Feature	Description
Comprehensive Scanning	Perform network discovery and port scans.
OS and Service Detection	Identify the operating system and services running.
Scripting Engine	Customize scans using Nmap scripting language.
Wide Range of Options	Extensive options for fine-grained control.
XML Output	Export scan results in XML format for analysis.
	Download Now

If you are on a tight budget and are unwilling to pay a premium for a network scanner, the Nmap utility is your best option. This is because it delivers high-quality service by scanning the network. You will receive information about the device’s network connection and other device-specific characteristics. The network mapper tool’s finest feature is that it allows you to scan networks on a big scale.

As a result, you won’t have to worry about scanning a few networks before going on to the next group. The Nmap utility assists you in discovering unfamiliar devices and conducting a security assessment. Because it is an open-source program that allows for large-scale scanning, you must provide the IP range else the tool will scan all IPs, which takes a long time.

How to Choose a Best IP Scanner for Mac?

How you choose the best IP scanner for Mac relies on what you want and need. Here is a guide to help you choose wisely:

• Figure out your goal: Figure out why you need an IP checker in the first place. Are you looking for connected devices on your home network, doing a security check, or running a big corporate network?
• Compatibility with platform: Make sure the IP scanner you choose works with macOS. Not all scanners are compatible with Mac running systems.
• Simple to Use: If you don’t know much about networking, look for an IP checker with an easy-to-use interface. Scanners can be easier to use if they are easy to understand and have clear directions.

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