Top WiFi Analysis Tools to Keep in Your Arsenal

1) ManageEngine OpManager

OpManager is a comprehensive network performance monitor and Wi-Fi analyzer software that provides complete visibility and control over your wireless network. View key metrics and actionable insights that enable you to effectively manage your Wi-Fi environment from its centralized console.

Features:

• Simplified tracking of wireless network performance and availability.
• Deep insights into the hardware health of relevant network components.
• Helps track critical Wi-Fi metrics including SNR, signal strength, traffic transmission rates, etc.
• Assists network administrators in preventing resource depletion and connection issues by tracking resource utilization metrics and network packet loss.
• Triggers AI-based instant alerts to help network administrators address network issues before they lead to costly downtime.
• Enables network monitoring anytime, anywhere with integrated iOS and Android mobile applications.

2) Site24x7’s Wireless Monitoring

Site24x7 helps discover, monitor, and analyze wireless devices in Wi-Fi networks. It also provides deep insights, instant alerts, and comprehensive reports to help resolve Wi-Fi performance issues.

Features:

• Maps wireless devices in the network and closely monitors connection health and errors.
• Automatically discovers wireless devices in the network.
• Ensures all Wi-Fi devices in the network are available and performing optimally.
• Add wireless devices from any vendor and monitor any attributes using custom SNMP monitoring.
• Receive email, SMS, voice call, and push notifications about downtime, enabling you to quickly address any issues.
• Gain insights into the performance of each device through comprehensive reporting.

3) Paessler PRTG

Paessler PRTG is a WiFi monitoring and analysis tool that helps you analyze all network devices on your network, including WiFi routers. The PRTG interface allows you to easily interpret all data collected on the Wi-Fi network by creating real-time data charts and historical data charts.

Features:

• Measures wireless traffic
• Easily discovers device issues
• PRTG sensors help you configure the network and notify you immediately when the WiFi network is down.
• You can set up an alert system for your WiFi network.
• Analyzes various aspects of the wireless network
• Access Paessler PRTG

4) SolarWinds WiFi Analyzer

SolarWinds WiFi Analyzer is a tool for actively monitoring and troubleshooting wireless business networks. It helps you track key WiFi analysis factors to better understand wireless devices and services.

Features:

• Provides multi-vendor network monitoring
• Helps you monitor and manage wireless networks.
• Provides network insights for deeper visibility
• Helps you detect and resolve WiFi issues within customizable dashboards.
• One of the best WiFi analyzer applications for performing direct WiFi analysis.
• This WiFi analyzer allows you to visualize network paths and create WiFi heat maps.
• Smarter scalability for large environments

Link: https ://www.solarwinds.com/network-performance-monitor/use-cases/wifi-analyzer/

5) Wi-Fi Network Monitor

The Wi-Fi Network Monitor is a tool that automatically creates custom Wi-Fi heat maps. It helps you track response times, availability, switches, and more.

SolarWinds

Features:

• Find and fix wireless dead zones
• Map locations of connected clients
• You can find which network applications are using the most bandwidth.
• Provides visual analysis for devices with delivery paths
• You can see changes along the path and issues with service providers
• The tool allows you to drag and drop performance metrics on a timeline
• Monitors logical components of SDN (Software Defined Networking) environments.

Link: https://www.solarwinds.com/network-performance-monitor/use-cases/wifi-monitor/

6) WiFi Explorer

WiFi Explorer is a WiFi scanner and wireless analyzer designed to assist WLAN and IT infrastructure design and validation, troubleshooting wireless network issues. Follow @Network Engineer Aaron

Features:

• Suitable for all wireless environments.
• Provides detailed network reports.
• Customizable column profiles and fixed columns
• Helps organize networks by name, access point, or vendor.
• This Wi-Fi frequency spectrum analyzer helps you detect relevant clients.
• Supports import of capture files.
• Spectrum analysis, BLE, and Zigbee integration
• Provides remote capture and sensor support.

Link: https://www.intuitibits.com/products/wifiexplorerpro3/

7) Ekahau HeatMapper

Ekahau HeatMapper helps you perform wireless network analysis, optimization, and simulation. It provides the best high-definition visual WiFi heat maps. This analyzer software also offers optimal network coverage and performance analysis.

Features:

• One of the best Wi-Fi analyzer applications that gives you a visual understanding of your network.
• Provides actionable results.
• Helps you design networks according to unique needs.
• Helps you collect data points and generate accurate reports.
• Also provides precise plug-and-play Wi-Fi diagnostics and measurement devices.

Link: https://www.ekahau.com/solutions/wi-fi-heatmaps/

8) Acrylic Wi-Fi

Acrylic is a free Wi-Fi analyzer that allows users to scan and analyze local wireless routers and generate a summary table with relevant details. It provides all important metrics such as MAC address, SSID, RSSI, channel, and vendor.

Features:

• Displays WiFi channels for 2.4GHz and 5GHz.
• Helps you visualize signal strength and WiFi charts.
• This Wi-Fi analyzer helps you optimize performance and troubleshoot wireless network issues.
• Provides rich information display for Windows-based computers.
• Suitable for complex multi-router setups.

Link: https://www.acrylicwifi.com/en/

9) InSSIDer

InSSIDer is a WiFi analysis tool that allows you to view the WiFi environment around you. This tool is particularly useful in SMB networks.

Features:

• Analyzes your WiFi configuration, including channel settings, security, signal strength, and the impact of neighboring WiFi networks.
• Allows you to improve WiFi security and speed.
• Helps you discover the busiest channels.
• Provides complete details of WiFi devices.

Link: https://www.metageek.com/products/inssider/

10) Wireshark

Wireshark is a widely used network monitoring and WiFi troubleshooting tool. It allows you to apply coloring rules to the packet list for quick and intuitive analysis. Follow @Network Engineer Aaron

Features:

• Provides real-time capture and offline analysis.
• Captures network data that you can browse using TTY mode and TShark utility.
• Offers a standard three-pane packet browser.
• You can capture files compressed with gzip and decompress them instantly.
• You can apply coloring rules to the packet list for quick and intuitive analysis.
• Supported platforms: Windows, Linux, macOS, Solaris, FreeBSD, NetBSD, etc.

Link: https://www.wireshark.org/

11) Network Analyzer

Network Analyzer is a WiFi analysis tool that provides network information within the limitations of the iOS operating system.

Features:

• User-friendly interface.
• Displays signal strength of wireless devices.
• Shows transmission times to nearby devices.
• Highly rated application in many app stores.
• Comprehensive internet speed testing
• Supports IPv4 and IPv6.
• Supported platforms: iOS and Android.

Link: https://techet.net/netanalyzer/

12) AirMagnet WiFi Analyzer PRO

WiFi Analyzer Pro is one of the best WiFi network analyzers for real-time, accurate, independent, and reliable analysis. It helps you analyze 802.11 wireless networks without missing any traffic.

Features:

• Provides a complete Wi-Fi interference scanner.
• Offers detailed information about wireless network connections, WiFi coverage, performance, and network security issues.
• You can test from the client’s perspective without relying on network infrastructure.
• Helps you provide a complete list of devices running in the environment.
• Highlights issues that need immediate attention with real-time snapshots
• Built-in wireless professional features

Link: https://www.netally.com/products/airmagnet-wifi-analyzer/

13) Omnipeek Network Analyzer

Omnipeek is a Wi-Fi analysis tool that provides rapid analysis and insights to help you make optimal decisions regarding network speed, application performance, and security.

Features:

• Intuitive graphical display and visualization
• High-quality network analysis workflow
• Helps you proactively discover all types of network issues.
• Provides integrated stream and packet-level analysis.
• Allows you to monitor distributed networks remotely.
• Provides voice and video monitoring and troubleshooting.

Link: https://www.liveaction.com/products/omnipeek/

14) NetSpot

NetSpot is a WiFi analysis tool that allows you to assess WLAN interference and other network performance parameters. The software provides color-coded areas for signal strength. For example, weak signals are highlighted in purple or blue. Welcome to follow the public account: Network Engineer Aaron

Features:

• Helps you detect network interference.
• WiFi footprint in office layouts
• Signal channel analysis
• Allows you to analyze your Wi-Fi coverage.
• Visualize and troubleshoot wireless network issues.

Link: https://www.netspotapp.com/

15) Kismet

Kismet is a wireless network analysis tool and intrusion detection system. It is suitable for WiFi networks but can be extended through plugins to handle other network types. This WiFi analysis tool is applicable to WiFi interfaces, Bluetooth interfaces, and some SDR (Software Defined Radio). Welcome to follow the public account: Network Engineer Aaron

Features:

• One of the best Wi-Fi analyzer applications that allows standard PCAP logging.
• It has a client/server modular architecture.
• It also provides a plugin architecture to extend core functionalities.
• Multi-capture source support
• Distributed remote sniffing with lightweight remote capture.
• Provides XML output for integration with other toolsets.

Link: https://www.kismetwireless.net/

16) WiFiInfoView

WifiInfoView is a Wi-Fi analysis tool for Mac and Windows operating systems. The software provides information about wireless networks in your area, including network name (SSID), MAC address, etc. Welcome to follow the public account: Network Engineer Aaron

Features:

• Provides a wealth of data about networks.
• Displays data in various ways.
• No installation required.
• You can export data in multiple formats.

Link: https://www.nirsoft.net/utils/wifi_information_view.html

17) LizardSystems Wi-Fi Scanner

LizardSystems is a WiFi interface scanner that helps you locate visible wireless networks and their corresponding information. The software retrieves network name (SSID), signal strength (RSSI), MAC address (BSSID), maximum and achievable data rates, etc.

Features:

• Helps you detect the security standards of wireless networks such as WPA, WEP, or WPA2.
• You can add device names and models of access points discovered.
• Can customize graphic colors for any wireless network
• You can filter the list of detected wireless networks by specified parameters.
• Displays wireless connection parameters and manages wireless connection profiles.
• You can connect to and analyze all detected networks.

Link: https://lizardsystems.com/wi-fi-scanner/

18) Homedale

Homedale is a Wi-Fi analyzer that helps you scan Wi-Fi/WLAN access points and monitor their signal strength. It allows you to use Google geolocation to detect access points and open WLAN map services to locate yourself.

Features:

• Helps you monitor the signal strength of selected access points over time in graphical form.
• You can check the usage of all Wi-Fi channels and find the best channel for your access point.
• It displays an icon showing the currently connected access point.

Link: https://www.the-sz.com/products/homedale/