Stop at IPs, or understand the network.
Advanced IP Scanner is great when you need a quick list of live devices. Subnetlens is for the next question: what are those devices, what services are exposed, what changed since last time, and how do I explain it to a client or team?
Useful, but it stops before ports, service versions, baselines, risk, and reporting.
Advanced IP Scanner is not the enemy.
It is a good free utility. The decision is simpler than that: do you need a quick remote-access list, or do you need a local-first network workbench?
Keep Advanced IP Scanner when...
You only need to see who is online, open a share, or jump into RDP. It is fast, familiar, and free.
- You want a lightweight one-window utility.
- You do not need history or reports.
- You already know what every device is.
Use Subnetlens when...
The device list has to become evidence: ports, versions, topology, changes, notes, screenshots, risk, and client-ready output.
- You manage office, lab, or client networks.
- You need to explain what changed between scans.
- You want local data, no cloud account, and a tool you own.
The free scan is already deeper.
A scanner should not stop at IP, name, MAC, and manufacturer. Subnetlens treats the first scan as the start of an inventory.
The important part is not the count. It is the context around every device: open services, version hints, OS hints, device type, confidence, and why Subnetlens classified it that way. On that same test /24, one scan named 4 SQL Server instances (3 on an end-of-life 2008 build), 25 RDP endpoints, and a dozen FTP devices across printers, switches, and a router. Advanced IP Scanner would have listed the same machines as names and MAC addresses. That context becomes the baseline for the next scan.
Built for the messy middle of real admin work.
Finding IPs is one small step. Subnetlens is designed for what happens after: investigation, documentation, monitoring, and handoff.
Device identity with evidence
Router, NAS, printer, camera, workstation, phone, IoT, and more, with a confidence score and signals behind the call.
Topology and inventory
Turn scan output into a visual map and searchable inventory instead of keeping a mental picture of the network.
Live Mode and port history
See mDNS/SSDP activity and track which ports appeared or disappeared since your baseline.
Control Panel + 26 IT tools
Ping, traceroute, DNS, MTR, whois, netstat, TLS checks, SMB browser, per-device notes, and device-focused workflows in one place.
Local-first vault
Keep credentials encrypted locally. Scan data stays on the machine by default, with no account and no cloud sync.
Reports, integrations, custom builds
Create white-label PDFs, export evidence, push webhooks, expose Prometheus metrics, or ask for a tailored/white-label build.
This is not a thin scanner with a nicer coat.
The product is a Windows desktop workbench. These are real Subnetlens screens from the current landing demo reel.
Map the network
Move from a flat list into a topology view that makes device relationships easier to explain.
See what changed
Radar gives you a timeline for network events and changes between scans.
Investigate one device
Open a device and work from a focused control panel instead of jumping between tools.
Keep sensitive notes local
The vault and scan database are designed around local ownership, not another SaaS account.
Same starting point. Very different finish line.
Discovery is only the shared starting point. The gap is what happens after: IPAM, secure local vaults, device history, reports, integrations, and the rare ability to have the app shaped around your workflow.
| Need | Advanced IP Scanner | Subnetlens Free | Subnetlens Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Find live devices | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Ports and service versions | Service links only, no versions | Top 100 TCP ports + version probes on 11 protocols | Expanded workflows |
| Device classification | Manufacturer/name based | Type + confidence + evidence | Classification with history |
| Topology map | No | Yes | Yes |
| IPAM / address planning | No | No | IPAM workflows |
| Secure local vault for devices | No | No | Encrypted local vault |
| Live monitoring and port history | No | Scan history kept | Live Mode, Radar, port history |
| Reports and white-label output | Export list | Export data | Client-ready reports |
| Custom workflow, integrations, or white-label app | No | Ask us | Available and actively encouraged |
| Portable no-install edition | Yes | Installer only, code-signed | |
| Latest release | June 2022 (2.5.4594.1) | July 2026, actively developed | |
| Business model | Free utility | Free forever | One-time purchase, no subscription |
The parts Advanced IP Scanner cannot become.
After the direct comparison, these are the bonus reasons Subnetlens becomes a workbench: IP planning, local secrets, evidence, and custom builds around your team.
Track IP ranges, device ownership, and network inventory instead of treating every scan as a disposable list.
Keep credentials and sensitive device notes encrypted locally, next to the machine they belong to.
Turn scan findings into a baseline, a timeline, and a client-ready explanation instead of another CSV.
Need your reports, your RMM, your hardware naming, or a white-label version? Subnetlens can be adapted.
Try it free. Own Pro if it earns its place.
The free tier is enough to compare scan quality today. Pro is a perpetual license, not a subscription.
- All Pro workflows unlocked
- 1 year of updates included
- Good for solo admins and labs
- Best fit for small IT teams
- Reports, Radar, vault, scheduler
- Room for multiple admin machines
- For MSPs and client-heavy teams
- Custom requests can be scoped
- White-label builds available
Every Pro plan includes a 7-day trial inside the app and a 14-day money-back guarantee.
Questions before replacing your scanner?
Is this really free to try?
Yes. Download Subnetlens Free, scan your own network, and compare it against your current Advanced IP Scanner workflow. No account, no payment, and no cloud setup. The 7-day Pro trial starts inside the app with one click, no card.
Does Subnetlens replace Advanced IP Scanner completely?
It depends on your workflow. If you only need a lightweight remote-access list, keep using Advanced IP Scanner. If you need classification, service versions, topology, history, reports, and local-first admin workflows, Subnetlens is the broader tool.
Does it send network data to Subnetlens servers?
No. Scan results, device inventory, maps, notes, and vault data stay on your machine. The only external communication is download/referral analytics on the website and license activation if you enter a Pro key.
What about SmartScreen and trust?
The installer is code-signed by HELIOSOFT LTD, a UK limited company. New Windows desktop apps still need to build SmartScreen reputation over time, so some users may see a first-run prompt on new releases. The download page publishes the SHA-256 hash for verification.
Can you build a version for my MSP or team?
Yes. Custom features, tailored reports, internal integrations, and white-label builds can be scoped. If the off-the-shelf product is close but not exact, contact us and describe the workflow.
Put both tools on the same network.
Run Advanced IP Scanner. Run Subnetlens Free. If the extra context does not matter, keep your current workflow. If it does, Pro is waiting inside the app.
Download Subnetlens Free