Monitor your macOS network to see every connected device, its history, and potential risks.
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Tracked since2026
0 reviews trackedThe Bottom Line
Entry price
Free, no paid tier
Biggest pro
Completely free to use.
Biggest con
Requires macOS 15 (Sequoia) or later, limiting compatibility for older systems.
TL;DR - Netfox
- Native macOS network monitor for connected devices.
- Provides live device list, history, and security insights.
- No cloud, no account, no telemetry; data stays on your Mac.
Pricing: Free forever
Best for: Individuals & startups
What is Netfox?
Netfox is a native macOS application designed to provide a live, comprehensive overview of all devices connected to your home network. It addresses common challenges of network monitoring by offering a unified view of devices, their connection history, and security insights without relying on cloud services or complex terminal commands. The tool is built for macOS 15+ and emphasizes privacy, keeping all data locally on your Mac.
It's ideal for anyone who wants to understand and secure their home network, from tech-savvy individuals to those simply looking for an easy way to see what's connected. Netfox helps users identify new or returning devices, detect potential security risks through port scanning, and track device activity over time. Its intuitive interface and native macOS integration make network monitoring accessible and efficient.
Available on: macOS
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Completely free to use.
- Native macOS app, offering a fast and familiar user experience.
- Prioritizes user privacy with no cloud, account, or telemetry.
- Provides comprehensive network visibility and security insights in one place.
- Includes a unique Demo Mode for safe sharing of screenshots.
Cons
- Requires macOS 15 (Sequoia) or later, limiting compatibility for older systems.
- Primarily focused on home networks, may not be suitable for complex enterprise environments.
- Security scanning is unprivileged and limited to a curated list of ports, not a full vulnerability scanner.
Key Features
Multi-Source Device Discovery (Bonjour, ARP, SSDP, NetBIOS, active probing)Risk-Aware Security Scanning (checks common home-network ports)Per-Device History (first seen, last seen, online/offline transitions, IP/hostname changes)Five Kinds of Alerts (new device, returning, risky arrival, port-state change, new service)Native macOS Interface (SwiftUI, system appearance, universal binary)No Account, No Cloud, No TelemetryOne-Keystroke Demo Mode for privacy maskingWi-Fi Diagnostics Tool
Pricing
Free
Netfox is completely free to use with no hidden costs.
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Netfox FAQ
How does Netfox ensure my privacy and data security?
Netfox is designed with privacy in mind; all data it collects about your network and devices stays exclusively on your Mac. It does not require a cloud account, send any telemetry, or perform usage analytics. The only external connections are for update checks via GitHub (without identifying information) and an optional public IP lookup service if explicitly enabled.
What specific network protocols does Netfox use to discover devices?
Netfox employs five parallel discovery methods: Bonjour/mDNS for Apple devices and services, the system ARP cache for recently active devices, SSDP for smart-TVs and UPnP devices, NetBIOS for Windows shares, and active ICMP probing for known but quiet IPs. These methods are combined to create a single, comprehensive device list.
Can Netfox identify all types of devices on my network, including 'quiet' ones?
Yes, Netfox is designed to identify a wide range of devices, including Apple devices, smart-TVs, IoT devices, and even 'quiet hosts.' It achieves this by combining multiple discovery protocols like Bonjour, ARP, SSDP, NetBIOS, and active ICMP probing, ensuring a comprehensive view of your network.
What kind of security risks does Netfox's 'Risk Inspector' identify?
The Risk Inspector checks every reachable device for a curated list of common home-network ports (e.g., SSH, Telnet, RDP, VNC, SMB, HTTP, HTTPS, MQTT). If an open port is found, it's classified by risk, and the inspector provides a plain English explanation of the finding and suggests actions to take. It performs unprivileged TCP probes without raw-socket scanning or root access.
Why does Netfox's Wi-Fi tool require Location permission on macOS?
Apple's macOS operating system gates access to Wi-Fi SSID details behind the Location permission. Without this permission, the system returns empty network names. Netfox uses this permission solely to read the Wi-Fi neighbor list and does not track or store your physical location. If you decline, the app provides a convenient button to open Location Settings.
How does Netfox help me track changes in my network over time?
Netfox maintains a per-device history that records when a device was first seen, last seen, every online/offline transition, and any changes to its IP address, hostname, or vendor. This timeline persists across application launches, allowing you to monitor the evolution of your network and identify unusual activity.
Source: netfox.app