Yes. Ubiquiti's WiFiman is completely free with no ads and no in-app purchases.

Do I need Ubiquiti or UniFi hardware to use WiFiman?

No, WiFiman's basic network scan, device discovery, and speed test work on any WiFi network. But its standout features - access point channel and placement recommendations, and remote Teleport VPN access to your network - only apply if you actually own Ubiquiti UniFi equipment.

Does WiFiman monitor my network 24/7?

No. WiFiman is an on-demand scanner you open and run manually. It doesn't run continuously in the background or send alerts when a new device joins your network.

What's a good WiFiman alternative if I don't use UniFi gear?

PingKit is a strong fit if you're on non-Ubiquiti hardware: it's also free with no ads, works with any router, and adds security scanning, SSL inspection, DNS/Whois lookups, and optional 24/7 monitoring with new-device alerts through a free Mac Agent and Guardian subscription.

PingKit vs WiFiman

Both apps are completely free with no ads. The real question isn't price - it's whether you own the hardware WiFiman is built around.

WiFiman is Ubiquiti's free network diagnostic app, and it's genuinely well-regarded: 4.8 stars across roughly 39,000 App Store ratings. It's built as a companion to Ubiquiti's UniFi networking gear, though its basic scanning and speed test work on any network. We make PingKit, so take the comparison below with that in mind - but the facts are checked against both apps' current App Store listings.

Feature-by-Feature

Capability	PingKit	WiFiman
Device discovery	Yes, free	Yes, free
Speed test	Yes, free	Yes, free (with history)
AP channel/placement optimization	Not offered	Yes, UniFi hardware only
Remote VPN access to your network	Not offered	Yes, via Teleport (UniFi only)
Security scan + score	Yes, free	Not offered
Port scanner / SSL inspector / DNS / Whois	Yes, free (19 tools)	Not offered
Wake on LAN	Yes, free	Not offered
24/7 monitoring + new-device alerts	Free Mac Agent + Guardian $2.99/mo	Not offered
Works with any router	Yes	Yes, for basic features
Ads	None	None
Price	Free + optional $2.99/mo	Free

Where WiFiman Wins

If you actually run Ubiquiti UniFi access points, WiFiman does something PingKit doesn't attempt: it reads your AP's real channel and interference data and recommends better channels and placement, and its Teleport feature gives you a built-in, no-configuration VPN back into your own UniFi network from anywhere. Those two features alone are a good reason to keep WiFiman installed if you're a UniFi household - they're specific to Ubiquiti's ecosystem and PingKit, being vendor-agnostic, has no equivalent.

Where PingKit Wins

Everyone who isn't running UniFi gear, and every job outside AP tuning. PingKit works identically well on any router - eero, Google WiFi, an ISP's all-in-one gateway, whatever you have - and bundles security scanning, a port scanner, SSL inspection, DNS and Whois lookups, Wake on LAN, and 10 more tools alongside device discovery and speed test - all free. WiFiman is a manual, on-demand scanner; if you want to know the moment an unfamiliar device joins your network without opening an app, PingKit's free Mac Agent paired with Guardian ($2.99/mo) watches continuously and sends a notification.

The ecosystem angle: WiFiman's best features are genuinely free, but they only unlock value if you've already bought into UniFi hardware. If your router isn't a Ubiquiti device, you're using WiFiman as a plain scanner and missing most of what makes it distinctive.

Which Should You Choose?

You run Ubiquiti UniFi access points: Keep WiFiman installed for its channel tuning and Teleport VPN - PingKit doesn't replace those.
You're on any other router, or want a broader free toolkit: PingKit.
You want continuous monitoring with alerts, not just on-demand scans: PingKit Guardian + the free Mac app.

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