Best Free WiFi Apps for Android

You need the best WiFi app specific for Android to scan the building’s WiFi signals and signal strengths, and the apps here are the best ones for you.

If you are looking for an Android app for WiFi signals detection, weak spots in the building you are walking into, or dead zones, this might be the right piece for you. Today we focus on some of the best free WiFi detection and management apps for Android. These are all apps that feature powerful features, and most of all, easy to use interfaces. The best part is that they are all free, which means that you won’t have to worry about extra expenses.

But before we look at some of the best free WiFi apps for Android devices, it’s important to note that you need the best of these Android apps to find the range of WiFi signals, for the detection of signal strengths, collection of information about the wireless networks, and for measurement of packet speeds.

So, in your search for the best android WiFi app, you need to look out for an app that offers all these benefits.

How to Choose the Best Free WiFi Apps for Android

As mentioned above, the best Android WiFi apps are designed to offer the best performance in terms of wireless signal detection and the determination of the features of the wireless signal. The features of the network, in this case, would include the name of the wireless network, type of the wireless standard (802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax), as well as the frequency that the wireless network runs on (2.4GHz or the 5GHz bands).

The app would also allow us to detect the strength of the signals, as well as a measure of the packet’s speed – specifically, the upload and the download speeds.

Besides looking at what the app can and can’t do, you also need to consider other factors like the range and the ability of the app to find the wireless signal’s range.

For starters, you need to make sure that you can use the app to find the signal range. Essentially, mapping WiFi signals in networks can be challenging, and using your desktop might not be the most effective, fastest, or the easiest approach. Essentially, a laptop could work, but it is tiring, and it is much easier to use your phone. For details of the signal range, features, and the performance of the network, you’ll need to start your signal search from one spot them move to the other, repeating the entire process until you have all the information you are looking for.

But for the results you need, you have to find the best app. So, how do you determine which app will be the best for you? With numerous apps on the market for you to choose from, we are talking about a wide range from simple programs to some of the most technical tools; it’s easy to get confused. However, all the apps reviewed here will always be better than clicking the ‘Find Network’ option.

The best Android WiFi apps are easy to use, and they offer a comprehensive and accurate depiction of the wireless network under consideration.

Comparison Table for the best free WiFi apps for Android

Best Free WiFi Apps for Android	Best For
1.         NetSpot for Android	WiFi Analysis & Management
2.         WiFi Analyzer	WiFi Analysis
3.         SpeedTest.Net	Speed Determination
4.         OpenSignal	WiFi and Cellular Network Monitoring
5.         Android WiFi Manager	Network Management
6.         WiFi Finder	Best WiFi Identification Tool
7.         Fing	Best App for Device Detection
8.         NetX Network Tools	Best Network Analysis and Troubleshooting

Reviews of the best free WiFi apps for Android

1. NetSpot for Android – WiFi Analysis & Management

NetSpot’s free WiFi app is one of the best free apps that run on Android, and it is one of the best tools for data collection. The apps feature an extensive set of features for data collection, along with several other features, including the ability to easily create heat maps for different radio frequencies, as well as a comparison of networks.

This free app does all these, and you can obtain any kind of information you need about the network in question by using the app’s user-friendly interface. The new interface for Android devices will also give you access to the free Discover Mode, which is a feature that makes it possible for you to compare networks and WiFi systems as you walk through a building. Using the data collected, you will be able to determine the entire range of your WiFi network. The app displays the features of the network, and you can compare how the networks and the wireless range measures up.

Some of the features of the network you would obtain from this app include the network’s signal strength, the router’s Ethernet address, and the signal-to-noise ratio, among other details.

But that is not all; the app will also give you a different screen that shows the signal strength of the network in question. The graph will show the performance of the network over time, giving you insights into how the network strength grows and falls, depending on the time and day and where you are. Thanks to the graphical representation of the signal strength, you will obtain information about where the networks work best, how the network fades, and where the networks fail altogether.

2. WiFi Analyzer – WiFi Analysis

The WiFi Analyzer is another excellent Android app for WiFi management, and as the name suggests, it is an excellent app for WiFi analysis. While the process involved in WiFi analysis is extensive and time-consuming, this app is one of the best apps for wireless network analysis, and you might like it if you are looking for a way of analyzing WLAN networks that are accessible to you and using the information gathered, you can easily come up with graphs to help you determine the dependability and the speed of the wireless network.

If you have been struggling with network inconsistencies, this app will shed light on the network and when it’s less jammed. You will also gain insights into the overall data speeds at different times. You’d also learn about the most protected network from the information obtained.

You might also like this app because it allows you to spot channel overlaps when you open the app, and this allows you to see/find the channel that’s used the least. The WiFi Analyzer works with Android 6.0 and newer Android versions, and the best part is that it will make it easy for you to tell the overlapping signals, allowing you to easily resolve frequency issues on your network. It’s worth noting that while most WiFi networks work on either the 2.4GHz or the 5GGHz bands, there are many channels that are within the bands and the same range. So, in case of networks that share the same wireless channels, it would be more difficult for there to be communication between the networks. The network administrators or the use of the app would then make it easy for network management and the avoidance of interference.

3. Net – Speed Determination

SpeedTest.Net is one of the apps that has been used by people around the world for decades, and it is effective in the determination of actual network speeds (upload and download speeds), as well as the claimed network speeds, between your Android device and what is promised by your ISP.

This mobile and web-based app works by offering a network of at least 11,000 hosted servers throughout the world, giving you numerous network testing options. When you start the network test on your app, the Speedtest will automatically choose nearby servers with the fastest ping, hence an easy measurement of your network’s maximum potential.

Speedtest is also one of the most accurate apps on the market. Some of the features/ functions of the app include the upload, download speeds, and the ping.

You will also get real-time graphs detailing network consistencies and inconsistencies, as well as mobile carrier coverage maps, and you can easily verify or troubleshoot network speeds promised. The app will also make it easy for tracking of the past test, and you will be able to enjoy detailed reporting.

Note that the coverage maps for your Android devices will include coverage maps tracking the LTE network performance for the career, which means that you will always know where to access the strongest network connectivity. This also means that you can easily switch carriers along with regions that you frequent.

4. OpenSignal – WiFi and Cellular Network Monitoring

OpenSignal is one of the most powerful WiFi analyzer apps for Android, and you might like it if you are looking for a feature-packed Android app for cellular and WiFi monitoring. Using the app, it would be easy for you to find out the details of the nearest cell tower, and you could also use it to run latency and speed tests.

The app also offers details of the network coverage, the quality of the networks on the heat maps, and a lot more information about the wireless network you are interested in.

The best part besides this app being free is that it doesn’t display any apps, and you will gain deep insights into the networks under analysis.

5. Android WiFi Manager – Network Management

The Android WiFi-Manager is perhaps one of the biggest and the best free WiFi apps for your Android device. It is one of the best network switching tools, although you could also use it as a network detection tool, and you might want to use this app if you move between buildings often. For instance, if you need to move your phone’s WiFi connection from your home network to the coffee shop’s network, this app would be the best option for you. You can use it to learn more about different network strengths.

This app could easily be the best tool for you to use if you are looking to learn more about varying network strengths. You might also like this app if you are looking for an app that allows you to change your network details, for example, the name and the WiFi network icon that you want to be displayed. The app also makes it easy for you to check the status of your channel and the network number. The app has an easy-to-use interface too.

6. WiFi Finder – Best WiFi Identification Tool

As the name suggests, this is an app that allows you to find all the WiFi networks that are within range. It features a listing for free WiFi networks, and you can use it to find directions on the locations of the networks and how you can access them; so, if you need to access the internet, but you are unsure of where to go, this app would be a good option for you.

This application is one of the best software applications, and it is capable and ideal for the analysis and the identification of WiFi networks based on the IEEE 802.11 network standards. This app is one of the best for wireless network detection tools, and it might be a great option in situations where there are countless network channels competing for the same channels. You might also want to use the app to avoid interference, and it is one of the best solutions for identifying broadcasting networks in non-overlapping channels. From the information collected, you can easily select the underutilized channels on a network.

Note that the use of this app is crucial where highway packets of data travel, especially when you need information about specific network channels.

This application will not only identify all the available WiFi networks but also gather all the relevant information about the network, for example, the name, frequency bands, channels, security features, the signal strength, and the vendor details, among others. This app works for Android 4.1 and newer Android versions.

7. Fing – Best App for Device Detection

Fing is an Android app that might be an excellent option for you if you are looking for an app to detect the number of devices that are connected to your WiFi network.

Fing comes in handy when you notice that your home network is slowing down or if you see odd machines on your home or office network. Thanks to the design of this app, you can easily identity hackers or even leeches on your WiFi network, especially the ones that might be accessing your network without your permission or knowledge. Fing also comes in handy if you need to find any rogue machines on your network. You can then use information collected to kick out these rogue devices, keeping your systems safe from rogue attackers.

8. NetX Network Tools – Best Network Analysis and Troubleshooting

This is a WiFi manager app that is free and gives you access to a whole range of network features, and you might also like it if you need a nice app for troubleshooting. Some of the details about your network that can be retrieved from using the app include the IP address, domain name, MAC address, the device vendor, status of your connected devices, signal strength, and the external IP address.

It also features a WiFi Scanner to help you find any nearby WiFi networks, as well as a  channel graph detailing the overlapping WiFi networks. This app also sends you alerts when new devices are connected to your WiFi network, and you can run diagnostics on other remote devices.

FAQs

Are WiFi Finder Applications Legal?

Yes, the WiFi finder applications around are all legal, but like other tools, they might be used illegally. This means that if you need one of these applications to optimize your network traffic, it might not be such a bad idea.

What is a positive WiFi signal strength, and how is it measured?

Wireless network strength signal refers to the power level of wireless signals received by wireless clients. A strong signal means more reliable connections and high-speed connectivity.

Measured as -dBm or decibels milliwatts, wireless signal strength determines the strength of the wireless signals. The strength ranges from 0 to -100, and it is the power ratio measured in decibels for the measured power referenced in relation to one milliwatt.

But what really is a good signal strength? Well, what is considered an acceptable or a good WiFi strength is measured in negative values. Excellent signal strength is often about -50dBm, a good and a reliable signal strength is often -60dBm, and -68dBm would also be regarded as reliable signal strength.

However, a plunge into the -70dBm, -80dBm, or -90dBm isn’t a good sign, and a WiFi system at these levels would mean poor network strength.

What is the wireless noise level?

The noise level represents the total amount of background noise in your surrounding environment. It’s also measured in -dBm, and when the value of the noise level is too high, it would mean that there would be a degradation of the strength and the performance of the wireless’ signal strength. The value of the noise level ranges from 0 to -100, and if the value is closer to 0, then it means that there is a greater noise level. At -96dBm, the noise level is lower than the recorded noise level at -20dBm.

Therefore, the signal-to-noise ratio or the SNR between the signal strength and noise level will be represented as a positive value. The minimum SNR you should have is +25dBm, and any value below this number signals poor speeds and performance.

Conclusion

The apps above are among the best options of free Android WiFi apps, and you might like any of the apps depending on your needs.