If you’re someone who uses their Android device a lot and puts a lot of data through it over Wi-Fi and cellular every month, then having apps that can help you find the best signal, diagnose problems, test connections speeds using real-world tests, and keep track of how much data you’re using. Note that these apps are Android. Apple imposes more restrictions on what iOS apps can do, so while there are similar apps for that platform, they are not as powerful. One of the advantages of using Android! This app is packed with charts and meters and gauges, but the feature that I use the most is the one that monitors and logs signal strength data as I walk or drive through an area. This is a brilliant and truly useful feature when I’m out of the cities and in a more rural area. I know where I need to go back to in order to get the best connection. Another “feature” of this app I like is the fact that there is a comprehensive online user manual – more apps could do with that feature! Truly amazing set of features. This is an app I’ve been using for some time now and it never lets me down. It even has features such as DNS lookup, LAN scanning, port scanning, and cellular network information built in. This is a really powerful tool, with a lot of features and functions. That’s a huge pro, but it’s also a con, in that the app can take some time to get used to. I find myself using this app a lot, but if I’m using a feature I’ve not used for a while, it can take me a few moments to find what I need. Still, this is a truly powerful tool. I’m finding the traffic breakdown analysis to be particularly useful. For people who are not on an unlimited data plan, this is a particularly useful app because it lets you see what’s eating away at your data. Along with giving you accurate speed tests, and allowing you to log how your Wi-Fi and cellular networks are performing, nPerf can also test using real-world conditions such as web browsing and video streaming, offer you a real-world cellular coverage map, and even allow you to map your network coverage while traveling. I find this handy for scouting out signal strength in new areas I’m traveling to and which networks offer me the best speeds.
