WhatRoute

Spec sheet

What it does

WhatRoute is a macOS network diagnostic and monitoring utility with traceroute, ping, DNS, Whois and traffic-monitoring functions.Read 15 Oct 2026 · whatroute.net

Purpose

WhatRoute is a macOS network testing and monitoring utility with traceroute, ping, flow monitoring and bandwidth monitoring.Read 9 Oct 2026 · whatroute.net

Security

The download page says WhatRoute 2.8.1 verifies helper client connections using code-signing requirements, and an older release note says WhatRoute was notarized by Apple.Read 9 Oct 2026 · whatroute.net

Support

The maker publishes [email protected] as its contact address.Read 15 Oct 2026 · whatroute.net

Founded

1996Read 28 Sep 2026 · whatroute.net

Apple notarization

A 2.1.8 release note states that WhatRoute became notarized by Apple.Read 15 Oct 2026 · whatroute.net

Bandwidth monitoring

Bandwidth Monitor provides a menubar display and a graph of input and output rates for a selected interface.Read 15 Oct 2026 · whatroute.net

CPU support

The current build is universal and runs natively on Intel and Apple Silicon Macs.Read 15 Oct 2026 · whatroute.net

Current helper hardening

Version 2.8.1 verifies helper clients with code-signing requirements instead of process-ID checks.Read 15 Oct 2026 · whatroute.net

DNS performance

The DNS Server Performance tool measures resolution times from multiple DNS servers.Read 15 Oct 2026 · whatroute.net

Editor rating on Softpedia

4.0 out of 5 from the Softpedia editor.Read 15 Oct 2026 · mac.softpedia.com

Elevated access

WhatRoute uses a privileged helper for network operations that require elevated privileges; the FAQ says administrator access is used to open a privileged raw-socket interface.Read 9 Oct 2026 · whatroute.net

Flow export

Flow-monitor records can be saved as CSV files for use in a text editor or spreadsheet.Read 15 Oct 2026 · whatroute.net

Flow monitoring

Flow Monitor records traffic flows on a selected interface and can show transferred data and the local process involved.Read 15 Oct 2026 · whatroute.net

Geographic mapping

The application plots network nodes and data paths on a world map with circles representing estimated location accuracy.Read 15 Oct 2026 · whatroute.net

Geolocation

WhatRoute uses the IP geolocation engine at ip-api.com to associate geographic data with IP addresses.Read 9 Oct 2026 · whatroute.net

Geolocation provider

WhatRoute uses the ip-api.com IP-geolocation service to associate geographic information with addresses.Read 15 Oct 2026 · whatroute.net

Helper security

The maker says the app and helper are code-signed and communicate using Apple-secured mechanisms so unrelated software cannot send helper messages.Read 15 Oct 2026 · whatroute.net

History

WhatRoute was first developed in 1996 for MacOS 7.5.3 and was included with MacOS 9 in 2001.Read 15 Oct 2026 · whatroute.net

Independent archive description

The University of Wisconsin Scout Archives describes WhatRoute as showing the geographic route of packets and viewing results in Google Earth.Read 15 Oct 2026 · archives.internetscout.org

Intended audience

The maker describes WhatRoute as freeware originally written to provide services for the Macintosh user community.Read 9 Oct 2026 · whatroute.net

Limit: administrator rights

The program will not run without installing its privileged helper, according to the helper documentation.Read 15 Oct 2026 · whatroute.net

Limit: macOS-only

Independent listings describe WhatRoute as a Mac application and do not list Windows, Linux, Android or iOS versions.Read 15 Oct 2026 · mac.softpedia.com

Limit: map accuracy

The FAQ says IP-geolocation results can be inaccurate because the underlying free data is supplied as-is.Read 15 Oct 2026 · whatroute.net

Limit: map reliability

A MacUpdate reviewer praised the application but said the map did not always appear reliably.Read 15 Oct 2026 · whatroute.macupdate.com

Limit: network access

Successful tests depend on firewalls and required ports; ICMP, UDP traceroute, Whois and DNS traffic may need to be allowed.Read 15 Oct 2026 · whatroute.net

Maker biography

Bryan Christianson says he has been a software developer since 1981 and previously worked for a New Zealand ISP on satellite-network software.Read 15 Oct 2026 · whatroute.net

Map integrations

Geographic results can be passed to Apple Maps or Google Maps for higher-resolution viewing.Read 15 Oct 2026 · whatroute.net

NetFlow support

Flow Monitor can consume NetFlow versions 5, 8, 9 and 10 (IPFIX) exported by a router or other device.Read 15 Oct 2026 · whatroute.net

Network tools

Built-in commands include Whois, DNS lookup, ASN lookup, port scan, interface details, Netstat, subnet network scan, neighbour discovery and location lookup.Read 15 Oct 2026 · whatroute.net

Notable release

The maker announced WhatRoute 2.7.1 on 16 May 2025.Read 15 Oct 2026 · whatroute.net

Ping

Ping checks reachability and round-trip time to another computer.Read 15 Oct 2026 · whatroute.net

Platform requirement

The download page lists macOS Sonoma 14.6 as the minimum deployment version for WhatRoute 2.8.1.Read 9 Oct 2026 · whatroute.net

Praise: ease of use

Softpedia's editor describes the macOS interface as easy to use and says it exposes common terminal functions without requiring command-line work.Read 15 Oct 2026 · mac.softpedia.com

Praise: organized workflow

Softpedia says the main window offers an intuitive workflow with a host field, query selector and result area.Read 15 Oct 2026 · mac.softpedia.com

Privileged access

A helper tool is required for raw sockets, interface capture, tcpdump and cache-clearing operations, so the first launch requests an administrator password.Read 15 Oct 2026 · whatroute.net

Rating on MacUpdate

3.9 out of 5 from 34 user ratings.Read 15 Oct 2026 · whatroute.macupdate.com

Rating on Softpedia

3.5 out of 5 from 3 votes.Read 15 Oct 2026 · mac.softpedia.com

Route mapping

It can map network nodes and data paths, with circles indicating estimated location accuracy.Read 9 Oct 2026 · whatroute.net

System requirement

WhatRoute 2.8.1 requires macOS Sonoma 14.6 or newer.Read 15 Oct 2026 · whatroute.net

Traceroute

The Trace function discovers routers between the Mac and a destination by sending probes with increasing TTL values.Read 15 Oct 2026 · whatroute.net

Wi-Fi monitoring

The documentation lists a WiFi Monitor for viewing wireless-network performance attributes.Read 15 Oct 2026 · whatroute.net

Plans and prices

Every WhatRoute plan and price →

Where Specifiction places it

• Network Diagnostic Software#19 of 377.8