NetsCLI vs Pentest-Tools Port Scanner

NetsCLI is an open-source network scanner for discovering LAN devices, scanning TCP and UDP ports, querying DNS, and inspecting hosts. It runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows, with a desktop app, terminal UI, command-line interface, and MCP server built on one Rust core. The desktop app supports multiple investigation tabs, sortable and filterable results, exports, and scan history. Discovery can add reverse DNS, ARP cache details, MAC addresses, and device makers when the operating system has that information. Network operations in the CLI support JSON and YAML output; list commands also support CSV and Markdown. The MCP server runs over stdio and exposes structured network tools to compatible AI clients, including Claude Code and Cursor. NetsCLI is MIT-licensed and free for personal, open-source, and commercial use. Its binaries and installers are said to be checksummed and signed with Sigstore cosign. Packet capture requires separate downloads and libpcap on Linux or macOS, or Npcap on Windows. It does not provide remote administration and lacks advanced service detection, NSE scripts, and OS fingerprinting.

Pentest-Tools Port Scanner is a cloud-hosted Nmap scanner for discovering open TCP and UDP ports and services on network targets. Users can scan a domain, one IP address, or a network range, including bulk IP ranges. Light scans cover the top 100 TCP and UDP ports; deep scans can extend to all 65,535 ports. Options include service-version and operating-system detection, TCP SYN, full TCP connect, and UDP scanning. Findings can be exported in CSV, JSON, or PDF. The product describes scheduled and parallel scans, notifications, API access, and scan-template workflows, with integrations including Jira, Slack, Microsoft Teams, webhooks, Burp Suite, and GitHub Actions. Internal targets require the VPN Agent, and internal network scanning is an optional add-on. A free plan is listed, but its tier limits are unspecified. Paid plans start at $95 a month, with pricing varying by asset count and billing cycle. The full scanner has a seven-day trial requiring a business email and card; cancel before day eight to pay nothing.