NetSpot is the easiest recommendation for most homes, small offices, plus independent technicians. TamoGraph or Hamina makes more sense for demanding RF design work.
NetSpot is the best WiFi heatmap software for most people in 2026. It turns floor plans into readable coverage maps without requiring specialist hardware, while Pro adds predictive planning plus 23 heatmap views.
A home user usually needs signal level, SNR, channel overlap, plus a floor-plan survey. NetSpot covers that without special hardware. A consultant validating warehouses or campuses may need spectrum analysis, calibrated survey adapters, GPS, capacity requirements, plus formal reports. That is where TamoGraph, Hamina, Acrylic, or Ekahau start earning their higher cost.
We compared measured heatmapping, predictive planning, platform coverage, Wi-Fi 7 readiness, reporting, hardware requirements, licensing, plus the effort needed to get a useful first map. Scores favor practical range over raw feature count. A deep enterprise package loses points if it is awkward or wildly expensive for the typical reader.
The biggest differences are platform support, pre-deployment modeling, plus what a usable license actually costs.
| Tool | Platforms | Predictive planning | Starting paid price | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. NetSpot PICK | Windows, macOS | ● Yes | One-time $199 Pro | 9.2 |
| 2. TamoGraph Site Survey | Windows, macOS | ● Yes | $499 / 6 months Pro | 8.8 |
| 3. Hamina Planner | Web browser | ● Yes | $980/yr per user | 8.5 |
| 4. Acrylic Wi-Fi Heatmaps | Windows | ● Yes | $129 / 1 month | 8.2 |
| 5. VisiWave Site Survey | Windows | ● No | $379/yr | 7.7 |
Expand a tool for pros, cons, and what you'll pay.
NetSpot gave us the cleanest route from a floor plan to a useful coverage map. Survey points are easy to place while walking, while the finished project can show signal level, interference, SNR, channel overlap, AP quantity, plus active throughput results. The Pro edition includes 23 heatmap types, predictive planning, PDF export, plus commercial use.
It is the sensible pick for a house, small office, school, or independent IT contractor. You can start with the free network scanner, though real heatmap creation requires Home or higher. Pro costs $199, which is far below the specialist packages here.
TamoGraph is built for technicians who need more than a colored signal map. It covers passive, active, plus predictive surveys, with GPS mapping, spectrum-analysis support, vendor antenna patterns, multi-floor models, plus automatic AP placement.
The tradeoff is cost. Pro starts at $499 for six months, while a perpetual Pro license is $1,999. That makes sense for regular commercial work, yet it is hard to justify for fixing Wi-Fi in one house.
Hamina stands out because the planning workspace runs in a browser. Its strongest features are predictive Wi-Fi design, automatic wall detection, multi-floor modeling, 3D analysis, interactive reports, plus wired-network documentation.
At $980 per user each year, it is aimed at network designers rather than occasional troubleshooters. It is excellent for planning a new office before APs arrive, but buyers seeking a low-cost walkaround heatmapper will get better value elsewhere.
Acrylic is a practical Windows choice for indoor surveys, outdoor GPS work, predictive design, Wi-Fi quality checks, plus editable reports. Advanced adds monitor-mode capture, client identification, spectrum-analyzer support, SNR analysis, plus 15 heatmap types.
The flexible license periods help if you only need it for one project. Basic begins at $129 for one month. The catch is platform support. There is no native macOS edition, while advanced capture features depend on suitable adapters.
VisiWave keeps the field workflow straightforward. Import a floor plan, walk the property, record measurements, then inspect coverage gaps, channel use, co-channel interference, rogue APs, plus signal leakage. GPS collection is available for outdoor projects.
The annual license costs $379 per computer. Its current release does not include predictive modeling, which leaves it behind NetSpot, TamoGraph, Hamina, plus Acrylic for pre-deployment design. The trial also randomizes signal readings, so it cannot validate real coverage.