AirMagnet Survey PRO vs LinkRunner comparison

AirMagnet Survey PRO and LinkRunner are both solutions in the Network Troubleshooting category. AirMagnet Survey PRO is ranked #5 with an average rating of 7.0, while LinkRunner is ranked #2 with an average rating of 8.0. AirMagnet Survey PRO holds a 10.3% mindshare in NT, compared to LinkRunner’s 8.1% mindshare. Additionally, 86% of AirMagnet Survey PRO users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 90% of LinkRunner users who would recommend it.

AirMagnet Survey PRO

Read 39 AirMagnet Survey PRO reviews

3,627 Views
834 Comparison Views

86% willing to recommend

LinkRunner

Read 20 LinkRunner reviews

1,992 Views
1,992 Comparison Views

90% willing to recommend

AirMagnet Survey PRO

LinkRunner

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Mar 15, 2026

LinkRunner and AirMagnet Survey PRO are products that compete in the network management category. LinkRunner has the upper hand in pricing and return on investment while AirMagnet Survey PRO offers advanced features that justify its higher price.

Features: LinkRunner provides intuitive network connectivity tests, quick diagnostics, and an auto-testing feature that simplifies Ethernet validation. It supports a wide range of connectivity tests, and its cloud integration streamlines testing processes. AirMagnet Survey PRO specializes in in-depth wireless site surveys, advanced analysis tools, and the capability to conduct predictive surveys, offering comprehensive insights into network performance.

Room for Improvement: LinkRunner could enhance its spectrum analysis capabilities and compatibility with a broader range of adapters. Increasing the cloud storage capacity for integration results could also benefit users. AirMagnet Survey PRO could improve by expanding its support for more hardware adapters and enhancing its user interface for ease of interaction. The inclusion of a more detailed reporting feature could be beneficial as well.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: LinkRunner offers simple deployment with dependable customer support, allowing for efficient troubleshooting. AirMagnet Survey PRO has slightly more complex deployment but provides excellent support, alongside resources that assist users in navigating its advanced features.

Pricing and ROI: LinkRunner is cost-effective with lower setup costs and offers quick ROI suitable for network technicians. AirMagnet Survey PRO demands higher initial investment but justifies this through robust features that enhance long-term network planning and efficiency. The AirMagnet Survey tool priced at approximately $36,000 indicates its focus on comprehensive service.

To learn more, read our detailed AirMagnet Survey PRO vs. LinkRunner Report (Updated: March 2026).

Buyer's Guide

AirMagnet Survey PRO vs. LinkRunner

March 2026

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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

AirMagnet Survey PRO

Ranking in Network Troubleshooting

5th

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

6.7

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Network Modeling and Simulation (2nd)

LinkRunner

Ranking in Network Troubleshooting

2nd

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

8.2

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of March 2026, in the Network Troubleshooting category, the mindshare of AirMagnet Survey PRO is 10.3%, up from 6.3% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of LinkRunner is 8.1%, down from 20.5% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Network Troubleshooting Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
LinkRunner	8.1%
AirMagnet Survey PRO	10.3%
Other	81.6%

Network Troubleshooting

Featured Reviews

Mark Witherspoon

Wireless Services Manager at Veritas Managed Solutions

A solution for site verifications and enhanced with adapters that provide more realistic readings, but needs to support Wi-Fi 6E

Ekahau and AirMagnet Survey have their own pros and cons, in my opinion. For example, the APs are not visible in Ekahau but AirMagnet Survey allows us to see what APs and channels are being used in a live view, which Ekahau lacks. In Ekahau, the signal from the AP it's capturing at that time is visible which is a bit of an inconvenience. The predictive planner of AirMagnet's is better. However, Ekahau has advantages over AirMagnet because it groups all the SSIDs into one AP, whereas with AirMagnet, one needs to group them manually. Ekahau also supports Wi-Fi 6E, but its licensing is restrictive and more costly.

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Jesse_B

Manager of networks and infrastructure at a government with 5,001-10,000 employees

Impressive ease of use, gives comprehensive results in seconds, and saves a lot of time and resources

I've found the VLAN test feature to be most valuable. That's because not many devices do VLAN tests. Normally, I have to send a center technician to check a line and see if it's alive. If it's working, then I have to send a network technician out to log into a switch and see which port it's on and on which VLAN that port is. That's two persons and two separate visits. This device does all of this in a matter of seconds, and that has saved me a lot of time, troubleshooting, and resources. Its ease of use is very impressive. LinkRunner allows me to have my technicians run tests that are normally too complex and require a network specialist. AutoTest works with just one click. AutoTest does a lot of testing that would normally require a network specialist to log in to a switch and check out VLAN based on a port. My technicians don't have to log in to the switch anymore. They can just do AutoTest and information is provided online. So, I no longer have to send a specialist. I can have my technician run these very complex tests. It saves me on resources, time, and site visits. When it comes to troubleshooting, based on my experience, it has given very useful and very helpful information, especially for my field technicians. It has reduced my visits and the amount of presence because it gives a very comprehensive report on your network tests. It tests multiple variables and multiple parameters and gives a very informative report that makes it easy to pinpoint what is the root cause. There are many tools in this one solution. It's basically a bunch of toolkits or tool sets in one device, which makes it very powerful testing equipment.

Read full review

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"The AirMagnet Survey allows you to see the list of APs in the live view. It only supports certain adapters, which can be limiting, but it's also beneficial because these adapters are more comparable to real-life devices like laptops. With Ekahau, Sidekick needs to be used for full features, but I find the Sidekick too strong, which can hamper results. Therefore, I prefer AirMagnet's approach because the adapters provide more realistic readings."

"The benefit is with the ease of use of the software, I am able to show the customer, "Here is what your wireless coverage looks like." It is set up in a fashion that non-technical people can understand it."

"The most valuable feature is the predictive survey. The antennas' RF patterns are reflected correctly on the drawing when preparing predictive heat maps."

"As far as using the software, it's going to give you true results and be very accurate."

"The product is very good and I highly recommend it, especially if you have to present the survey finding to clients."

"It is a good product and has good support."

"Technical support is very good."

"Before there was some Snyder solution which was a free software that we used, however, comparing that to this tool, AirMagnet is a good and reliable solution."

More AirMagnet Survey PRO pros

"In terms of network validation, and copper and fiber Ethernet configuration, I can't imagine life without LinkRunner devices. The minute I got the 10G, everybody was fighting over it. They had never used such a device before and it was just breathtaking for them to very quickly see the validation you can gain from these devices."

"I like that LinkRunner is an all-in-one device with a touchscreen interface. You don't have to pair it with a phone or anything else to get the full functionality. The built-in tests are one of the most significant advantages. It will pull an IP, ping the gateway, ping out to the intra, and report everything on the screen. It will tell you when a test completes or fails and why."

"In terms of documenting ad hoc additions and other changes to wired ethernet connections, this product is very good. It keeps the information in the cloud and I have the ability to name it. This makes it very nice and easy to see."

"The most valuable feature is the end-to-end testing with the "dart," as they call it, where you can test for faults in the cable or if they've been terminated properly."

"The auto-test feature is vital and does 90 percent of what I need on its own. It's fast and I can get there in just a few clicks. It does a good job and tells me everything I need to know. LinkRunner works pretty quickly and always seems to be accurate."

"The solution's ability to simplify network validation and configuration of copper and fiber Ethernet networks is very useful to me. Otherwise, I’m guessing. Having a tool that I can trust doesn't solve all problems, but for the problems it solves, I can trust that it has told me “yes” or “no.” I would rate it highly for that."

"It is fast in providing results. It is pretty accurate."

"LinkRunner 10G is very handy for onsite troubleshooting and implementations. We can quickly identify the links in terms of 1G, 2.5G, 5G, and 10G on the copper side, and also from 1G up to 10G on the fiber side. It is very handy for me because we deal with a lot of banks. Especially for the provisioning of new services, we use this tool to identify the link capacity and do the necessary testing to ensure all the circuits are ready before the handover to the next team to operate the technology. This is something that saves a lot of time as compared to the old days."

Cons

"It'd be nice if it was cheaper, however, you get value for your money."

"The moment we began needing more of the vendor's support, the cost became very high; we switched to another solution."

"I would like it to be able to automatically calculate the best way to place the access points; more like hybrid manual planning."

"We have had a problem with reporting module, it can't put the full size picture of floor plan in report."

"I would say some of our newer techs that are going out to job sites can be a little bit intimidated by the interface."

"I would just like to see integration of more wireless cards to have a broader group of cards you could use, instead of just a couple of specific ones."

"I would say some of our newer techs that are going out to job sites can be a little bit intimidated by the interface."

"But it's definitely a more expensive solution than other ones."

More AirMagnet Survey PRO cons

"It doesn't turn off automatically, but the toning function goes to sleep. It seems to stop toning after five or six minutes if you don't find the cable. It could be up to ten minutes, but if you don't find the cable that you're trying to tone quick enough, you'll have to go back and restart the tone. So, it doesn't turn itself off, but while toning, it turns itself off."

"Being really nitpicky about the LinkRunner G2, I wish the form factor was a little bit smaller. However, I'm sure that the size of the unit is compromised by the fact that the battery is large. If that were to mean having less battery life, I would not change it."

"It does take a little while to boot up if it's turned off."

"If it weren't for the battery, it would probably get an eight out of 10. But because of the battery, it's infuriating and it's not reliable."

"They should allow firmware updates even if you don't have an AllyCare contract. I'm in a situation right now where they've released firmware for bug fixes, but we cannot access those, which makes the device almost useless. You almost want to just throw it out the window because they're not supporting their product unless you have an AllyCare contract."

"One area where LinkRunner could be improved is the battery life. Depending on which tests are run, it gets a decent six to eight hours. However, sometimes we need to do back-to-back shifts to meet a deadline, and we need access to an outlet to keep it plugged in and charging. It takes about an hour or two to charge."

"Unlike using an application like Wireshark, this device gives us no way to see network packets specifically to look at what's going on. It doesn't have the capability."

"I wish they had software that could create continuous streams of traffic. I'm not sure if that's possible with LinkRunner, but it would be very helpful in some of the test case scenarios that clients are looking for, in regards to quality of service"

Pricing and Cost Advice

"This product is very expensive."

"The licensing of AirMagnet Survey is different when compared to Ekahu. It is a third of the cost of Ekahau but there are no dedicated laptops to the Sidekick. AirMagnet allows you to license an adapter and share that adapter."

"There is an annual cost of the solution. There are some additional charges, such as support and maintenance."

"For technical support, you need an annual license, but it is not worth it."

"The pricing needs improvement."

"The tool's pricing is medium."

"The moment we began needing more of the vendor's support, the cost became very high; we switched to another solution."

"They offer one price. I do like paying for support because I get software updates that way."

"We... decided to go with NetAlly for the price and the bang for the buck."

"Compared to another company's product, LinkRunner is cheaper, but it's still about $1,000 too expensive, considering that the operating system is a free operating system. The OS has just been tweaked to give you a graphical interface. I don't think it's priced right."

"It's an expensive device. Don't expect it to be cheap. But the pricing is good. It certainly seemed in line with anything else I was looking at at the time."

"I would buy another one if I had a chance but they're too expensive. If they made it a bit cheaper, I think a lot of network engineers and network administrators would immediately jump onto it."

"Its pricing is all right. Of course, from the business point of view, the cheaper it is, the better it is, but I prefer to spend a bit more money to get a quick response, which is helpful especially when we are onsite or in a very critical situation. We are not only paying for the product. We are paying for the people behind the product in terms of developers and technical support. When you need some help, they will be behind it, and they'll support you. There are no additional costs other than the standard licensing fee."

"The 10Gig ones are quite expensive, and we have only two of them, but I know that this option was cheaper than the other 10Gig option we looked at, and we're very happy with it."

"It's reasonably priced in my market. It provides good value for money. The device is competitively priced as compared to other solutions. It gives you a lot of functionality and saves you a lot of time and resources. I see it as a good buy and good value for money. I stand for it."

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Manufacturing Company

Computer Software Company

Retailer

Comms Service Provider

Manufacturing Company

15%

University

11%

Government

Healthcare Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	21
Midsize Enterprise	14
Large Enterprise	10

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	3
Midsize Enterprise	8
Large Enterprise	7

Questions from the Community

What needs improvement with AirMagnet Survey?

AirMagnet Survey needs to support Wi-Fi 6E otherwise they can lose to the competition. They also need to allow better grouping of SSIDs to one AP, removing the need to filter manually. At the momen...

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What is your primary use case for AirMagnet Survey?

We use AirMagnet Survey, for site verifications after the wireless system has been installed. We conduct pre and post-install surveys with it. We have reduced the use since now our customers requir...

See all answers

What advice do you have for others considering AirMagnet Survey?

The AI simulation capabilities, especially the predictive feature in AirMagnet, have been somewhat helpful for network planning. However, both AirMagnet and other tools like Ekahau have accuracy is...

See all answers

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Comparisons

Ekahau AI Pro vs AirMagnet Survey PRO

Compared 33% of the time

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Compared 8% of the time

iBwave Unity vs AirMagnet Survey PRO

Compared 7% of the time

Aruba Wireless vs AirMagnet Survey PRO

Compared 6% of the time

AirMagnet Spectrum XT vs AirMagnet Survey PRO

Compared 4% of the time

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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

AirMagnet Survey PRO

March 2026

Download AirMagnet Survey PRO product report

Buyer's Guide

LinkRunner

March 2026

Download LinkRunner product report

Overview

AirMagnet Survey PRO provides efficient wireless network surveying and design capabilities, optimizing access point placement with dual passive-active surveys, spectrum integration, and real-time analysis.

AirMagnet Survey PRO offers comprehensive tools for wireless coverage optimization. It facilitates accurate SNR/RSSI data collection and features multi-floor planning with robust reporting capabilities. The software enables efficient spectrum analysis, predictive mapping, and simultaneous 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz surveys, saving significant time. Users appreciate its intuitive interface, which aids technical assessments and visual displays. However, they suggest improvements in multi-floor integration, file import options, and a more dynamic license system. Enhanced cloud storage support, improved auto-placement features, and better device compatibility are also on the wishlist.

What are the key features of AirMagnet Survey PRO?

Dual Passive-Active Surveys: Streamline access point placement with dual survey types.
Antenna Customization: Tailor antenna parameters for optimal performance.
Predictive Mapping: Visualize potential coverage areas before deployment.
Spectrum Integration: Analyze interference and optimize signal paths.
Simultaneous 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Surveys: Conduct faster, comprehensive surveys across frequency bands.

What benefits should users look for in reviews of AirMagnet Survey PRO?

Accurate Data Collection: Highly precise SNR/RSSI measurements improve network assessments.
Time Efficiency: Reduce survey duration with dual-band simultaneous assessments.
User-Friendly Interface: Simplifies complex tasks with intuitive visual tools.
Comprehensive Reporting: Offers detailed analysis and insights into network performance.
Cost Savings: Efficient planning and troubleshooting lead to reduced deployment costs.

In industries like hospitality, education, and healthcare, AirMagnet Survey PRO is instrumental in wireless network surveying and design. These sectors rely on the software for precise Wi-Fi coverage assessments, spectrum analysis, and real-time signal checks, using heat maps to identify dead zones for pre and post-installation verifications. Some opt for alternatives to support newer technologies like Wi-Fi 6E.

NetAlly

LinkRunner offers network engineers a fast, comprehensive tool for validating network links and troubleshooting copper and fiber connectivity issues, suitable for today's demanding environments.

Designed for network technicians, LinkRunner combines speed and precision for effective network link validation and diagnostics. The AT 1500 and 3000 models provide frontline engineers with powerful troubleshooting tools for both copper and fiber networks, while the advanced AT 4000 model supports Multigigabit NBASE-T and fiber Ethernet networks with detailed network discovery capabilities.

What key features does LinkRunner offer?

Efficient AutoTest: Offers instant diagnostics and efficient network validation.
LLDP Decoding: Simplifies port identification beyond minimum requirements.
Cloud Integration: Results are auto-saved to the cloud, facilitating easy access.
PoE Testing: Provides thorough Power over Ethernet evaluations.
Latency and Throughput: Performs comprehensive performance testing.

What benefits should be considered?

Ease of Use: A streamlined interface enhances user experience.
Time Efficiency: Reduces IT staff time with quick diagnostics and swift troubleshooting capabilities.
Improved Access: Cloud integration allows convenient access to diagnostic results.
Multi-environment Compatibility: Offers robust performance in both wired and wireless setups.

Network analysts and engineers leverage LinkRunner for tasks like testing fiber optic links, network discovery, and cable installation validation. Industries favor its PoE testing and bandwidth checks, ensuring reliable switch connectivity and thorough performance evaluations, effectively addressing network troubleshooting and performance testing requirements.

NetAlly

Sample Customers

Houston Methodist Hospital, Love's Travel Stops

Philips Healthcare, HCA Healthcare, University of South Dakota, Memorial Hermann, Baltimore County Public Schools, Aaramrak.

Buyer's Guide

AirMagnet Survey PRO vs. LinkRunner

March 2026

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