LanScan: My Go-To Network Scanner for macOS
The network discovery tool I use on Mac for finding devices, checking open ports, and documenting networks.
I needed a simple way to see what's on a network from my Mac. Not a full enterprise solution - just a quick scan to find devices, see their IPs and MACs, maybe check some ports. LanScan does exactly this.
What I Use It For
Quick network inventory. Connect to a new network, scan, see what's there. Useful when inheriting undocumented infrastructure.
Finding device IPs. Plugged in a new device but don't know what IP it grabbed from DHCP? Scan and find it by MAC vendor.
Port checks. Need to verify if SSH or HTTP is running on a device? LanScan shows open ports without switching to nmap.
Documentation. Export results to CSV for asset tracking or network diagrams.
How It Works
LanScan uses multiple discovery methods:
- ARP for local network (fast and reliable)
- Ping for remote subnets
- mDNS for Apple devices
- SMB for Windows devices
This multi-protocol approach catches devices that might not respond to just ping.
Scan Results
For each device, you get:
- IP address
- MAC address
- Hostname (from DNS, mDNS, or SMB)
- Vendor (from MAC OUI)
- Open ports
The vendor identification is useful. When you see "Ubiquiti Networks" or "Raspberry Pi Foundation," you immediately know what type of device it is.
Free vs Pro
The free version works fine for basic scanning. Limitations:
- Hostnames truncated after first 4 characters (beyond the first four devices)
- Limited port scan results displayed
For occasional use, free is enough. I bought Pro because I use it regularly and the truncation got annoying.
Alternatives
nmap - More powerful, but command line and requires more setup. I use nmap for serious scanning, LanScan for quick checks.
Angry IP Scanner - Cross-platform, also good. LanScan feels more native on Mac.
Fing - Mobile app that does similar things. Useful when you only have your phone.
Key Takeaways
- LanScan provides quick network discovery native to macOS
- Multi-protocol scanning (ARP, mDNS, SMB) catches more devices than ping alone
- MAC vendor identification helps identify unknown devices
- CSV export useful for documentation
- Free version works for basic use; Pro removes hostname truncation
Written by Bar Tsveker
Senior CloudOps Engineer specializing in AWS, Terraform, and infrastructure automation.
Thanks for reading! Have questions or feedback?