LinkRunner vs LinkSprinter comparison

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Comparison Buyer's Guide
Executive Summary

We performed a comparison between LinkRunner and LinkSprinter based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out in this report how the two Network Troubleshooting solutions compare in terms of features, pricing, service and support, easy of deployment, and ROI.
To learn more, read our detailed LinkRunner vs. LinkSprinter Report (Updated: March 2024).
765,234 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Featured Review
Quotes From Members
We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use.
Here are some excerpts of what they said:
Pros
"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.""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.""Having the results sent directly, via email, from the LinkRunner itself makes it really great for logging different things that you're trying to document within your organization. You can have a paper trail of what your organization has as far as infrastructure goes.""It provides a way to test 10Gig connectivity. Previously, we had to hook up a switch. That was our only way. Now, with LinkRunner, we can test on the fly if an SFP is bad or if the switch has the right configuration on it.""The LLDP decoding is better than on some of the other devices that we've used. Specifically, it goes beyond the minimum of the LLDP data to decode, and it shows the LLDP port descriptions. That makes it vastly simpler to identify which port you're connecting to on a switch that's patched back to some other building, rather than having to figure out an SNMP index or something else.""It is fast in providing results. It is pretty accurate.""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 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."

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"The solution provides switch port and VLAN information.""The tool fits in your pocket, so it's easy to carry and you don't have to have a big bag of tools."

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Cons
"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.""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.""It's a little bit tough getting used to at first, but once you get the hang of it, and once you start using it more, like anything, it gets easier. The difficult part, at first, is knowing where to find each test and how to use the tests.""It is a great tool, but in the long-term, they can make its processor more powerful to do more functions. They can upgrade the hardware to make it run faster and more efficiently from the process point of view. That'll be beneficial because the technology is evolving and the network traffic is going higher and higher. We have to leverage better spec products to handle the traffic load.""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.""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.""It is very stable. That being said, there is one feature that is not quite as stable as the rest of the product. You can leave it plugged into a location where you're doing some work and connect to it remotely by a program called VNC... sometimes that function breaks down, if you've been running for a couple of days... if you're remotely controlling it, you're probably not right next to it. That can be modestly annoying.""It runs tests quickly, but it takes a while to boot up. It's somewhat disappointing that LinkRunner takes some time to turn on. When I arrive in the space, I usually spend the first two minutes waiting."

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"They could make it easier to set up originally, because the initial setup can be quite hit and miss.""The solution should improve cable testing."

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Pricing and Cost Advice
  • "It's expensive but you definitely get what you pay for. I would buy another one if I had to."
  • "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."
  • "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."
  • "The cost of this device is very expensive, especially with the NetAlly Care on top of the costs. It is not for personal use and would be very expensive for smaller businesses."
  • "The area where the product could be improved is by having a lower cost so that I could have more than one. The price is competitive, but everybody would always like to see the price go down. I'd buy another one if it were cheaper."
  • "I didn't have to buy it, but if I was going to have my choice, I wouldn't buy it just because of the price point. It works pretty well to do one thing. For the cost, it is definitely not worth it. There are other products out there that can do the same thing for probably 70% less. I am not aware of any additional costs."
  • "The price was fine. You pay for the unit, and there are no licensing or maintenance fees."
  • More LinkRunner Pricing and Cost Advice →

  • "You pay for the device, but you don't have to pay for the app."
  • "The product is a little bit overpriced."
  • More LinkSprinter Pricing and Cost Advice →

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    Questions from the Community
    Top Answer: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… more »
    Top Answer:One of the things I'd like to see in future versions of LinkRunner is a wireless dongle embedded into the product so that I don't need to have a separate wireless dongle. It should be built into that… more »
    Top Answer:I have LinkRunner G2, and I use this product for testing and troubleshooting. I am able to test my network connections and cables and do general troubleshooting for network drops, network outlets… more »
    Top Answer:The solution provides switch port and VLAN information.
    Top Answer:The product is a little bit overpriced. It probably needs to be 10 to 20 percent cheaper.
    Top Answer:The solution should improve cable testing.
    Ranking
    1st
    Views
    2,895
    Comparisons
    843
    Reviews
    16
    Average Words per Review
    1,600
    Rating
    8.4
    7th
    Views
    875
    Comparisons
    326
    Reviews
    1
    Average Words per Review
    372
    Rating
    8.0
    Comparisons
    Learn More
    Overview

    Network connectivity test for twisted pair and fiber optic Ethernet links at 10, 100 and Gigabit rates. Verify twisted pair Ethernet cable length and wiremap with the Ethernet tester

    The LinkSprinter Pocket Network Tester verifies the functionality of copper Ethernet links and identifies errors in less than 10 seconds. The tester reveals network connectivity status and port information while ensuring documentation for every link. The comprehensive AutoTester measures PoE voltage, performs a switch test, and confirms the DHCP server is running and responsive. The tester also verifies gateway/router, internal IP service, and cloud reachability. When paired with the secure Link-Live Cloud Service, the Network Tester automatically uploads results and allows annotation of results enabling job supervisors to easily manage the progress of deployment and troubleshooting tasks assigned to their team.

    Offer
    Want to Hear More?

    The LinkRunner AT Network AutoTester offers user-configured AutoTests for a wide range of important tasks. Test results can be automatically uploaded to the Link-Live Cloud Service to improve collaboration between network engineers and technicians, creating greater job visibility, project control, and fleet management. 

    Learn more about LinkSprinter
    Sample Customers
    Philips Healthcare, HCA Healthcare, University of South Dakota, Memorial Hermann, Baltimore County Public Schools, Aaramrak.
    Cisco, Marriott, Sands Expo, Valparaiso University, Memorial Hermann Health Care System, Mount Sinai, Cox Enterprises, George Washington University, University of Iowa.
    Top Industries
    REVIEWERS
    University31%
    Educational Organization15%
    Hospitality Company15%
    Transportation Company8%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Government12%
    Computer Software Company10%
    Comms Service Provider9%
    Healthcare Company9%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Healthcare Company16%
    Computer Software Company10%
    Government9%
    Manufacturing Company8%
    Company Size
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business17%
    Midsize Enterprise44%
    Large Enterprise39%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business26%
    Midsize Enterprise17%
    Large Enterprise57%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business25%
    Midsize Enterprise22%
    Large Enterprise53%
    Buyer's Guide
    LinkRunner vs. LinkSprinter
    March 2024
    Find out what your peers are saying about LinkRunner vs. LinkSprinter and other solutions. Updated: March 2024.
    765,234 professionals have used our research since 2012.

    LinkRunner is ranked 1st in Network Troubleshooting with 20 reviews while LinkSprinter is ranked 7th in Network Troubleshooting with 3 reviews. LinkRunner is rated 8.6, while LinkSprinter is rated 9.0. The top reviewer of LinkRunner writes "Single Auto-Test button gives me all the information I need on most jobs". On the other hand, the top reviewer of LinkSprinter writes "A small, convenient tool that is very stable, but needs to have a longer battery life". LinkRunner is most compared with NetAlly EtherScope nXG, AirCheck G3, OneTouch AT Network Assistant and IxChariot, whereas LinkSprinter is most compared with NetAlly EtherScope nXG and Wireshark. See our LinkRunner vs. LinkSprinter report.

    See our list of best Network Troubleshooting vendors.

    We monitor all Network Troubleshooting reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.