WiFi Explorer began as a desktop alternative to WiFi Analyzer, an iPhone app for wireless network scanning that was pulled out from Apple's App Store in March, 2010, due to the use of private frameworks.

Starting in version 1.5, WiFi Explorer included support for 802.11ac networks, as well as 80 and 160 MHz channel widths.

[6] WiFi Explorer Pro offers additional features especially designed for WLAN and IT professionals.

Due to limitations of Apple's CoreWLAN framework,[12] the standard version of WiFi Explorer is unable to detect hidden networks (except when connected to it) and does not support external USB Wi-Fi adapters.

The Pro edition supports passive scanning,[10] which can detect hidden networks, and can make use of external adapters via the External Adapter Support Environment (EASE).