WhatRoute
WhatRoute is a macOS network utility for tracing routes, testing connectivity, and viewing network paths and traffic activity.
What is WhatRoute?
WhatRoute is a native macOS network utility that helps users investigate connectivity, routing, and local network activity. It is designed for people who need more visibility into how their Mac reaches remote hosts, including developers, network administrators, support staff, and advanced home users. The app brings together traceroute, ping, DNS lookups, whois queries, port scanning, interface information, and traffic monitoring in one desktop tool. It also includes map-based path visualization so users can view the geographic route that packets take across the internet. On newer macOS versions, WhatRoute can work with built-in command-line networking tools and features such as networkQuality, making it useful for troubleshooting latency, reachability, and bandwidth issues. WhatRoute is published by Bryan Christianson.
Key features
- Trace the network path between your Mac and a remote host
- Ping hosts to test reachability and round-trip time
- Run DNS, whois, and ASN lookups for network investigation
- Scan ports, interfaces, and active network connections
- Monitor traffic flows and bandwidth activity on your Mac
- Discover nearby devices and other hosts on a local network
- View network paths on a world map with geolocation context
Review app leftovers with diCleaner
Inspect caches, support files, containers, and login items before cleaning.
Safety overview
Status: Mostly safe
WhatRoute is a legitimate network diagnostic app, but some of its functions interact closely with macOS networking tools and may request elevated access for tasks such as packet capture. That level of access is normal for advanced troubleshooting features, yet it also means the app can inspect network traffic visible to your Mac. Keep it only if you use its diagnostic tools, and avoid granting extra permissions unless you need the related feature.
Recommendation: Keep WhatRoute if you use it for network testing, route tracing, or traffic analysis on your Mac. If you do not use those tools, you can remove it without affecting normal macOS operation beyond losing its diagnostics and monitoring features.
Common paths
/Applications/WhatRoute.app
Share your experience
Be the first to share your experience.