# Sonar Ruler — user reviews

> 168 indexed App Store user reviews of Sonar Ruler by Laan Labs, rated 2.70/5 from 3 ratings.

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sonar-ruler/id324621243/reviews
- App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sonar-ruler/id324621243.md
- Rating breakdown: 5★ 1 · 4★ 0 · 3★ 0 · 2★ 1 · 1★ 1

## What do users think of Sonar Ruler?

Overall sentiment: mixed

**Pros**

- 💡 Innovative sonar technology using iPhone hardware
- 🎯 Accurate measurements when used correctly (±0.5-1 inch)
- 📚 Educational value for learning sound principles
- 🎮 Fun novelty app for impressing friends
- ⚙️ Customizable settings for different environments
- 🔊 Works with external speakers for better results
- 📏 Supports both metric and imperial measurements

**Cons**

- 🐛 Crashes immediately on many iPhone models
- ❌ Doesn't work on older iPhone generations (iPhone 4, 4S, 5)
- 🔊 Highly sensitive to background noise and interference
- 😕 Steep learning curve and unintuitive interface
- ⚠️ Inconsistent and unreliable measurements
- 📖 Poor documentation and unclear instructions
- 🔧 Requires excessive tweaking and calibration
- 🚫 Incompatible with protective cases
- 😞 No developer support or response to issues
- 🎯 Multiple ghost echoes confuse measurements
- 📱 Device-dependent performance varies significantly

**Commonly reported bugs**

- App crashes within 3 seconds of opening on iPhone 6 and older models
- Won't open on iOS 8.4 and later versions
- No chirping sound emitted on some devices
- Feedback loop and screaming noise on certain hardware
- Phone locks up requiring hard restart
- Broken help video URL
- Measurements lock at same distance regardless of location
- Metric mode produces incorrect readings
- Incompatible with iPhone 4S, 5, and first-generation devices
- Inconsistent performance across different iPhone models

**Most requested features**

- Room mapping by rotating phone in circle
- Vertical distance measurement capability
- Better ambient noise filtering
- Clearer, more intuitive user interface
- Optimized default settings (frequency, filter, chirp)
- Larger, easier-to-manipulate sliders
- iPod Touch compatibility
- Automatic zoom functionality for measurements
- Visual indicator for when to use short vs long distance mode
- Better help video and documentation
- Accessibility features for blind users

## Newest reviews (19 of 168)

### 4/5 — Works for me

*2020-08-28*

Interesting app. shows principles of sound ranging. Ok in metric and imperial.  Ok, it’s a bit quirky and there are lots of ghost echoes at distances other than the “real” one but overall it works for me.  Needs better information on what is on the screen and the tweaks that can be done.

### 2/5 — Interesting, but couldn’t get it to work

*2018-12-28*

Bought it just out of curiosity, and it looks like it’s doing something. There are a lot of adjustments you can do, and I didn’t spend too much time trying to figure it out. It seems to lock in at the same distances regardless of where it’s used. I’m wondering if my older phone (iPhone 6) just doesn’t have what it takes.

### 2/5 — Saudi Arabia

*2016-08-24, version 1.0*

Sonar Ruler The program does not open and close the same

### 1/5 — Sonar Ruler

*2015-12-13, version 1.0*

This app won't even open let alone work!
Useless app and a complete waste of money!!

### 1/5 — Don't buy

*2015-11-28, version 1.0*

Waste of time and money just shuts off immediately after opening app

### 1/5 — app doesn't even open!!!

*2015-10-16*

Absolute waste of money, app has not been updated to years and will not open at all

### 1/5 — Doesn't work in iOS 9

*2015-09-25*

App won't open on a 5s running iOS 9, you get a flash of the loading screen and then closes

### 1/5 — broken

*2015-08-29, version 1.0*

Used to work great, but it no longer works on the newer iPhones running iOS 8.4. It runs and seems to be listening, but it no longer makes the chirps it needs to listen for. None of the adjustments seem to make a difference. I tried setting back to default values. Tried removing and reinstalling. Tried rebooting the iPhone.

### 2/5 — 完全搞不懂啊

*2015-08-29*

就看那玩意一直在动 就是不知道什么意思 能不能给个翻译成中文的app啊

### 1/5 — Broken!

*2015-03-29, version 1.0*

Used to work fine, now no chirping sound is emitted at all on an iPhone 5S.  Help video URL is broken.  Any one else gotten it to work recently?

### 1/5 — Nope

*2014-12-02*

Doesn't work on my 6. Shame. Looks to be a cool idea.

### 1/5 — Does not work

*2013-04-27, version 1.0*

I tried but it does not work.

### 1/5 — Bof

*2013-02-13*

Ça fait un bruit rigolo et ça amuse les enfants.
Ça doit sûrement marcher mais comment?

### 1/5 — Do not waste $0.99 if it is for iPhone 4s

*2013-01-21*

Absolute waste of money.  I have tried it in totally quite locations, keeping it level, and other things that should have improved results, but no luck.  The closest to the correct measurement was within 2ft and that was in a noisy environment.  Others say it worked on older versions of the iPhone. I could be doing something incorrect, but I have not found the correct procedure to make it work on iPhone 4S.

### 1/5 — Pile of pants

*2012-12-20*

Doesn't work. Utter rubbish.

### 1/5 — Doesn't work on newer hardware?

*2012-12-20*

Installed on my iPhone 4 and all I got was screaming feedback & error messages on the screen. Watched the video for help & it doesn't help - if anything, makes it worse.  Always keen to try everything before leaving a bad review, I sent an email to the 'developer' asking for help.  No reply yet & so, here's a bad review.
Awful software, awful developer & not worth giving them your money.

### 1/5 — Nao funciona

*2012-10-23*

Tentei regular mas nao consegui. Só o barulho chato.

### 4/5 — Bin mir nicht sicher

*2012-10-11*

Zuerst klappte es. Auch ziemlich genau. Aber jetzt klappt es garnicht mehr,der zeigt nichts mehr an. Habe die App auch komplett neu gestartet, aber auf dem iPhone 5 will es plötzlich nicht mehr funktionieren :\

### 2/5 — sonar

*2012-10-03*

если это и должно работать то как??? это на видео все просто, а вот у меня не получилось ни одно расстояние измерить , такие программы должны бесплатно раздавать, а не за деньги

## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated)

### 1/5 — 完全看不懂也没法用啊

*2017-06-30*

首先是英文，然后是什么单位也不知道反正不是厘米，最后测试的话其实也根本看不出来距离，最后今天早上干脆罢工了，就这还要钱？？？

### 1/5 — Crash within 3 seconds

*2017-01-08, version 1.0*

Tried uninstalling and reinstalling on my iPhone 6 several times but the program exits after 3 seconds every time. Would have been interested to "experiment".

### 1/5 — Won't Open on iPhone 6

*2016-10-30, version 1.0*

Bought in October 2016. Will not open on iPhone 6 running 10.0.2. Contacted developer but no response!  Want my money back.

### 1/5 — iPhone6で起動しません

*2016-07-27*

iPhone6で起動しません

### 1/5 — 起動しない

*2016-07-14*

iPhoneSEにて起動しません

金返せ

### 1/5 — Junk

*2016-04-14*

How do I get my money back on this piece of junk?

### 1/5 — Doesn’t work on iPhone 5 with latest system

*2016-04-03, version 1.0*

after updating the system it does not work at all, it never worked well, but now it doesn’t work at all

### 1/5 — Zero stars

*2016-01-28, version 1.0*

Wish I could give it zero stars. Crashes immediately after opening. Useless.

### 1/5 — Defunct

*2016-01-17, version 1.0*

Checked in on this once-cool app. Crashed the whole phone, forcing a hard restart.

### 1/5 — Not work

*2016-01-06*

Whare is my many? this app not work!!!!!

## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated)

### 5/5 — Very accurate

*2017-08-09*

Down to the decimal accuracy. Just point it at a wall and get the distance. Once it is calibrated right it is very accurate!

### 5/5 — Great toy if instructions are read

*2012-01-02, version 1.0*

Lots of fun to mess around with.

### 5/5 — Great app.

*2011-02-11, version 1.0*

Like it.

### 5/5 — Nicht so schlecht wie viele denken.

*2010-10-10*

Die App ist genial! Der Ton lässt sich anpassen ebenso wie die Raumtemperatur. Wichtig ist den richtigen Ton zu finden (Resonanz). Schall ist machtvoll und kann sehr präzise Ergebnisse liefern! Bsp. Fledermäuse oder moderne U-Boote. 

Die App hält was sie verspricht und ist ihr Geld wert. 

Die gelieferten Ergebnisse weichen meist nichtmal nen cm ab.

### 5/5 — Äußerst Präzise

*2010-09-25*

Die App funktioniert unter guten Bedingungen fast so gut wie ein Laser-Entfernungsmesser. Ich arbeite in der Immo-Branche und um mal schnell die Raumgröße zu bestimmen ist es ein Super-Tool. Die schlechten Rezensionen kann ich nicht nachvollziehen. Man muss sich natürlich vorher ein wenig damit auseinander setzen. Aber der gemeine Apple User ist dafür nicht prädestiniert. Muss halt alles Idiotensicher sein. :)

### 5/5 — Very good

*2010-08-09*

Very accurate if you know how to work it

### 5/5 — Funzt

*2010-05-28*

Hab mir das Video angesehen, die App. eingestellt und auf den cm genau gemessen. Wenn's nicht klappt macht man iwas falsch oder misst gegen eine ungenau messbare Oberfläche!

 Die Außenwand meines Hauses zb ist aus Reibeputz und somit ziemlich uneben. Deswegen klappt es nicht ganz so gut wie zb bei den glatten Innenwänden. 

Man muss auch auf die richtige Handhaltung achten. Und die Temperatur richtig einstellen!

### 5/5 — its great

*2010-04-10, version 0*

Its awesome app. lil had to calibrate but works great

### 5/5 — works as advertised

*2010-01-17*

This app works as advertised.  It has surprising accuracy at around +/- .5" or better.  There are a lot of options, but it is surprisingly easy to use.  Very little adjustment is needed for most measuring.  The interface is good, but some components (sliders) could stand to be larger for easier manipulation.  To get good measurements, all you have to do is place the orange dot at the peak of the wave, and locate the blue dots around the larger portions of the wave.  Some adjustments are needed to measure thing that are very close (under 1 foot).  The most difficult part is analyzing the results and throwing away the measurements that aren't correct.  The correct one tends to stay steady, while the phantom results come and go.  Overall, the app is quite an amazing utilization of the iphone hardware.

### 5/5 — Ingenious

*2009-10-11*

Good fun really clever use of the iPhone. Is there a real app opportunity here for blind people?

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-28.*