# i Metal Detector vs VM Authenticator

The clearest difference is ads: VM Authenticator at none against i Metal Detector's shown. i Metal Detector's advantage is update cadence (every 2 months vs every 7 months). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

i Metal Detector ships an update every 2 months, VM Authenticator every 7 months. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | i Metal Detector | VM Authenticator |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.2 (25 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/i-metal-detector/id1032659582/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **25** | — |
| Positive reviews | 29.6% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 7 months |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | — |
| Size | 6 MB | 19 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [EONSOFT](https://appshunter.io/developer/899851112) | [Brain Behind Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/435920821) |

## What reviewers say

### i Metal Detector

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/i-metal-detector/id1032659582)

This utility app transforms your iPhone into a metal detector using its magnetic field sensor. It detects nearby metal objects by measuring variations in the magnetic field. Be cautious not to hold your device too close to strong magnets to prevent potential damage.

**Highlights:** Uses iPhone's magnetic field sensor, Detects nearby metal objects, Measures magnetic field variations, Simple and intuitive interface

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### VM Authenticator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vm-authenticator/id1477612220)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is i Metal Detector free?

i Metal Detector is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is VM Authenticator free?

VM Authenticator is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do i Metal Detector or VM Authenticator have ads?

i Metal Detector shows ads; VM Authenticator does not.

### Which is updated more often, i Metal Detector or VM Authenticator?

i Metal Detector ships an update every 2 months, and VM Authenticator every 7 months. Most recently, i Metal Detector was updated on October 15, 2026 and VM Authenticator on October 13, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*