Comparison

SmarTech vs Spotxel® Reader

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

SmarTech

This app connects to a digital manifold to display accurate pressure and temperature readings. It offers real-time Superheat and Subcooling calculations, supports over 109 refrigerants, and features a "Smart Charge Zone" for optimal system charging. Users can also generate and export system performance reports.

Highlights
  • Real-time pressure and temperature readings
  • Superheat and Subcooling calculations
  • 109+ refrigerant types supported
  • Smart Charge Zone indicator
  • System performance reporting
  • PDF/CSV report export
Features
Read full description

The Uniweld SmarTech™ Digital Manifold App communicates with your SmarTech™ Digital Manifold to clearly display professionally accurate pressure and temperature readings in the palm of your hand. Monitor target and actual Superheat and Subcooling calculations in real-time, as pressure and temperature readings fluctuate. Choose from over 109 different refrigerant types and create a custom list of your most commonly used refrigerants. SMART CHARGE ZONE: All the guess work is taken out of properly charging the system with the color coded Smart Charge Zone feature. The difference between the target and actual Superheat or Subcooling is shown with color indicators that signal whether the system is overcharged (RED), undercharged (BLUE), or has an accurate "In The Zone" system charge (GREEN). REPORTING: Take your business to the next level with system performance reporting. Enter company details along with customer and equipment information and with one touch, produce a SmarTech™ Verified System Performance Report that is ready for export as a PDF or CSV file. Reports can easily be emailed for saving, tracking, or printing. Uniweld Products, Inc... "Quality Tools That Go To Work With You®". This app also works as a free, stand-alone P/T Calculator!

About

Spotxel® Reader

This app allows you to capture images of microplates, detect and measure color signals, and analyze sample concentrations. It supports various assay formats and can save, load, and export data.

Highlights
  • Capture microplate images
  • Detect and measure color signals
  • Analyze sample concentrations
  • Save and load assay setups
  • Export assay data to PDF
  • Supports row, column, and microarray formats
Features
Read full description

Spotxel® Reader is a free, feature-complete app for image-based microplate-reader workflows and colorimetric assay analysis. Use Spotxel® Reader to capture or load a microplate image, align the well grid, select the measured color channel, quantify well signals, define standards and unknowns, calculate a standard curve, derive unknown concentrations, review well data, and export assay results. The guided, page-based workflow includes Camera, Image Analysis, Assay Setup, Standard Curve, Well Data, Assay Report, Purchases, and Settings. Key features: - Capture or load microplate images for analysis - Quantify colorimetric well signals from plate images - Select the measured color channel - Align the well grid manually or with the Align Grid beta feature - Save and load reusable grid profiles - Define standards, unknowns, well names, and notes - Import and export assay setup CSV files - Calculate standard curves and unknown concentrations - Review sortable per-well signal and concentration data - Export well data as CSV - Create PDF assay reports - Organize generated files in the Spotxel Reader workspace under On My iPhone or On My iPad - Select camera and default microplate grid settings - Rotate and flip images and grids - Customize the interface with color profiles and light or dark appearance modes - Access expanded in-app help and documentation All analysis features are available in the free version, which includes a small advertising placement. The optional Perpetual License and auto-renewable 3-Month Subscription remove advertising. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

SmarTech3 screens
Spotxel® Reader4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Spotxel® Reader at 100% against SmarTech's 25%. Spotxel® Reader also leads on update cadence (every 2 months vs every 12 months). SmarTech's advantage is rating (3.6 vs 2.4) and in-app purchases (none vs 1). On price, ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Spotxel® Reader sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. SmarTech asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

SmarTech holds the better App Store score, 3.6 against 2.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 9 and 7 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 25% of SmarTech's written reviews are positive against 100% of Spotxel® Reader's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SmarTech ships an update every 12 months, Spotxel® Reader every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on June 1, 2026 and August 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
SmarTech versus Spotxel® Reader: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSmarTechSpotxel® Reader
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.6 (9 ratings) — better2.4 (7 ratings)
Positive reviews25.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings9 — better7
Update frequencyEvery 12 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Mac
Requires iOS15.6 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size21 MB43 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperUniweld Products, Inc.Sicasys Software GmbH

Customer experience

SmarTech

All ratings9 ratings
Positive55.6%
Neutral11.1%
Negative33.3%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive25.0%
Neutral25.0%
Negative50.0%

Spotxel® Reader

All ratings7 ratings
Positive42.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative57.1%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

SmarTech

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Spotxel® Reader

One-time1
  • Time-Unlimited License$8.99

Questions

Is SmarTech free?
SmarTech is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Spotxel® Reader free?
Spotxel® Reader is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, SmarTech or Spotxel® Reader?
SmarTech is rated higher. SmarTech averages 3.6 out of 5 from 9 ratings, while Spotxel® Reader averages 2.4 from 7 ratings.
Do SmarTech or Spotxel® Reader have ads?
Neither SmarTech nor Spotxel® Reader shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SmarTech or Spotxel® Reader?
SmarTech ships an update every 12 months, and Spotxel® Reader every 2 months. Most recently, SmarTech was updated on June 1, 2026 and Spotxel® Reader on August 12, 2026.

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