# phyphox vs Detector.

The clearest difference is review sentiment: phyphox at 79% against Detector.'s 0%. phyphox also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2) and ads (none vs shown). Detector.'s advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 3 months). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Detector. sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. phyphox asks for nothing beyond the download.

phyphox ships an update every 3 months, Detector. weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and October 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | phyphox | Detector. |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (276 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phyphox/id1127319693/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **276** | — |
| Positive reviews | **78.7% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#205** | — |
| Size | 19 MB | 176 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [RWTH Aachen University](https://appshunter.io/developer/371466796) | [Olga Ivanova](https://appshunter.io/developer/1733570435) |

## What reviewers say

### phyphox

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phyphox/id1127319693)

**Currently charting:** #205 Top Free · Education (US App Store)

Unlock your phone's sensors for scientific exploration. Conduct pre-built experiments or create your own using accelerometers, magnetometers, and more. Analyze and export data in various formats for further study.

**Highlights:** Pre-defined experiments, Data export (CSV, TSV, Excel), Web-based remote control, Custom experiment editor, Access to phone sensors, Advanced analysis functions

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 💡 Access to phone sensors
- 🔬 Useful for physics experiments
- 📊 Data logging and export
- 🆓 Free and no ads
- 🤔 Sparks curiosity

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs and crashes
- 📉 Inconsistent performance
- 🔒 App locks/minimizes recording
- ❓ Units not always clear
- ⚠️ Potential for device damage

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on older devices
- Barometer not working on iOS 17.4
- Network error: Generic error
- Sound measurement curve disappears
- App crashes frequently

**Requested features**

- Add infrasound detector
- More units of measurement (G-force, PSI, feet)
- NFC/RFID support
- In-app bug report feature
- Allow other sensors via USB-C


### Detector.

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/detector/id6758643348)

This app uses your phone's sensors to scan for hidden signals, wireless activity, and environmental anomalies. It helps inspect spaces for suspicious devices and provides detailed reports for privacy and security analysis. Features include room mapping, risk assessment, and device diagnostics.

**Highlights:** Hidden signal scanning, Device analysis, Room mapping, Risk assessment, Detailed reporting, Environmental anomaly detection, Offline mode

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| detector_by_oliva_subscription | $1.99 | per month |
| detector_by_oliva_donation | $1.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is phyphox free?

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

### Is Detector. free?

Detector. is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do phyphox or Detector. have ads?

Detector. shows ads; phyphox does not.

### Which is updated more often, phyphox or Detector.?

phyphox ships an update every 3 months, and Detector. weekly. Most recently, phyphox was updated on October 9, 2026 and Detector. on October 3, 2026.

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