# CountThings from Photos vs BenchBuddy

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: BenchBuddy at none against CountThings from Photos's 5. BenchBuddy also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs every 3 weeks) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.0). CountThings from Photos's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. CountThings from Photos sells 5 one-off in-app purchases. BenchBuddy asks for nothing beyond the download.

CountThings from Photos ships an update every 3 weeks, BenchBuddy every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | CountThings from Photos | BenchBuddy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.8 (152 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/countthings-from-photos/id1196810823/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **152** | — |
| Positive reviews | 42.9% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 175 MB | 32 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Dynamic Ventures, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/921987312) | [HKraft Labs](https://appshunter.io/developer/6780690745) |

## What reviewers say

### CountThings from Photos

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/countthings-from-photos/id1196810823)

This app automatically counts objects in photos using advanced recognition technology. Customize counting templates and the user interface to fit specific workflows and needs. It offers privacy with offline operation and various licensing options for different users.

**Highlights:** Automatic object detection and counting, Customizable counting templates, User interface customization, OEM customization for businesses, Offline operation for privacy, Multiple licensing options

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

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 24h License | $23.99 | one-time |
| 24h Licenses - Pack of 4 | $79.99 | one-time |
| Pay-Per-Count | $79.99 | one-time |
| CountThings License (1 month) | $119.99 | one-time |
| 24h Licenses - Pack of 10 | $149.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎯 Highly accurate counting for most items
- 🚀 Fast and efficient counting process
- 📋 Extensive pre-built templates for various items
- 🏷️ Labels each item individually with numbers
- 💾 Saves photos for documentation and reference

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Extremely expensive pricing ($80-$160/month)
- ❌ Frequently inaccurate counting results
- 🔍 Struggles with partially hidden or overlapping items
- 📐 Difficulty with depth perception in stacked items
- 🎭 Fails with similar-shaped objects in same photo

**Reported bugs**

- Counts blank spaces or background areas incorrectly
- Significant undercounting of small items (pills, nematodes)
- Overcounting identical items dramatically (365 instead of 105)
- Fails to count items consistently across photo rotations
- Manual counter only counts 1 item regardless of input

**Requested features**

- Lower monthly subscription pricing ($20-30/month range)
- One-time lifetime purchase option
- Tiered pricing for occasional users
- Educational discount or free trial for students
- Postage stamp counting template


### BenchBuddy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/benchbuddy-lab-toolkit/id6780690743)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is CountThings from Photos free?

CountThings from Photos is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is BenchBuddy free?

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

### Do CountThings from Photos or BenchBuddy have ads?

BenchBuddy shows ads; CountThings from Photos does not.

### Which is updated more often, CountThings from Photos or BenchBuddy?

CountThings from Photos ships an update every 3 weeks, and BenchBuddy every 3 days. Most recently, CountThings from Photos was updated on October 26, 2026 and BenchBuddy on October 25, 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.*