# HID Reader Manager vs Paxton Installer

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Paxton Installer at 100% against HID Reader Manager's 13%. Paxton Installer also leads on rating (4.8 vs 2.6). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

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

Paxton Installer holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 2.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 26 and 54 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 13% of HID Reader Manager's written reviews are positive against 100% of Paxton Installer's.

HID Reader Manager ships an update every 2 months, Paxton Installer every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | HID Reader Manager | Paxton Installer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.6 (26 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hid-reader-manager/id1328840981/reviews) | **[4.8 (54 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/paxton-installer/id1509442786/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 26 | **54** |
| Positive reviews | 12.5% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 6 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 174 MB | 357 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [HID Global](https://appshunter.io/developer/657306800) | [Paxton Access Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/363711041) |

## What reviewers say

### HID Reader Manager

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hid-reader-manager/id1328840981)

This app simplifies the management of compatible HID readers. It allows administrators to configure settings, update firmware, and export reader status. Users can also upgrade readers to support Bluetooth and OSDP.

**Highlights:** Configure reader settings, Upgrade reader firmware, Inspect and export reader status, Enable Bluetooth support, Enable OSDP support

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Paxton Installer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/paxton-installer/id1509442786)

This app provides professional installers with quick access to product information, news, and troubleshooting tools for security solutions. It also features a rewards program for scanning installed products to earn points and increase partner status.

**Highlights:** Paxton Rewards Program, Product information lookup, Latest news updates, Troubleshooting knowledge base, Distributor locator, Contact support information

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is HID Reader Manager free?

HID Reader Manager is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Paxton Installer free?

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

### Which has better reviews, HID Reader Manager or Paxton Installer?

Paxton Installer is rated higher. HID Reader Manager averages 2.6 out of 5 from 26 ratings, while Paxton Installer averages 4.8 from 54 ratings.

### Do HID Reader Manager or Paxton Installer have ads?

Neither HID Reader Manager nor Paxton Installer shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, HID Reader Manager or Paxton Installer?

HID Reader Manager ships an update every 2 months, and Paxton Installer every 6 weeks. Most recently, HID Reader Manager was updated on September 22, 2026 and Paxton Installer on September 14, 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.*