# Birefringence vs IndepNow

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Birefringence at 89% against IndepNow's 25%. Birefringence also leads on rating (4.8 vs 3.2) and update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 11 months). IndepNow's advantage is price (Free vs $2.99). On ratings volume, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

IndepNow is free to download; Birefringence costs $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Birefringence holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 9 and 6 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 89% of Birefringence's written reviews are positive against 25% of IndepNow's.

Birefringence ships an update every 6 weeks, IndepNow every 11 months. Both last shipped on November 2, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Birefringence | IndepNow |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $2.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.8 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/birefringence/id1354688131/reviews)** | [3.2 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/indepnow/id1456337637/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **9** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | **88.9% of reviews** | 25.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 weeks** | Every 11 months |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free** |
| Size | 14 MB | 28 MB |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 | 12.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Andrew Barlow](https://appshunter.io/developer/1229786938) | [City of Independence](https://appshunter.io/developer/587054010) |

## What reviewers say

### Birefringence

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/birefringence/id1354688131)

This interactive tool helps identify minerals by calculating birefringence based on observed color and section thickness. It features a comprehensive database and offers two display modes for clarity.

**Highlights:** Interactive Michel-Lévy color chart, Database of 562 minerals, Automatic birefringence calculation, Adjustable chart range (200-2500 nm), Simple display mode, Includes optical and physical mineral characteristics

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### IndepNow

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/indepnow/id1456337637)

Report city maintenance issues like potholes or broken streetlights directly to the City of Independence, Missouri. Submit photos and track the progress of reported problems. Discover upcoming city events and find answers to frequently asked questions.

**Highlights:** Report city maintenance issues, Submit photos of problems, Track issue progress, Find upcoming city events, Access FAQs

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Birefringence free?

Birefringence costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is IndepNow free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Birefringence or IndepNow?

Birefringence is rated higher. Birefringence averages 4.8 out of 5 from 9 ratings, while IndepNow averages 3.2 from 6 ratings.

### Do Birefringence or IndepNow have ads?

Neither Birefringence nor IndepNow shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Birefringence or IndepNow?

Birefringence ships an update every 6 weeks, and IndepNow every 11 months. Most recently, Birefringence was updated on November 2, 2026 and IndepNow on November 2, 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.*