# Birefringence vs METechs SWCtrl

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Birefringence at 89% against METechs SWCtrl's 0%. Birefringence also leads on rating (4.8 vs 3.3) and update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 7 months). METechs SWCtrl's advantage is price (Free vs $2.99) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 12.0). On ratings volume, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

METechs SWCtrl 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 3.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 9 and 4 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 89% of Birefringence's written reviews are positive against 0% of METechs SWCtrl's.

Birefringence ships an update every 6 weeks, METechs SWCtrl every 7 months. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Birefringence | METechs SWCtrl |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $2.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.8 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/birefringence/id1354688131/reviews)** | [3.3 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/metechs-swctrl/id1459062245/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **9** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | **88.9% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 weeks** | Every 7 months |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free** |
| Size | 14 MB | 112 MB |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 | **8.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Andrew Barlow](https://appshunter.io/developer/1229786938) | [METECHS GLOBAL INC.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1131129156) |

## 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


### METechs SWCtrl

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/metechs-swctrl/id1459062245)

Control motorized curtains, lights, and other automation devices remotely or with voice commands. Schedule actions for energy efficiency and convenience, and monitor device activity.

**Highlights:** Direct smartphone control, no hub needed, Voice control with Alexa and Google Assistant, Local and remote control, Timing and scheduling functions, Inter-device logic control, Operation logs, Wi-Fi hotspot sharing

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Birefringence free?

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

### Is METechs SWCtrl free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Birefringence or METechs SWCtrl?

Birefringence is rated higher. Birefringence averages 4.8 out of 5 from 9 ratings, while METechs SWCtrl averages 3.3 from 4 ratings.

### Do Birefringence or METechs SWCtrl have ads?

Neither Birefringence nor METechs SWCtrl shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Birefringence or METechs SWCtrl?

Birefringence ships an update every 6 weeks, and METechs SWCtrl every 7 months. Most recently, Birefringence was updated on October 29, 2026 and METechs SWCtrl on October 24, 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.*