# The Stranger vs Amalgam by Marc Kerstein

The clearest difference is monetization model: Amalgam by Marc Kerstein at free against The Stranger's free with in-app purchases. Amalgam by Marc Kerstein also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs fortnightly). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. The Stranger sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and Amalgam by Marc Kerstein sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for The Stranger against 4.7 for Amalgam by Marc Kerstein. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 84 and 48 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 96% of The Stranger's written reviews are positive against 93% of Amalgam by Marc Kerstein's.

The Stranger ships an update fortnightly, Amalgam by Marc Kerstein every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | The Stranger | Amalgam by Marc Kerstein |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (84 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-stranger/id1397183489/reviews)** | [4.7 (48 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/amalgam-by-marc-kerstein/id1497474271/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **84** | 48 |
| Positive reviews | **95.6% of reviews** | 93.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 246 MB | 38 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **14.1** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Jonathan Levit Consulting](https://appshunter.io/developer/1397183488) | [Marc Kerstein](https://appshunter.io/developer/821255617) |

## What reviewers say

### The Stranger

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-stranger/id1397183489)

This app enables performers to create impossible moments where a random stranger reveals information chosen by the audience. It supports various revelations, including playing cards, words, numbers, and names, with international language support for a global audience.

**Highlights:** Reveal chosen playing cards, Reveal thought-of words, Reveal numbers from addresses, Reveal names of loved ones, International language support, Customizable phone screen language

**Features:** Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Activate Friend Auto Texting | $3.99 | per month |
| Monthly Access Autocrib AI | $29.00 | per month |
| Recording: Poor Cell Reception | $14.99 | one-time |
| Recording: Memdeck | $14.99 | one-time |
| Nail Writer Revelation | $49.99 | one-time |
| Book Test Revelation | $99.99 | one-time |
| Activate Friend Auto Texting | $99.99 | one-time |
| Upgrade To Live From Lite | $149.00 | one-time |
| Playing Card revelation | $149.99 | one-time |
| Upgrade To Live From Trial | $299.00 | one-time |


### Amalgam by Marc Kerstein

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/amalgam-by-marc-kerstein/id1497474271)

This app offers a collection of powerful yet easy-to-use magic effects that can be performed using just your phone. It includes detailed instructions, customization options, and a community section for sharing tips.

**Highlights:** Multiple magic effects in one app, Powerful yet easy to perform effects, Requires only your phone, Includes instructions and customization, Community section for tips and routines, Offline functionality for most effects

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| TimedOut | Free | one-time |
| Amped | $14.99 | one-time |
| Watch | $24.99 | one-time |
| Word Search | $24.99 | one-time |
| OneStopShop | $29.99 | one-time |
| ChoiceMail | $29.99 | one-time |
| Streets | $33.99 | one-time |
| Inertia | $37.99 | one-time |
| Season One | $69.99 | one-time |
| Season Two | $84.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The Stranger free?

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

### Is Amalgam by Marc Kerstein free?

Amalgam by Marc Kerstein is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, The Stranger or Amalgam by Marc Kerstein?

The Stranger is rated higher. The Stranger averages 4.9 out of 5 from 84 ratings, while Amalgam by Marc Kerstein averages 4.7 from 48 ratings.

### Do The Stranger or Amalgam by Marc Kerstein have ads?

Neither The Stranger nor Amalgam by Marc Kerstein shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, The Stranger or Amalgam by Marc Kerstein?

The Stranger ships an update fortnightly, and Amalgam by Marc Kerstein every 4 days. Most recently, The Stranger was updated on November 2, 2026 and Amalgam by Marc Kerstein on November 7, 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.*