Comparison

The Stranger vs PITATA

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

The Stranger

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
Read full description

“There are very few effects that transcend ‘magic trick’. ’The Stranger' is one of those effects." -David Regal, "Genii Magazine" “The Stranger” offers unlimited scenarios: A playing card is chosen, a word is thought of from a Book Test, the numbers from someone’s address are named, an envelope is freely selected, or the name of someone’s loved one is offered…and then, a random stranger is called. The audience has a conversation with the stranger and the stranger reveals the information. This is an impossible moment. It leaves the audience with a feeling they cannot explain and they erupt in applause! Not out of a desire to be kind, rather as an uncontrollable, visceral reaction. And it happens every time. With this purchase, you can have a playing card—any card, using no force of any kind—revealed by a stranger. Other effects can be unlocked to allow a number or a word revealed, read an NFC tag, or to simply allow the audience member to speak and have key details revealed by the stranger on the other end of the call without the performer saying a word. “It crushed! One guy jumped out of his seat and ran out of the theater!” —Larry Wilmore “So clever... the method alone opens up SO many possibilities” —Danny Garcia "It may just be the most fantastic five minutes of entertainment possible with a cell phone!” —Jim Steinmeyer “This is one of the strongest and most well put together phone app effects I've ever seen!” —Tony Clark “This brilliantly thought-out routine defies explanation.” —Mike Caveney “Jonathan has put a lot of work into this versatile app to make it an incredibly useful approach to the modern day Mr. Wizard effect… and much more!” — Marc Kerstein "I am having a blast with ‘The Stranger.’ A perfect, offbeat trick that I pull out when I want to send them over the edge.” —Paul Gertner “You did it! This is definitely the best 'Call a Stranger' idea ever! For the working pro to the beginner. This is a real winner!” —Dan Harlan “When I watched Jonathan Levit perform ’The Stranger,' he received the largest explosive reaction I've ever heard inside the Chicago Magic Lounge.” —Danny Orleans “Jonathan has thought of everything. Do yourself a huge favor, download 'The Stranger' today!” —Carl Andrews, "Vanish Magazine" INTERNATIONAL GLOBALIZATION: Support for International regions and languages include the following: Phone Number Display: When dialing a phone number within or to a country, the proper phone number format will display on screen. Ringer Tones: The tones you hear while waiting for the call to pick-up are correct for the region. Disconnected Number Recording Convincer: This convincer prior to calling a recording or a live Stranger, will be in the language of the region set by the user. Phone Screen Language Translation: The phone dial screen and active call screen display the correct language for the screens. Conversation Recordings: Phone conversations are in the language of the region chosen by the user. ___________________________ REGIONS AND INTERNATIONAL FEATURES SUPPORTED: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, China (Cantonese), El Salvador, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, UK, USA: Phone number, Ringer tones, Disconnected number recording, Phone screen translation, Recordings China (Mandarin), Denmark (Danish), Netherlands (Dutch), Russia, Switzerland, Belgium, Kuwait, Philippines, Croatia, Vietnam, Romania: Phone number, Ringer tones, Disconnected number recording, Phone screen translation India, Japan: Phone number, Ringer tones, Disconnected number recording, Recordings NOTE: If you do not see your region listed above, please feel free to contact me directly at thestranger@jonathanlevit.com to request for your region to be included in a future update. This app is for entertainment purposes only. Click here (http://thestrangerapp.com/terms/) to see Terms of use for more information.

About

PITATA

This app connects to smart drawing boards and clocks via Bluetooth. Users can send drawings and text to the board for real-time display and recognition. It can also set clock times and interact with other smart devices like scales and printers.

Highlights
  • Bluetooth connectivity to drawing boards and clocks
  • Real-time drawing display and recognition
  • Set clock time remotely
  • Recognizes English, Chinese words, and numbers
  • Integrates with Pitata Scale and Printer devices
  • Time setting based on four-digit number drawings
Features
Read full description

Welcome to PITATA PITATA combine bluetooth with our PITATA products. 1. It can connect clock and drawing board using bluetooth at the same time or separately. 2. Set current clock time, and set target time. Just tap send. The clock will go to the target time with few seconds. 3. For drawing board, app can receive drawing info in real time and showing on the screen. 4. Drawing can be recognized after 1 second after finishing drawing. It can recognize English word, Chinese word, Numbers. 5. After drawing finished, if it is a time with four digital number, the clock will change to that time. 6. With Pitata Scale Device, you can easily know which object your friends take or put on the desk. 7. With Pitata Printer Device, you can easily combine with other devices to perform real life drawing/hand writing/stroke prediction.

Screenshots

The Stranger4 screens
PITATA4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: The Stranger at 96% against PITATA's 50%. The Stranger also leads on rating (4.9 vs 3.6) and ratings volume (86 vs 5). PITATA's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 15). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. The Stranger sells 15 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. PITATA asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

The Stranger holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 3.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: The Stranger has 86 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 96% of The Stranger's written reviews are positive against 50% of PITATA's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

The Stranger ships an update fortnightly, PITATA every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and August 27, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
The Stranger versus PITATA: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterThe StrangerPITATA
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (86 ratings) — better3.6 (5 ratings)
Positive reviews95.6% of reviews — better50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings86 — better5
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPod, Apple WatchiPhone, iPod, Apple Watch
Requires iOS15.014.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size246 MB99 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJonathan Levit Consulting冕 吴

Customer experience

The Stranger

All ratings86 ratings
Positive96.5%
Neutral1.2%
Negative2.3%
Written reviews68 reviews
Positive95.6%
Neutral1.5%
Negative2.9%

PITATA

All ratings5 ratings
Positive60.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative40.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

In-app purchases

15 purchases

The Stranger

Subscriptions4
  • Activate Friend Auto Texting$3.991 Month
  • Live to Pro (1 month)$18.991 Month
  • Monthly Access Autocrib AI1 Month trial$29.001 Month
Show 1 more
  • Live to Pro (1 year)$199.991 Year
One-time11
  • Recording: Poor Cell Reception$14.99
  • Recording: Memdeck$14.99
  • Nail Writer Revelation$49.99
Show 8 more
  • Upgrade To Lite$49.99
  • Book Test Revelation$99.99
  • Activate Friend Auto Texting$99.99
  • Upgrade To Live From Lite$149.00
  • Playing Card revelation$149.99
  • Listen Revelation$199.99
  • Upgrade To Live From Trial$299.00
  • Stranger system$999.99
None

PITATA

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is The Stranger free?
The Stranger is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is PITATA free?
PITATA is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, The Stranger or PITATA?
The Stranger is rated higher. The Stranger averages 4.9 out of 5 from 86 ratings, while PITATA averages 3.6 from 5 ratings.
Do The Stranger or PITATA have ads?
Neither The Stranger nor PITATA shows ads.
Which is updated more often, The Stranger or PITATA?
The Stranger ships an update fortnightly, and PITATA every 2 weeks. Most recently, The Stranger was updated on September 26, 2026 and PITATA on August 27, 2026.

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