The Stranger vs Maxim magic
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- Reveal chosen playing cards
- Reveal thought-of words
- Reveal numbers from addresses
- Reveal names of loved ones
- International language support
- Customizable phone screen language
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“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.
Maxim magic
Instantly calculate and discreetly reveal any freely named card from a spectator-shuffled deck. Offers multiple reveal methods, including counting to specific dates or spelling card names, with zero memory work or math required. Perfect for magicians of all skill levels.
- Instant card reveal calculation
- Spectator-shuffled deck support
- Multiple customizable reveal methods
- Zero memory work or math
- Works with any card stack
- Covert phone usage
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"A lot of apps come and go with trends. Maxim lives on my homescreen. It's genius." - Christian Grace MAXIM is a covert app that instantly calculates and discreetly delivers to you the perfect hands-off reveal for any freely named card in a deck that's been mixed by the spectators. Effect: You hand the spectator a deck. (in any stack of your choice). They "shuffle" the deck under the table or behind their back whilst freely naming any card. Let's say the name the "King of Diamonds". They bring the deck out and immediately you know up to three different ways that they can reveal their own card. For example; They deal down to the exact date of the month and their card is exactly there! All without any brain work, math, no nothing. Allowing you to be fully engaged in your performance. Any random card at any arbitrary number is more impressive to magicians than laymen. But when the number has meaning, whether it's counting to their birthday, spelling the card's name or even counting to the exact date of the year, the boring old ACAAN takes on new life, feels more personal and more importantly more magical. The beauty of maxim, unlike most other apps, is that your phone is used in a covert way, and to the spectator has nothing to do with the trick. Easy to do. Perfect for beginners. You do not need to know any stack. There is zero memory work. No mental math at all. Works in any language and can be fully customized. Works with any stack in the world. Including a visual stack editor. Every reveal can be fully customized. Multiple input options. Multiple peek options including notifications. Customizable spectator profiles to take MAXIM to miracle status. MAXIM is an app that lives on your phone. With you everywhere you go. Ready to perform at a moment's notice anywhere, anytime. Never before has it been so easy, to perform such unexplainable miracles. With MAXIM, now you can.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: The Stranger at 96% against Maxim magic's 33%. The Stranger also leads on rating (4.9 vs 3.7) and ratings volume (86 vs 15). Maxim magic's advantage is update cadence (every 6 days vs fortnightly) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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
Both are free to download. The Stranger sells 15 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and Maxim magic sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
The Stranger holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: The Stranger has 86 ratings behind it against 15, 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 33% of Maxim magic's.
The Stranger ships an update fortnightly, Maxim magic every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on September 1, 2026 and June 4, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | The Stranger | Maxim magic |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.9 (86 ratings) — better | 3.7 (15 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 95.6% of reviews — better | 33.3% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 86 — better | 15 |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | Every 6 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod, Apple Watch — better | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 12.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 246 MB | 21 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Jonathan Levit Consulting | Murphy's Magic |
Customer experience
The Stranger
Maxim magic
In-app purchases
The Stranger
- Activate Friend Auto Texting$3.991 Month
- Live to Pro (1 month)$18.991 Month
- Monthly Access Autocrib AI1 Month trial$29.001 Month
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- Live to Pro (1 year)$199.991 Year
- Recording: Poor Cell Reception$14.99
- Recording: Memdeck$14.99
- Nail Writer Revelation$49.99
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- 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
Maxim magic
- Maxim App$24.99
Questions
Is The Stranger free?
Is Maxim magic free?
Which has better reviews, The Stranger or Maxim magic?
Do The Stranger or Maxim magic have ads?
Which is updated more often, The Stranger or Maxim magic?
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