Comparison

Magnetic Detector vs Compass plus+

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

Head to head
About

Magnetic Detector

Detect hidden metal objects like studs and fasteners within walls using your device's magnetic sensor. The app measures magnetic field strength, providing visual and auditory feedback as you scan.

Highlights
  • Detects wood studs and metal fasteners
  • Uses device's magnetometer sensor
  • Visual needle and active beep feedback
  • Measures magnetic field in μT
  • Identifies nearby metal objects
Read full description

Use Your Device to Detect Magnetic Fields. With this app you can detect wood studs hidden under walls, drywall, plasterboard, or stucco. Magnetic Detector uses your device's compass (magnetometer) sensor to precisely detect metal studs, nails, screws, and other metal fasteners embedded in all wooden wall studs. This app operates in a similar manner to other hand-held stud detector tools: as you move the device along the wall, the needle will move and a beep can be heard. Magnetic Detector is an application which detects the presence of metal nearby by measuring the magnetic field value. This tool uses the magnetic sensor built-in your mobile device and shows magnetic field level in μT (microtesla). The magnetic field level (EMF) in nature is about 49μT(micro tesla) or 490mG(milli gauss); 1μT = 10mG. If any metal is near, the value of magnetic field will increase. Metal Detector allows to identify any metal object in area, because all metals generate magnetic field which strength can be measured with this tool. Features: - Automatic sensor that measures the magnetic field in uT. - Active detection beep. - You can save the time when the measure is taken. Download now!

About

Compass plus+

This utility app provides accurate directional guidance and location data. It offers a variety of compass styles, displays real-time weather, and includes a map function for navigation and tracking your movements.

Highlights
  • Accurate directional guidance
  • Real-time GPS positioning
  • Display of latitude, longitude, altitude, and air pressure
  • Integrated map function
  • Action track recording and sharing
  • Real-time weather conditions
  • Multiple compass styles
Read full description

Track compass is a small memory, save the flow of software, help you identify the direction, easy to use, smooth screen. The use of compass makes you no longer lost, bring you accurate positioning and sense of direction! A variety of exquisite 360° compass rotating compass style! It can display current position, longitude and latitude, altitude, air pressure, magnetic field strength and speed! And also added a new map function, real-time positioning, you can know your current location and road conditions and plan, but also add your action track and share. Function description: 【 Compass 】 1) Display virtual positioning, direction, quickly find southeast, northwest and accurate to four decimal places after the latitude and longitude; 2) Display the current geographical location specific to the building, county and street; 3) Display latitude, longitude, air pressure, altitude, speed; 4) Display the magnetic field intensity at the current position, so that you can know the radiation intensity around; 5) Display real-time weather conditions, temperature, cloudy and sunny days, wind speed level and wind direction; 6) Support magnetic field calibration function; 7) Support screen lock, convenient for you to record data; 8) A variety of exquisite compass style, there is always a suitable for you; 【Operation monitoring】 1) Support to check whether the network connection is enabled; 2) Support to check whether the permission to read location information is enabled; 3) Support to detect whether the phone is integrated with pressure sensor; 4) Support to detect whether the mobile phone is integrated with motion sensor; 5) Support to check whether the permission to use the camera is enabled; Wave your device correctly several times in a figure-eight motion. If you can't solve this problem, rotate your device several times along the 3-axis.

Screenshots

Magnetic Detector3 screens
Compass plus+2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Magnetic Detector at 77% against Compass plus+'s 0%. Magnetic Detector also leads on ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (186 vs 1). Compass plus+'s advantage is price (Free vs $2.99) and rating (5.0 vs 4.4). On 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

Compass plus+ is free to download; Magnetic Detector costs $2.99 up front. Magnetic Detector sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Compass plus+ asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Compass plus+ holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Magnetic Detector has 186 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 77% of Magnetic Detector's written reviews are positive against 0% of Compass plus+'s, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Magnetic Detector ships an update every 60 months, Compass plus+ every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on August 31, 2026 and June 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard9 real differences · 1 level
Magnetic Detector versus Compass plus+: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMagnetic DetectorCompass plus+
Price$2.99Free — better
Rating4.4 (186 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews76.7% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings186 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 60 monthsEvery 5 months — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesAd-supported — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.18.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size90 MB63 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJorge Gregorio Martin BelloShenZhen City XueQin Information Technology Inc.

Customer experience

Magnetic Detector

All ratings186 ratings
Positive86.6%
Neutral5.9%
Negative7.5%
Written reviews90 reviews
Positive76.7%
Neutral8.9%
Negative14.4%

Compass plus+

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

Bugs and requests

Magnetic Detector

Reported bugs

6 issues
  • App crashes before detection can occur
  • Freezes after first use, requires phone reboot
  • Fails to detect studs through drywall
  • Performance issues on iPad
  • Inconsistent detection results on certain devices
Show 1 more
  • Pop-up ads appear at inappropriate times

Requested features

6 requests
  • Longer free trial duration
  • Directional indicator for magnetic sources
  • Clearer sensor location guidance
  • Benchmark or calibration tool for verification
  • Multi-language support for customer service
Show 1 more
  • Reduced or no advertisements in free version

Compass plus+

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Magnetic Detector

One-time1
  • Unlock all Features$2.99
None

Compass plus+

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Magnetic Detector free?
Magnetic Detector costs $2.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Compass plus+ free?
Compass plus+ is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Magnetic Detector or Compass plus+?
Compass plus+ is rated higher. Magnetic Detector averages 4.4 out of 5 from 186 ratings, while Compass plus+ averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Magnetic Detector or Compass plus+ have ads?
Compass plus+ shows ads; Magnetic Detector does not.
Which is updated more often, Magnetic Detector or Compass plus+?
Magnetic Detector ships an update every 60 months, and Compass plus+ every 5 months. Most recently, Magnetic Detector was updated on August 31, 2026 and Compass plus+ on June 1, 2026.

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