Comparison

Thermal Viewer vs IR explorer

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

Head to head
About

Thermal Viewer

This application allows users to control and capture images and videos from a thermal camera. It offers adjustments for zoom, color palettes, brightness, contrast, and image enhancement. Users can also manage camera settings like sleep timers and indicator lights.

Highlights
  • Adjustable zoom, pseudocolor, brightness, contrast
  • Image enhancement
  • Photo and video capture
  • View captured images and videos
  • Adjust auto-sleep and auto-shutdown timers
  • Control indicator lights and laser cursor
Read full description

1.可调节热像仪实时画面的放大/缩小、伪彩、图像亮度、图像对比度、画面增强等功能调整; 2.对热像仪拍摄画面进行拍照、录像,并可查看拍摄图片和视频; 3.对热像仪的自动休眠时间和自动关机时间调整; 4.对工作指示灯、充电指示灯、激光/照明灯开关控制; 5.对热像仪激光光标位置进行调整; 6.可分享信息至其它平台。

About

IR explorer

This app transforms your smartphone into an infrared camera, allowing you to see objects emitting heat in dark environments. It offers clear imaging, various filter effects, and real-time temperature detection for outdoor enthusiasts and professionals.

Highlights
  • Infrared camera functionality
  • Clear night vision imaging
  • Temperature detection
  • Multiple filter effects
  • Hot spot tracking
  • Laser pointing function
Features
Read full description

Why choose us? The infrared camera mainly realizes day and night conversion through infrared filters. We use advanced technology and materials to make excellent optical components. The algorithm of infiraySearch APP can clearly see objects with radiating infrared rays in a dark environment, and the picture quality is clear and sharp. , which can meet the needs of most outdoor enthusiasts. At the same time, we provide a variety of filter effects, the color effect of the picture is more abundant. Not only that, but also through the temperature detection function of the infiraySearch APP, the temperature changes of the surrounding environment can be captured in real time, which makes the Sky Eye T2-Search more playable. What are our advantages?  1. Plug and play, easy to use Tianyan T2-Search can be connected to a smartphone, weighs less than 20 grams, and is easy to carry and use.  2. Ultra-low power consumption Ultra-low power consumption, no battery design, long-term standby when used with smart phones. 3. High pixel, high frame rate, clear and smooth imaging Ultra-long detection range: using high-definition lens, human body can be recognized even at a distance of 150 meters; the frame rate is up to 25Hz, the image quality is smooth and will not freeze; multiple filters are provided Effect, red hair mode for quick target identification.  4. Professional patented algorithm Professional night vision image algorithm: high light heat source, easy to identify the target; hot spot tracking: using mesh, so that the target has nowhere to hide.  5. Laser Grip Smartphone with T2-Search and ergonomically designed grip with laser pointing function can quickly and accurately determine the target position.

Screenshots

Thermal Viewer4 screens
IR explorer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Thermal Viewer at 4.3 against IR explorer's 3.1. Thermal Viewer also leads on iOS requirement (9.0 vs 13.0). IR explorer's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 6 weeks) and ratings volume (38 vs 3). 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Thermal Viewer holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: IR explorer has 38 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 17% of Thermal Viewer's written reviews are positive against 27% of IR explorer's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Thermal Viewer ships an update every 6 weeks, IR explorer fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 3, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Thermal Viewer versus IR explorer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterThermal ViewerIR explorer
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (3 ratings) — better3.1 (38 ratings)
Positive reviews16.7% of reviews27.4% of reviews — better
Number of ratings338 — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS9.0 — better13.0
Further details — not scored
Size35 MB75 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperWuhan Guide Infrared Co.,Ltd.InfiRay Technologies Co.,Ltd.

Customer experience

Thermal Viewer

All ratings3 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral33.3%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews6 reviews
Positive16.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative83.3%

IR explorer

All ratings38 ratings
Positive52.6%
Neutral2.6%
Negative44.7%
Written reviews84 reviews
Positive27.4%
Neutral11.9%
Negative60.7%

In-app purchases

None

Thermal Viewer

No in-app purchases

None

IR explorer

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Thermal Viewer free?
Thermal Viewer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is IR explorer free?
IR explorer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Thermal Viewer or IR explorer?
Thermal Viewer is rated higher. Thermal Viewer averages 4.3 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while IR explorer averages 3.1 from 38 ratings.
Do Thermal Viewer or IR explorer have ads?
Neither Thermal Viewer nor IR explorer shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Thermal Viewer or IR explorer?
Thermal Viewer ships an update every 6 weeks, and IR explorer fortnightly. Most recently, Thermal Viewer was updated on October 3, 2026 and IR explorer on October 15, 2026.

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