deviceOwl vs Artifact.id
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
deviceOwl
This app uses AI to identify household and covert spy devices by simply pointing your smartphone at them. It reveals device capabilities, privacy implications, and manufacturer details to help you protect your privacy.
- AI device identification
- Privacy implications revealed
- Device capabilities details
- Manufacturer information
- Offline device checking
- Basic and Advanced Editions
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Discover Device Potential deviceOwl is an AI point-and-shoot hardware device checker that helps you identify the make and model of devices, and reveal their privacy implications. Covert spy devices are cameras and microphones that are either miniaturized, or disguised as other trusted household objects. They have serious implications, because they can be well disguised, highly reliable, and are widely available for purchase. Household smart devices can enhance the convenience and peace of mind we have at home, but sometimes at a cost of privacy and security. With an eye towards privacy, deviceOwl helps you quickly identify these devices, providing both simple, and in-depth details about their capabilities. Simply point your smartphone at a device, and let deviceOwl intelligently check it, based on its knowledge of thousands of devices. If a device is recognized, deviceOwl provides details about the device's capabilities, helping you to make the right decisions about how to protect your privacy, and the privacy of the people you care about. Information includes make, model, privacy and safety considerations, sensors, network, storage, power, remote control, AI capabilities, and manufacturer information, including origin, parent companies, privacy policy, and the current government blacklist status of the manufacturer. FEATURES —————-- - Basic Edition helps identify popular consumer household smart devices. - Advanced Edition helps identify covert consumer spy devices, and provides in-depth device capabilities with a focus on privacy. - Regular device knowledge updates keep deviceOwl aware of new devices. - Heads up display and interactive guidance to make it easier to check devices. - Designed for traveling. Once installed and updated, check devices without a cloud or network connection. IMPORTANT NOTES & LIMITATIONS —————————————————---- - Checks visible devices that are roughly up to the size of a shoebox. - Please follow the guidance provided on safely and correctly checking devices. - Some devices may look similar to each other, especially under different lighting conditions, and from different angles. Please confirm all device detections using the reported make and model. - DeviceOwl is not a network device scanner, or camera lens reflection checker. Instead, it uses AI to visually recognize devices by their shape and form. - Does not identify individual components of dismantled devices, such as their circuit boards and other components. - Does not identify certain device types whose surface is dominated by an LCD screen, including TV's, tablets, and smartphones. Refer to the device type selection screen for the most current list of supported device types. - Due to the volume of sample submissions, Entropic Labs responses to device sample submissions may be limited. SUBSCRIPTION DETAILS ———————————- deviceOwl “Basic Edition” - Check popular consumer household smart devices using AI computer vision. - Reveal basic information, and in-depth device capabilities with a focus on privacy. deviceOwl “Advanced Edition” (Subscription) - Boosts deviceOwl with knowledge of covert consumer spy devices. - Reveal important privacy and safety considerations for select devices. - Cognition Boost feature helps to help identify partially damaged or marked devices. - Payment will be charged to your iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase. - Subscription renews automatically unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period. - Manage your subscriptions, and turn off automatic renewal by going to your Account Settings after purchase. - Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when you purchase a subscription.
Artifact.id
Catalog and track your collectibles with detailed information in a private portfolio. Connect with subject experts for identification and evaluation, and join a community for authentication and education.
- Private collection portfolio
- Object detail capture
- Access to subject experts
- Authentication and education community
- Value calculation for insurance
- Social sharing with other collectors
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Artifact.id is committed to preserving, educating, and sharing unique and accurate information on collectibles, worldwide. The Artifact.id app captures integral details about each of your objects to catalog and track in your private portfolio. Store your first 1,000 objects for free. Artifact.id grants you access to thousands of subject experts who can help you identify, evaluate and recommend personalized services that relate to your collection. We have created a community that provides authentication and education. Artifact.id‘s unique social aspect encourages our members to learn how to create, build, and manage their individual brands and collections. Once your object has been assessed and evaluated, you can choose to share and connect with other collectors. Calculate the value of your collectibles for insurance or securely archive, and simply learn about your personal collection. Artifact.id is fostering a community that includes everyone from experienced to novice collectors, artists, archivists, curators, galleries, museums, appraisers, estate liquidators, and beyond.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: deviceOwl at 4.3 against Artifact.id's 3.6. deviceOwl also leads on ratings volume (539 vs 12). Artifact.id's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months). On price, review sentiment, 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
Both are free to download. deviceOwl sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $9.99 per year. Artifact.id asks for nothing beyond the download.
deviceOwl holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: deviceOwl has 539 ratings behind it against 12, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 49% and 50% positive.
deviceOwl ships an update every 2 months, Artifact.id fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | deviceOwl | Artifact.id |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.3 (539 ratings) — better | 3.6 (12 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 49.1% of reviews | 50.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 539 — better | 12 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 61 MB | 80 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Entropic, LLC | Cornerstone Technologies |
Customer experience
deviceOwl
Artifact.id
Bugs and requests
deviceOwl
Reported bugs
4 issues- Frequent crashes and freezes
- Unreliable device detection
- Subscription management problems
- Unresponsive customer support
Requested features
4 requests- Free trial period for premium features
- Expanded device database
- Improved user interface
- Seamless integration with other security apps
Artifact.id
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
deviceOwl
- Annual Advanced Subscription$9.991 Year
Artifact.id
No in-app purchases









