Comparison

Mantis Laser Academy vs iTarget Cube

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

Head to head
About

Mantis Laser Academy

This app provides a smart dry-fire laser training system using your smartphone's camera to detect hits, score shots, and time your performance. Enhance your marksmanship and speed with various drills, including competitive dueling modes, all from the convenience of your home.

Highlights
  • Automatic hit detection
  • Automatic scoring
  • Shot timing
  • Marksmanship drills
  • Speed drills
  • Dueling drills
  • Save training history
Read full description

TRAIN SMARTER: Mantis Laser Academy is a dry-fire laser training system, built around smart targets that support automatic hit detection, scoring, and shot time in the Laser Academy app from data provided by the camera on your smartphone. TRAIN AT HOME: Mantis Laser Academy enables you to set up a dry fire laser range that is powerful, safe, convenient, and very inexpensive. Laser Academy drills are built to enhance your shooting performance, in both marksmanship and speed. Test your skills against your friends using dueling drills that allow you to shoot side by side. KEY FEATURES: - Automatic target detection - Automatic shot detection - Automatic scoring - Marksmanship, speed, and reaction time drills - Shooter-to-shooter dueling drills - Save to history GETTING STARTED: Once you have your gear, you are ready to train. Before getting started check the training area and all firearms for safety. Ensure any firearms are unloaded and remove live ammunition from the training area. - Place the smart targets in the desired location. Avoid areas where glare from lights and windows may the affect detection of shots on the targets. - Place your smartphone on the tripod and point the rear camera at the target(s) you have placed. - If you are using a laser cartridge, load the laser cartridge into the chamber of your firearm. - Launch the Mantis Laser Academy app on your phone, select a drill, and proceed to train. DRILLS and SMART TARGETS: The Mantis Laser Academy app has a variety of drills focused on different aspects of shooting. Some drills require specific smart targets. Other drills work with any smart target. Several drills support multiple targets and allow local competition between shooters. Smart targets are automatically detected and scored by Mantis Laser Academy. Using smart targets provides the most enjoyable and valuable training experience. The Control Target allows you to Start, Stop, Clear, and Close in the app by shooting specific regions on the Control Target. Mantis Laser Academy has a selection of free drills and a selection of drills that can be purchased or unlocked. You can purchase a single drill or Full Access in the app. Our mission is to help every shooter improve their accuracy and confidence. Mantis Laser Academy is the latest innovation in our next-level shooting systems designed to help you achieve a higher level of proficiency. Train smarter, train better, train with Mantis.

About

iTarget Cube

Enhance firearm training with a laser bullet and your actual firearm. Connect multiple devices for complex scenarios. Trusted by law enforcement and military.

Highlights
  • Laser bullet dry fire training
  • Use with actual firearm
  • Connect multiple Cubes
  • Virtual unlimited training scenarios
  • Law enforcement and military use
Features
Read full description

The iTarget Cube app is the control interface for using our iTarget Cube products. Practice dry fire training with a laser bullet and your actual firearm. Multiple iTarget Cubes can be connected to the app, creating virtually unlimited training scenarios. iTarget products are used by police forces, competitive shooters and US military personnel. The iTarget Cube is available at www.iTargetCube.com

Screenshots

Mantis Laser Academy4 screens
iTarget Cube1 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Mantis Laser Academy at 69% against iTarget Cube's 22%. Mantis Laser Academy also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 3 months). iTarget Cube's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. Mantis Laser Academy sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. iTarget Cube asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Mantis Laser Academy ships an update every 3 weeks, iTarget Cube every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Mantis Laser Academy versus iTarget Cube: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMantis Laser AcademyiTarget Cube
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (4.1K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews68.5% of reviews — better22.2% of reviews
Number of ratings4.1K — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS1515.0
Further details — not scored
Size290 MB2 MB
Age rating4++17
DeveloperMantis Tech LLCTrain Smart Inc.

Customer experience

Mantis Laser Academy

All ratings4,120 ratings
Positive94.3%
Neutral2.2%
Negative3.5%
Written reviews162 reviews
Positive68.5%
Neutral9.3%
Negative22.2%

iTarget Cube

Written reviews9 reviews
Positive22.2%
Neutral22.2%
Negative55.6%

Bugs and requests

Mantis Laser Academy

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • App crashes during Pistol Marksmanship course
  • Inability to add firearms and view history
  • Calibration tool obstructs view of crosshairs
  • Tripod instability causes false readings
  • Sound not working unless headphones are connected

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add ability to customize drills and courses
  • Integrate with Mantis X app for more comprehensive training
  • Implement daily shot count tracking
  • Allow manual entry of firearm settings
  • Add more training modes and game-like features

iTarget Cube

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

10 purchases

Mantis Laser Academy

One-time10
  • Open Shooting - Multi-target$4.99
  • Shot From Guard/Low Ready$4.99
  • Bullseye - 10 Shot$4.99
Show 7 more
  • Holster Draw - Par Timed$4.99
  • Holster Draw$4.99
  • Multiple Shots and Targets$4.99
  • Close Contact from Holster$4.99
  • Hunt$4.99
  • 01 Darts$4.99
  • Lifetime Membership$49.99
None

iTarget Cube

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Mantis Laser Academy free?
Mantis Laser Academy is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is iTarget Cube free?
iTarget Cube is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Mantis Laser Academy or iTarget Cube have ads?
Neither Mantis Laser Academy nor iTarget Cube shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Mantis Laser Academy or iTarget Cube?
Mantis Laser Academy ships an update every 3 weeks, and iTarget Cube every 3 months. Most recently, Mantis Laser Academy was updated on November 7, 2026 and iTarget Cube on November 3, 2026.

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