Comparison

SignalScope Basic 2020 vs MicroSNAP

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

Head to head
About

SignalScope Basic 2020

This app provides essential tools for engineers, students, and hobbyists to analyze acoustics, audio, and electronics. It offers features like oscilloscopes, FFT analyzers, and spectrograms for detailed signal measurement and calibration.

Highlights
  • Signal analysis from audio input
  • Engineering unit assignment and calibration
  • Support for digital accelerometers and microphones
  • Frequency response correction
  • Adjustable audio sample rates
  • Data saving to CSV, TXT, and MAT files
  • Oscilloscope, FFT, Spectrogram, and XY Plotter tools
Read full description

NOTE: This app is no longer recommended for purchase. SignalScope X version 13+ offers perpetual license options as well as subscriptions. SignalScope Basic 2020 offers a basic tool set to meet your measurement and analysis needs as an engineer, consultant, educator, student, researcher, or savvy hobbyist in areas such as acoustics (sound and vibration), audio, electronics, and electroacoustics. Features: - Analyze signals coming from the Mac or iOS device’s current audio input device. - Assign engineering units to your input signals and calibrate external transducers for accurate measurements. - Assign input channel units and sensitivities for individual USB Audio devices. - Direct support for Digiducer digital accelerometers and 485B39 USB ICP signal conditioner from The Modal Shop. - Direct support for miniDSP UMIK-1 measurement microphone and EARS headphone/IEM measurement system. - Nominal acoustic sensitivities included for iPhone and iPad built-in microphones, voltage sensitivities for headset input (including the Lightning-to-headset adapter included with recent iPhone models) - Manually switch between available audio input sources. - Load microphone frequency response data (FRD) and apply frequency response correction (FRC) to FFT-based measurements. - Manually adjust audio sample rates, even up to 192 kHz, depending on input hardware. - Save acquired measurement data to CSV, tab-delimited ASCII text, or MAT files. - Save high-resolution analyzer display images to PDF files. - Retrieve your data files from your device via Files (iCloud Drive), iTunes File Sharing, or through a web browser on another device. Files may also be opened in other compatible apps (e.g. Mail, Notes, Numbers, Dropbox, etc). Basic Tools: - Oscilloscope - Basic oscilloscope and triggering functions. - FFT Analyzer - Spectrum analyzer with user-settable frequency limits and basic triggering - 2D Real-time Spectrogram Analyzer - XY Plotter - Create Lissajous curves on your Mac, iPhone, or iPad. Learn more about SignalScope Basic 2020 at FaberAcoustical.com. SignalScope Basic 2020 will receive major upgrades, consistent with those available in the SignalScope X Basic Tool Set subscription, through calendar year 2021, after which it will receive maintenance updates for a limited time. It can be used indefinitely thereafter on a compatible version of iOS.

About

MicroSNAP

Features
Read full description

MicroSNAP is a mobile app specifically developed for use with the EXC-100 WiFi-enabled microscopes (required) from ACCU-SCOPE Inc. MicroSNAP allows the user to use their mobile device to view live images, capture images, or capture video from the EXC-100 WiFi-enabled microscopes (the mobile device connects to the built-in WiFi camera of the microscope via IEEE 802.11ac signal). MicroSNAP offers a selection of measurement tools and, after calibrating the camera using the app and a stage micrometer (purchased separately), accurate measurements of features in the sample image can be made. MicroSNAP and EXC-100 WiFi-enabled microscopes only allow one mobile device connection at a time. When multiple people want to use the same microscope, please disconnect from the camera’s WiFi signal before the next user can operate the camera. Using MicroSNAP is a “snap”! Plug-in the microscope – the camera gets its power directly from the microscope. Turn the microscope light on by rotating the light intensity control knob – you will hear a click and then see light coming up from the bottom of the microscope. To connect to the microscope, launch the MicroSNAP app, press the [-] button and use the camera on your phone or tablet to scan the QR code on the microscope. Alternatively, you can open the WiFi settings on your mobile device and choose the “MicroSNAP-xxx” network. You may see a message about no internet connection – this is OK as your mobile device is connected to the WiFi camera and not the internet. Next, tap the MicroSNAP icon on your mobile device and you are ready to start using the camera. Even if someone wants to view the sample using the eyepieces of the microscope, you will still see what they see on your mobile device. IMPORTANT: Always unplug the microscope when not in use. For more detailed information about the MicroSNAP app for mobile devices and the MicroSNAP app for Windows PC, please visit our Support page https://accu-scope.com/support/instruction-manuals, and scroll down to Manuals – Current Cameras.

Screenshots

SignalScope Basic 20204 screens
MicroSNAP4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: MicroSNAP at Free against SignalScope Basic 2020's $59.99. MicroSNAP also leads on iOS requirement (11.0 vs 13.2). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

MicroSNAP is free to download; SignalScope Basic 2020 costs $59.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SignalScope Basic 2020 ships an update every 6 weeks, MicroSNAP every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 4, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
SignalScope Basic 2020 versus MicroSNAP: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSignalScope Basic 2020MicroSNAP
Price$59.99Free — better
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksEvery 5 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaid—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.211.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB60 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperFaber Acoustical, LLCACCU-SCOPE INC.

In-app purchases

None

SignalScope Basic 2020

No in-app purchases

None

MicroSNAP

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SignalScope Basic 2020 free?
SignalScope Basic 2020 costs $59.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is MicroSNAP free?
MicroSNAP is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do SignalScope Basic 2020 or MicroSNAP have ads?
Neither SignalScope Basic 2020 nor MicroSNAP shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SignalScope Basic 2020 or MicroSNAP?
SignalScope Basic 2020 ships an update every 6 weeks, and MicroSNAP every 5 weeks. Most recently, SignalScope Basic 2020 was updated on October 15, 2026 and MicroSNAP on October 4, 2026.

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