# IR vs Thermal imaging

The clearest difference is rating: Thermal imaging at 2.3 against IR's 1.0. Thermal imaging also leads on update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 4 months) and review sentiment (14% vs 0%). IR's advantage is iOS requirement (8.0 vs 13.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

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

Thermal imaging holds the better App Store score, 2.3 against 1.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 9 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of IR's written reviews are positive against 14% of Thermal imaging's.

IR ships an update every 4 months, Thermal imaging every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | IR | Thermal imaging |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ir-tracker-iii/id1527965840/reviews) | **[2.3 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thermal-imaging/id6476659460/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **9** |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | **14.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 5 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 12 MB | 55 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [zhejiang dali technology co.,ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/329436737) | [GOYOJO Industrial Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1718672053) |

## What reviewers say

### IR

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ir-tracker-iii/id1527965840)

This handheld monocular uses infrared thermal imaging to provide clear vision in low light or complete darkness. Its compact and rugged design is ideal for outdoor activities like searching, rescuing, and hiking.

**Highlights:** Infrared thermal imaging, Handheld monocular design, Professional display eyepiece, Low visibility operation, Compact and rugged construction, Outdoor use suitability

**In-app purchases:** none


### Thermal imaging

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thermal-imaging/id6476659460)

Connect a thermal imaging device to your smartphone to view, capture, and record thermal data. This utility app allows real-time operation and access to all software functions through your mobile device.

**Highlights:** Connect to thermal devices via hotspot, Real-time thermal viewing, Capture thermal images, Record thermal video, Operate software functions remotely

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is IR free?

IR is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Thermal imaging free?

Thermal imaging is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, IR or Thermal imaging?

Thermal imaging is rated higher. IR averages 1.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Thermal imaging averages 2.3 from 9 ratings.

### Do IR or Thermal imaging have ads?

Neither IR nor Thermal imaging shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, IR or Thermal imaging?

IR ships an update every 4 months, and Thermal imaging every 5 weeks. Most recently, IR was updated on November 3, 2026 and Thermal imaging on October 30, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*