Comparison

Stud Finder vs AlcoMatcher

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

Head to head
About

Stud Finder

This app uses your phone's magnetic sensor to detect ferrous metals behind walls. It measures magnetic field variations to help locate studs, pipes, screws, and other magnetic objects. Ideal for DIY projects and general exploration.

Highlights
  • Detects ferrous metal
  • Measures magnetic field variations (µT)
  • Real-time µT reading
  • Adjustable sensitivity
  • Hold button
  • Automatic and manual calibration
  • Works offline
Features
Read full description

Find hidden metal behind walls using your phone's magnetic sensor. Stud Finder turns your iPhone's built-in magnetometer into a wall scanner and EMF meter. It detects ferrous metal (iron, steel) by measuring changes in the magnetic field in microteslas (µT): metal studs, the nails and screws that hold drywall to wood studs, steel pipes, rebar and other magnetic objects. HOW IT WORKS Your phone measures the magnetic field around it. When you open the app, a short guided calibration takes a baseline away from metal: you tilt the phone around a ring, and if metal nearby throws it off, the app tells you and starts over. After that, a rise over the baseline means there is metal close by. Slide the phone slowly across the wall: on a wood stud it beeps at each screw, and on a steel stud it beeps all along. WHAT THE READINGS MEAN (above baseline) - Empty wall: about the baseline (10–60 µT) - Nail or screw: +5 to +20 µT - Paper clip or washer: +20 to +50 µT - Pipe or screwdriver: +50 to +100 µT - Metal stud: +80 to +150 µT - Strong magnet: +150 to 300+ µT FEATURES - Shows where your iPhone's sensor is, with a light at the edge of the screen that turns red over metal - Guided calibration that checks you did it right - Real-time µT reading - Adjustable sensitivity - Sound and vibration alerts - Four-step tutorial - Works without internet TIPS FOR BETTER ACCURACY - Take off the phone case before calibrating - Calibrate away from walls, tables, appliances and laptops - Pass the spot the app marks over the wall: on some iPhones it is at the top, on others at the bottom - Beeps everywhere? Calibrate again near that wall, or lower the sensitivity USE IT TO - Locate studs behind drywall before hanging a shelf or a TV - Find hidden screws, nails and steel pipes - Measure magnetic fields around devices and magnets Note: the magnetometer only reacts to magnetic (ferrous) metal. It does not see wood, plastic, copper or aluminum.

About

AlcoMatcher

Features
Read full description

Compliance Tool for matching alcoholic beverage contents to their labels. This app only performs scanning of alcoholic beverages for a government compliance process. It performs OCR on image scans of alcoholic beverages to facilitate data upload in a compliance process. This is not a blood alcohol content measurer.

Screenshots

Stud Finder4 screens
AlcoMatcher2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: AlcoMatcher at none against Stud Finder's 1. 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. Stud Finder sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. AlcoMatcher asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Stud Finder versus AlcoMatcher: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterStud FinderAlcoMatcher
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.2 (1.2K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews5.8% of reviews—
Number of ratings1.2K — better—
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeks—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.014.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size85 MB5 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperShining Muffin LLCEncodible LLC

Bugs and requests

Stud Finder

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Inconsistent readings
  • Immediate paywall after trial

Requested features

2 requests
  • Improved accuracy on drywall
  • More intuitive user interface

AlcoMatcher

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Stud Finder

One-time1
  • Pro Version: Stud Finder$5.99
None

AlcoMatcher

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Stud Finder free?
Stud Finder is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is AlcoMatcher free?
AlcoMatcher is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Stud Finder or AlcoMatcher have ads?
Neither Stud Finder nor AlcoMatcher shows ads.

Other comparisons