# Manual Reads vs Plain Events

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Manual Reads at none against Plain Events's 3. Manual Reads also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.5). Plain Events's advantage is update cadence (every 8 days vs every 3 weeks). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Plain Events sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Manual Reads asks for nothing beyond the download.

Manual Reads ships an update every 3 weeks, Plain Events every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Manual Reads | Plain Events |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.3 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/manual-reads/id1552035778/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **6** | — |
| Positive reviews | 66.7% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 8 days** |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 47 MB | 53 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 18.5 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Next Century Submetering Systems](https://appshunter.io/developer/994253846) | [TightApps](https://appshunter.io/developer/286033617) |

## What reviewers say

### Manual Reads

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/manual-reads/id1552035778)

Manually input meter readings without needing specific hardware. This utility app simplifies data entry for submetering systems.

**Highlights:** Manual meter reading entry, No hardware installation required, Data input for submetering systems, User-friendly interface

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Plain Events

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/plain-events/id6752410351)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Plain Events Pro (Monthly) | $4.99 | per month |
| Plain Events Pro (Yearly) | $44.99 | per year |
| Plain Events Pro (Lifetime) | $399.00 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Manual Reads free?

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

### Is Plain Events free?

Plain Events is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do Manual Reads or Plain Events have ads?

Neither Manual Reads nor Plain Events shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Manual Reads or Plain Events?

Manual Reads ships an update every 3 weeks, and Plain Events every 8 days. Most recently, Manual Reads was updated on November 3, 2026 and Plain Events 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.*