# Ruler vs Simple Ruler

The clearest difference is rating: Simple Ruler at 5.0 against Ruler's 4.2. Simple Ruler also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 14 months). Ruler's advantage is ratings volume (422 vs 1). 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.

Simple Ruler holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Ruler has 422 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Ruler ships an update every 14 months, Simple Ruler every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Ruler | Simple Ruler |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.2 (422 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ruler/id1555214809/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simple-ruler-tape-measure/id6794847902/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **422** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 15.2% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 14 months | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | Ad-supported |
| Size | 6 MB | 25 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 13.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Matrix Software Co.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1457004046) | [SATO TOMOMITUS](https://appshunter.io/developer/1615336235) |

## What reviewers say

### Ruler

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ruler/id1555214809)

Measure objects and distances with an on-screen ruler and augmented reality. Supports inches and centimeters, with features for linear sizes, angles, area, volume, and more. Save your measurements for later use.

**Highlights:** On-screen ruler for small objects, Augmented Reality (AR) measuring, Measure linear sizes in cm/inches, Calculate angles, area, and volume, Save measurements, Generate plan projections

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Basic caliper and spirit level included
- ✅ Option to opt-out of data selling/sharing
- 👌 Accurate measurements (Arabic review)

**What reviewers complain about**

- 📏 Inaccurate measurements
- 💥 Frequent app crashes
- 💸 Limited free functionality (5" limit)
- 🚫 Cannot switch to metric (cm)
- 🤷 Unclear AR mode usage

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on iPhone 17 and iPad
- App crashes within 1 minute
- AR mode not functional
- Cannot switch to cm
- Measurements are out of scale

**Requested features**

- Fix crashing issues
- Enable switching to metric (cm)
- Improve AR mode usability
- Add save and print functionality
- Provide usage instructions


### Simple Ruler

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simple-ruler-tape-measure/id6794847902)

Transform your phone into a versatile measuring tool. Accurately measure length, width, and angles with various modes and easy calibration. Works offline and respects your privacy.

**Highlights:** Ruler and protractor functionality, Multiple measuring modes (simple, single/dual cursor, width x height), Screen calibration for accuracy, Offline functionality, Dark mode support, Privacy-focused design

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Ruler free?

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

### Is Simple Ruler free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Ruler or Simple Ruler?

Simple Ruler is rated higher. Ruler averages 4.2 out of 5 from 422 ratings, while Simple Ruler averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Ruler or Simple Ruler have ads?

Both Ruler and Simple Ruler show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Ruler or Simple Ruler?

Ruler ships an update every 14 months, and Simple Ruler every 2 days. Most recently, Ruler was updated on November 7, 2026 and Simple Ruler on October 31, 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.*