# IR explorer vs Night Vision

The clearest difference is rating: Night Vision at 4.1 against IR explorer's 3.1. Night Vision also leads on ratings volume (509 vs 38). IR explorer's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Night Vision sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. IR explorer asks for nothing beyond the download.

Night Vision holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 3.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Night Vision has 509 ratings behind it against 38, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 27% of IR explorer's written reviews are positive against 34% of Night Vision's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | IR explorer | Night Vision |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.1 (38 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ir-explorer/id1580206229/reviews) | **[4.1 (509 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/night-vision-lidar-camera/id1668629667/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 38 | **509** |
| Positive reviews | 27.4% of reviews | **33.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | Fortnightly |
| Monetization | **Free** | Subscription |
| Size | 75 MB | 51 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 17 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [InfiRay Technologies Co.,Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1516230719) | [绪海 罗](https://appshunter.io/developer/1572453992) |

## What reviewers say

### IR explorer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ir-explorer/id1580206229)

This app transforms your smartphone into an infrared camera, allowing you to see objects emitting heat in dark environments. It offers clear imaging, various filter effects, and real-time temperature detection for outdoor enthusiasts and professionals.

**Highlights:** Infrared camera functionality, Clear night vision imaging, Temperature detection, Multiple filter effects, Hot spot tracking, Laser pointing function

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Night Vision

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/night-vision-lidar-camera/id1668629667)

Capture photos and videos in complete darkness using your device's LiDAR and TrueDepth sensors. This app provides genuine night vision imagery, surpassing simulated filters, and offers real-time distance measurement. Stream footage to other Apple devices.

**Highlights:** LiDAR and TrueDepth camera capture, Genuine night vision imagery, Real-time distance measurement, Cross-device streaming, Switch between LiDAR, TrueDepth, and standard cameras

**Features:** Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium | $1.99 | per month |
| Premium | $8.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Uses iPhone hardware for genuine night vision
- 👍 Impressive image quality and clarity
- 🔍 Supports real-time lidar scanning
- 🎨 Offers image enhancement and filters

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Many features locked behind paywall
- 🤑 Aggressive monetization tactics
- 🤔 Unclear free trial limitations
- 🤯 Frustrating user experience for free users

**Reported bugs**

- Blurry and inaccurate image output
- Compatibility issues on newer devices
- Crashes and freezes reported

**Requested features**

- Free trial with full functionality
- Improved image quality for free users
- More transparent pricing and feature access


## Frequently asked questions

### Is IR explorer free?

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

### Is Night Vision free?

Night Vision is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, IR explorer or Night Vision?

Night Vision is rated higher. IR explorer averages 3.1 out of 5 from 38 ratings, while Night Vision averages 4.1 from 509 ratings.

### Do IR explorer or Night Vision have ads?

Neither IR explorer nor Night Vision shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, IR explorer or Night Vision?

IR explorer ships an update fortnightly, and Night Vision fortnightly. Most recently, IR explorer was updated on September 22, 2026 and Night Vision on September 24, 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.*