# IR explorer vs Flir Responder

The clearest difference is rating: Flir Responder at 3.8 against IR explorer's 3.1. IR explorer's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs monthly) and ratings volume (49 vs 6). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

Flir Responder holds the better App Store score, 3.8 against 3.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: IR explorer has 49 ratings behind it against 6, 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 33% of Flir Responder's.

IR explorer ships an update fortnightly, Flir Responder monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | IR explorer | Flir Responder |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.1 (49 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ir-explorer/id1580206229/reviews) | **[3.8 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/flir-responder/id6737113709/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **49** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | 27.4% of reviews | **33.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 75 MB | 246 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [InfiRay Technologies Co.,Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1516230719) | [FLIR Systems Aktiebolag](https://appshunter.io/developer/408612990) |

## 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


### Flir Responder

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/flir-responder/id6737113709)

Stream thermal footage live from your compatible camera, manage and share images/videos wirelessly, and update device firmware. Configure supported cameras for specific missions, enhancing operational efficiency for public safety professionals.

**Highlights:** Wireless live stream thermal footage, Manage and share images/videos, OTA firmware updates, Wireless camera setup and configuration, Supports Flir K-series imagers

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is IR explorer free?

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

### Is Flir Responder free?

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

### Which has better reviews, IR explorer or Flir Responder?

Flir Responder is rated higher. IR explorer averages 3.1 out of 5 from 49 ratings, while Flir Responder averages 3.8 from 6 ratings.

### Do IR explorer or Flir Responder have ads?

Neither IR explorer nor Flir Responder shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, IR explorer or Flir Responder?

IR explorer ships an update fortnightly, and Flir Responder monthly. Most recently, IR explorer was updated on November 3, 2026 and Flir Responder 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.*