# CrystalGen vs XSpecApp

The clearest difference is price: XSpecApp at Free against CrystalGen's $2.99. XSpecApp also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 38 months) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 17.2). CrystalGen's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1). On ads and device support there is nothing between them.

XSpecApp is free to download; CrystalGen costs $2.99 up front. XSpecApp sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. CrystalGen asks for nothing beyond the download.

CrystalGen ships an update every 38 months, XSpecApp every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on November 30, 2025 and September 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | CrystalGen | XSpecApp |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $2.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | — | **[3.5 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xspecapp/id1666746288/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **2** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 38 months | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | — | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 3 MB | 48 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.2 | **8.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Steve Kliewer](https://appshunter.io/developer/1255655631) | [Brian Cross, XRF Consulting, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1666746290) |

## What reviewers say

### CrystalGen

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/crystalgen/id1589074466)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### XSpecApp

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xspecapp/id1666746288)

This application displays EDXRF spectra, allowing users to manually identify elements, calculate ROIs, and add annotations. It supports saving, loading, and printing spectra with detailed information. The app can also acquire spectra using a digital pulse processor via USB, Serial, or wireless connections.

**Highlights:** Manual element identification, ROI calculation for peaks, Spectrum annotations, Spectrum printing with ROIs, Save and load spectra, Acquire spectra via digital pulse processor

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| XSpecApp | $24.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is CrystalGen free?

CrystalGen costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is XSpecApp free?

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

### Do CrystalGen or XSpecApp have ads?

Neither CrystalGen nor XSpecApp shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, CrystalGen or XSpecApp?

CrystalGen ships an update every 38 months, and XSpecApp every 2 days. Most recently, CrystalGen was updated on November 30, 2025 and XSpecApp on September 9, 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.*