# MasterDex vs Smart IV

The clearest difference is review sentiment: MasterDex at 87% against Smart IV's 40%. MasterDex also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.5). Smart IV's advantage is update cadence (every 8 days vs every 3 weeks) and iOS requirement (14.0 vs 16.6). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. MasterDex sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and Smart IV sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

MasterDex holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.8K and 1.2K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 87% of MasterDex's written reviews are positive against 40% of Smart IV's.

MasterDex ships an update every 3 weeks, Smart IV every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on November 12, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | MasterDex | Smart IV |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (1.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/masterdex-complete-guide/id1621464261/reviews)** | [4.5 (1.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-iv-go-iv-calculator/id6449232181/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.8K** | 1.2K |
| Positive reviews | **86.6% of reviews** | 39.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 8 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 196 MB | 366 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Lorenzo Greco](https://appshunter.io/developer/480768196) | [PYDE TECHNOLOGIES LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1533164467) |

## What reviewers say

### MasterDex

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/masterdex-complete-guide/id1621464261)

This app serves as a comprehensive guide for fans and trainers, offering detailed information on creatures, team building, and the trading card game. It features offline access, advanced search, and tracking for favorite creatures and shinies, updated for the latest generation.

**Highlights:** Updated creature information, Team builder tool, Trading Card Game details, Offline functionality, Shiny creature tracker, Advanced search filters

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Masteredex - Sale | $1.99 | one-time |
| Masterdex PRO | $2.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fantastic app
- 👍 Great Pokédex
- 🔒 No ads
- 💡 One-time purchase
- 👍 Aesthetically pleasing

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashing and slow loading
- 🐛 Bugs with team builder
- 🐛 Missing Pokémon forms and gender differences
- 🐛 Incorrect or outdated information
- 💡 Lack of Pokémon location filters

**Reported bugs**

- Shiny toggle not working in team builder
- Pokémon 3D models and artwork not displaying
- Johto region locations missing
- Crashes when adding Pokémon to teams
- Incorrect information for some Pokémon (e.g., Necrozma's ability, Pikachu's classification)

**Requested features**

- Add Pokémon location filters
- Implement ability to mark Pokémon as caught/seen
- Add damage calculator
- Allow reorganizing of teams
- Include Pokémon cries and Dynamax/Gigantamax forms


### Smart IV

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-iv-go-iv-calculator/id6449232181)

This app provides real-time IV scanning for your Pokémon without exiting the game. It helps identify perfect IV Pokémon and discover their abilities, enhancing your gameplay experience.

**Highlights:** Real-time IV scanning, 100% IV checker, Discover Pokémon abilities, In-game overlay, Free to use

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Smart IV Mega Collector | $1.99 | per month |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to set up and use
- 🚀 Fast performance
- 💡 Helpful for finding high IV Pokémon

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inconsistent notifications
- 🐛 Inaccurate IV predictions
- 🔒 Privacy concerns with screen recording

**Reported bugs**

- Broadcast session issues
- Inability to update trainer level
- Compatibility problems with newer devices

**Requested features**

- Display exact IV percentages instead of just 'maybe 100%'
- Add support for Master League data
- Allow sorting of Pokémon


## Frequently asked questions

### Is MasterDex free?

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

### Is Smart IV free?

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

### Which has better reviews, MasterDex or Smart IV?

MasterDex is rated higher. MasterDex averages 4.8 out of 5 from 1.8K ratings, while Smart IV averages 4.5 from 1.2K ratings.

### Do MasterDex or Smart IV have ads?

Both MasterDex and Smart IV show ads.

### Which is updated more often, MasterDex or Smart IV?

MasterDex ships an update every 3 weeks, and Smart IV every 8 days. Most recently, MasterDex was updated on November 12, 2026 and Smart IV on November 7, 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.*