Magnetometer vs Metal Detector
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Magnetometer
This application uses your iPhone's compass to detect electromagnetic interference, helping you find metal objects or magnets. It's designed for fun and experimental purposes, not as a professional tool. Discover hidden metal items or simply explore the magnetic fields around you.
- Detects metal and magnets
- Uses iPhone's compass
- Measures EMF interference
- Fun and experimental use
- Simple user interface
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Magnetometer is a fun app for finding metal or magnets by detecting EMF interference with your iPhone's compass heading. Find your keys, or just have fun discovering what could be made of metal. Magnetometer is not meant to replace an actual, professional-grade metal detector. Magnetometer presents simple information to the user about the interference experiences. For more scientific data, please turn to other great apps on the App Store. Magnetometer is made for fun and for experimental purposes and is not designed for scientific use. Also, don't drop your iPhone in sand hoping to find treasure; it's risky.
Metal Detector
This app uses your phone's magnetic sensor to detect nearby metal objects like keys, coins, or wires within walls. It also includes a suite of useful virtual tools such as a tape measure, ruler, protractor, and level.
- Metal detection
- Virtual tape measure
- Protractor
- Ruler
- Level tool
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Metal Detector is an app that will become indispensable in finding metal objects nearby: lost keys, coins, wires in walls, etc. The app detects metal objects by measuring the magnetic field level as it gets closer or farther from magnetic metals (e.g, iron, nickel, steel and alloys). A magnetic field is measured with the magnetic sensor built into your smartphone. Please note that the app will not detect silver, gold and copper coins since they have no magnetic field. The app also has a set of basic tools including a virtual tape measure, ruler, protractor and level tool. KEY FEATURES: • Metal detector; • Virtual tape measure; • Protractor; • Ruler; • Level tool. Please choose from our standard subscription options below: 1-week subscription from $0.99; 1-month subscription from $2.99; 12-month subscription from $5.99. Prices may change depending on your country. Privacy Policy: https://appliks.com/privacy-policy Terms of Use: https://appliks.com/terms-of-use
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Metal Detector at Free against Magnetometer's $0.99. Metal Detector also leads on update cadence (every 4 months vs every 34 months) and ratings volume (414 vs 13). Magnetometer's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 6) and ads (none vs shown). On rating, review sentiment, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Metal Detector is free to download; Magnetometer costs $0.99 up front. Metal Detector sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days. Magnetometer asks for nothing beyond the download.
Metal Detector holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Metal Detector has 414 ratings behind it against 13, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 86% of Magnetometer's written reviews are positive against 78% of Metal Detector's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Magnetometer ships an update every 34 months, Metal Detector every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on September 7, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Magnetometer | Metal Detector |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $0.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 4.4 (13 ratings) | 4.6 (414 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 85.7% of reviews — better | 77.8% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 13 | 414 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 34 months | Every 4 months — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid — better | Subscription |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 2 MB | 15 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Bogdan Gavriluta | AppLiks Sp. z O.O. |
Customer experience
Magnetometer
Metal Detector
Bugs and requests
Magnetometer
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
Metal Detector
Reported bugs
3 issues- App stops working after first day
- App makes the same noise all over the wall
- App fails to detect metal objects like keys or belt buckles
Requested features
1 request- Option to cancel subscription within the app
In-app purchases
Magnetometer
No in-app purchases
Metal Detector
- Metal Detector Premium Pack7 Days trial$0.997 Days
- Weekly Access$0.997 Days
- Metal Detector: Pro Version7 Days trial$2.991 Month
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- Monthly Access$2.991 Month
- Metal Detector PRO7 Days trial$5.991 Year
- Yearly Access$5.991 Year
Questions
Is Magnetometer free?
Is Metal Detector free?
Which has better reviews, Magnetometer or Metal Detector?
Do Magnetometer or Metal Detector have ads?
Which is updated more often, Magnetometer or Metal Detector?
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