# Ballistic vs Real Dots

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Real Dots at 100% against Ballistic's 49%. Real Dots also leads on rating (5.0 vs 1.1) and update cadence (every 2 days vs every 3 months). Ballistic's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (81 vs 3). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Ballistic sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Real Dots sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Real Dots holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 1.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Ballistic has 81 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 49% of Ballistic's written reviews are positive against 100% of Real Dots's.

Ballistic ships an update every 3 months, Real Dots every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Ballistic | Real Dots |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.1 (81 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ballistic-advanced-edition/id303254296/reviews) | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/real-dots-red-dot-viewer/id6790875196/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **81** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 48.8% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 24 MB | 38 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Federal Premium Ammunition](https://appshunter.io/developer/980894735) | [Ron Greenbaum](https://appshunter.io/developer/1874872505) |

## What reviewers say

### Ballistic

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ballistic-advanced-edition/id303254296)

This advanced ballistics calculator provides precise trajectory calculations for serious shooters. It accounts for atmospheric conditions, Coriolis effect, and gyroscopic spin, offering a comprehensive tool for hunting and range practice with extensive projectile data and a rangefinder.

**Highlights:** Advanced ballistics calculations, Atmospheric condition adjustments, Coriolis effect and gyroscopic spin, Extensive projectile and load library, Rangefinder and range log, Heads-up display, 3D trajectory imaging

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Kestrel LiNK | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Accurate ballistics calculations
- 👍 Comprehensive features
- 💡 Customizable settings
- 🔒 Secure data storage
- 🎯 Helpful for long-range shooting

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes when adding targets
- 🔍 Outdated bullet/load data
- 🤔 Confusing wind input configuration
- 🤯 Restricted to G1 drag model only
- 🤫 Data mining concerns

**Reported bugs**

- Windage values change unexpectedly when adjusting max range
- Favorites and target data being lost or inaccessible
- App crashing when trying to use certain features

**Requested features**

- Add support for newer calibers and loads
- Improve user interface and navigation
- Implement better data syncing and backup options
- Provide more detailed instructions and tutorials
- Add support for metric units


### Real Dots

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/real-dots-red-dot-viewer/id6790875196)

Visualize popular red dot sights on your camera feed, scaled to their actual dimensions. Compare different models, check window and housing sizes, and preview finishes before making a purchase. Unlock advanced features for an enhanced viewing experience.

**Highlights:** Live camera overlay of red dot sights, Scaled to published housing and window sizes, Catalog of open and enclosed sights, Preview Black and FDE finishes, Compare two sights side-by-side (Pro), Ad-free use (Pro)

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Lifetime Pro | $3.99 | one-time |
| Real Dots Pro Lifetime | $3.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Ballistic free?

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

### Is Real Dots free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Ballistic or Real Dots?

Real Dots is rated higher. Ballistic averages 1.1 out of 5 from 81 ratings, while Real Dots averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.

### Do Ballistic or Real Dots have ads?

Real Dots shows ads; Ballistic does not.

### Which is updated more often, Ballistic or Real Dots?

Ballistic ships an update every 3 months, and Real Dots every 2 days. Most recently, Ballistic was updated on November 1, 2026 and Real Dots on October 31, 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.*