Comparison

Magnifying Glass vs iSwissTool

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Magnifying Glass

This app transforms your device into a powerful magnifying glass with infinite zoom and enhanced viewing options. It also functions as a zoomable camera with a dimmable flashlight, offering full control over focus and exposure.

Highlights
  • Infinite digital zoom
  • Zoomable camera
  • Freeze and enhance view
  • Dimmable flashlight
  • Image filters
  • Rotate images
  • Stabilization mode
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

The original and still the best. The New York Times: Gadgetwise - App of the Week!!! "Of the several [magnification apps] I tried my favorite is Magnifying Glass from I-Beam. The iPhone app is simplicity itself. Turn it on, point the camera at the fine print and then touch the plus button until it is enlarged enough to read... "Two other built-in features I like about Magnifying Glass: the button that instantly resets the image to low magnification and the camera button which lets you take a photo of your close up." - Roy Furchgott, New York Times ************************************************************ Magnifying Glass is a convenient, fun, easy-to-use magnifying glass for your iPhone and iPad. With infinite zoom, the ability to rotate, freeze, filter and enhance the view, and full control over focus and exposure settings, Magnifying Glass is the most powerful app in its class. Magnifying Glass is also a fully functional zoomable camera! On top of that, it includes a built-in flashlight that is dimmable. Try it today to see why this was the New York Times app of the week! Magnifying Glass allows you to set focus, torch, and exposure settings on the iPhone and iPad cameras, giving you full control over what you are seeing. Magnifying Glass features include: - Infinite digital zoom - Fully functional zoomable camera - Ability to freeze the view and further enhance an image - Built-in flashlight - turn the iPhone torch on and off and have the ability to dim the light - Rotate the images coming from the camera - Eight different filters to enhance the live or frozen view*** - Special high contrast image filter to reveal hidden details in low light - Stabilization mode that ensures crisp and sharp images are captured - Support for both the front and back cameras Several interface themes or skins so you can personalize the app to your liking*** *** Feature available with upgrade

About

iSwissTool

This app combines multiple practical tools into one virtual Swiss Army knife for your iPhone. It offers features like currency conversion, unit measurements, first aid information, and music tools, all accessible through simple gestures.

Highlights
  • Currency conversion
  • Measurement and unit conversions
  • First aid contact numbers
  • Position coordinates
  • Music tools
  • Built-in light sensor
  • Display flashlight
Features
Read full description

'iSwissTool' - a virtual Swiss Army knife for your iPhone Now a host of really useful tools are combined together into a single app: the iPhone and iPod Touch application 'iSwissTool'. This customizable, 14-function tool can help you out in almost any situation. It offers a host of great functions, including currency conversion, diverse measurements and unit conversions, first aid numbers, position coordinates and music tools. Just tilt for a tool and shake to reset your iPhone. This unique, all-in-one tool can even be used to light up your darkness, either with its built-in light sensor or simply by using the display.

Screenshots

Magnifying Glass4 screens
iSwissTool4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Magnifying Glass at 4.4 against iSwissTool's 3.0. Magnifying Glass also leads on ratings volume (161 vs 4) and review sentiment (54% vs 40%). iSwissTool's advantage is price ($0.99 vs $1.99). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Magnifying Glass costs $1.99 and iSwissTool $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Magnifying Glass holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Magnifying Glass has 161 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 54% of Magnifying Glass's written reviews are positive against 40% of iSwissTool's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Magnifying Glass ships an update every 8 months, iSwissTool every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
Magnifying Glass versus iSwissTool: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMagnifying GlassiSwissTool
Price$1.99$0.99 — better
Rating4.4 (161 ratings) — better3.0 (4 ratings)
Positive reviews53.7% of reviews — better40.0% of reviews
Number of ratings161 — better4
Update frequencyEvery 8 monthsEvery 5 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreemium — betterPaid
Best chart rank#126 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS9.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size36 MB28 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperI-BeamSwiss-Development GmbH

Customer experience

Magnifying Glass

All ratings161 ratings
Positive83.9%
Neutral4.3%
Negative11.8%
Written reviews41 reviews
Positive53.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative46.3%

iSwissTool

All ratings4 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews15 reviews
Positive40.0%
Neutral13.3%
Negative46.7%

In-app purchases

None

Magnifying Glass

No in-app purchases

None

iSwissTool

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Magnifying Glass free?
Magnifying Glass costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is iSwissTool free?
iSwissTool costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Magnifying Glass or iSwissTool?
Magnifying Glass is rated higher. Magnifying Glass averages 4.4 out of 5 from 161 ratings, while iSwissTool averages 3.0 from 4 ratings.
Do Magnifying Glass or iSwissTool have ads?
Neither Magnifying Glass nor iSwissTool shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Magnifying Glass or iSwissTool?
Magnifying Glass ships an update every 8 months, and iSwissTool every 5 months. Most recently, Magnifying Glass was updated on October 27, 2026 and iSwissTool on October 23, 2026.

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