Comparison

Magnifying Glass vs SuperVision+ Magnifier

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
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

SuperVision+ Magnifier

This app provides advanced magnification with superior live image stabilization, making it easier to read small print or see distant objects. It can also function as a microscope for detailed viewing of tiny items, with features designed for clarity and ease of use.

Highlights
  • Live image stabilization
  • Microscope functionality
  • Freeze high-resolution images
  • Built-in flashlight
  • Focus locking
  • Inverted black-and-white mode
Features
Read full description

SuperVision+ is the only magnifying glass app on the market that offers a supreme live image stabilization capability. Highly magnified images are usually shaking. It is a problem especially for old people. No more image shaking with SuperVision+ magnifier (magnifying glass). Highlighted in Technology News for People Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired published by the American Foundation for the Blind. From reading small print at near distance to seeing signs at far distance, SuperVision+ magnifier (magnifying glass) is your go-to app for seeing better and clearer. Place your phone camera close to small objects, the app can also be used as a microscope. You can see something small that even normally sighted people can't see. Features: - Easy to activate stabilization. Just press the screen and hold. - Option to only stabilize vertically, allowing horizontal reading movement. - Large and highly visible buttons. - Maximize screen by double tapping to hide buttons - Freeze images at high resolution for examining details. - Easy to use either with one hand or two hands. - Built-in flash light support. - Allow focus locking. - Select target for focus and exposure control. - Snapshots can be saved and recalled. - Inverted black-and-white image mode.

Screenshots

Magnifying Glass4 screens
SuperVision+ Magnifier4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: SuperVision+ Magnifier at Free against Magnifying Glass's $1.99. SuperVision+ Magnifier also leads on review sentiment (74% vs 54%) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 8 months). Magnifying Glass's advantage is ratings volume (162 vs 9). On rating, 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

SuperVision+ Magnifier is free to download; Magnifying Glass costs $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.3 for Magnifying Glass against 4.3 for SuperVision+ Magnifier. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Magnifying Glass has 162 ratings behind it against 9, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 54% of Magnifying Glass's written reviews are positive against 74% of SuperVision+ Magnifier's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Magnifying Glass ships an update every 8 months, SuperVision+ Magnifier every 2 months. Both last shipped on November 6, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Magnifying Glass versus SuperVision+ Magnifier: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMagnifying GlassSuperVision+ Magnifier
Price$1.99Free — better
Rating4.3 (162 ratings) — better4.3 (9 ratings)
Positive reviews53.7% of reviews74.2% of reviews — better
Number of ratings162 — better9
Update frequencyEvery 8 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreemiumFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS9.08.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size36 MB15 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperI-BeamMassachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary

Customer experience

Magnifying Glass

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

SuperVision+ Magnifier

All ratings9 ratings
Positive77.8%
Neutral11.1%
Negative11.1%
Written reviews66 reviews
Positive74.2%
Neutral4.5%
Negative21.2%

Bugs and requests

Magnifying Glass

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

SuperVision+ Magnifier

Reported bugs

6 issues
  • Black screen after recent updates
  • App crashes when switching views
  • Flashlight button not appearing correctly in landscape mode
  • App won't open on older iOS versions
  • Saved images appear blank
Show 1 more
  • App locks up after first use post-reboot

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add voice reader function
  • Add AI assistance
  • Add more color filters
  • Magnify existing camera roll images
  • OCR upgrade option

In-app purchases

None

Magnifying Glass

No in-app purchases

None

SuperVision+ Magnifier

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Magnifying Glass free?
Magnifying Glass costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is SuperVision+ Magnifier free?
SuperVision+ Magnifier is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Magnifying Glass or SuperVision+ Magnifier?
Magnifying Glass is rated higher. Magnifying Glass averages 4.3 out of 5 from 162 ratings, while SuperVision+ Magnifier averages 4.3 from 9 ratings.
Do Magnifying Glass or SuperVision+ Magnifier have ads?
Neither Magnifying Glass nor SuperVision+ Magnifier shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Magnifying Glass or SuperVision+ Magnifier?
Magnifying Glass ships an update every 8 months, and SuperVision+ Magnifier every 2 months. Most recently, Magnifying Glass was updated on November 6, 2026 and SuperVision+ Magnifier on November 6, 2026.

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