Sonar Ruler vs 1Extn
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Sonar Ruler
This experimental app uses your iPhone's speaker to send out sonic pulses and measures the echo to estimate distances up to 60 feet. It's a fun and innovative way to explore sonar principles, perfect for educational purposes or impressing friends with unique iPhone capabilities.
- Sonic distance measurement
- Up to 60 feet range
- Selectable units (feet, inches, meters)
- Custom saved settings
- Educational sonar demonstration
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Sonar Ruler is a winner in the Best App Ever Awards - "Most innovative use of iPhone hardware" category! The Amazing New Sonar Ruler is an experimental app that uses echoes to measure distances with your iPhone! It uses the same principles that dolphins use to find food! It sends a short pulse from the speaker and measures how long that pulse takes to bounce off of something and return to the phone. It then estimates how far away you are. Use two devices to find the distance between them, without any wifi connection! Use "quiet" mode - with ultrasonic frequencies most people can't hear! Impress your friends with what this unique app can accomplish using only an iphone! GIZMODO.com: "that's a damned neat trick for a phone to be able to do." Features: - Set Units to feet, inches, or meters - Custom saved settings for measuring in different environments If you're a teacher, this app is a great way to teach students the principles of sonar, and how sound propagates through air. Enjoy! Follow us on twitter @LaanLabs NOTE: This is an experimental app, although it can be quite accurate, any measurements taken should be verified before using them.
1Extn
Enhance your mobile browsing with custom tools and automation. Create QR codes, translate pages, search websites with keywords, and personalize web appearances. Includes an HTML game viewer and optional AI assistance for creating features.
- Customizable browsing tools
- Website search shortcuts
- Link redirects
- Page automation
- Script editor
- HTML game viewer
- AI-powered feature creation
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Make Safari work the way you want. 1Extn - Extensions & Shortcuts brings useful browsing tools, website searches, and personal automation together on iPhone and iPad. Start with ready-made tools, no coding needed and add more control whenever you want. EVERYDAY TOOLS, LESS EFFORT Create QR codes, translate pages, make reading easier, and use Picture in Picture on supported media. Choose the tools that fit the way you browse. SEARCH AND OPEN YOUR WAY Search your favorite websites using short keywords in Safari’s address bar. Set redirects to send matching links to your preferred destination automatically. PUT THE CURRENT PAGE TO WORK Use Actions to copy page details, open saved destinations, pass page information to an Apple Shortcut, or run a saved script. Connect supported workflows to Scriptable, too. MAKE WEBSITES FEEL LIKE YOURS Think of scripts as interchangeable cartridges for 1Extn. Each adds a different webpage tool—hide distractions, change a page’s appearance, or add useful controls. Choose a ready-made script, or paste trusted code into the Script Editor and save it. Then run your saved script in Safari. Add and switch between tools without installing another app. Run scripts when you need them, or enable optional Auto Run for trusted scripts on selected websites. For more control, edit JavaScript, import compatible userscripts, share your scripts, and use variables in supported searches and redirects. DESCRIBE YOUR IDEA Optional AI help lets you describe what you want to create. Describe features use ChatGPT by default, with the option to configure another compatible AI service URL. Review generated results before using them. Apple Intelligence is not required. TAKE A PLAY BREAK Open HTML games made for 1Extn in the app’s game viewer. Download games from the Games Library, or use optional AI help to create your own. HTML games are a separate feature from Safari scripts. YOU STAY IN CONTROL Choose which Safari extensions are enabled and which websites they can access. Auto Run is optional. Import scripts and HTML games only from sources you trust. Some tools depend on the website, media, or permissions available. External AI services and other destinations have their own terms and availability.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Sonar Ruler at Free against 1Extn's $1.99. Sonar Ruler also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1). 1Extn's advantage is rating (4.6 vs 2.7) and update cadence (weekly vs every 105 months). On ads and monetization model 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
Sonar Ruler is free to download; 1Extn costs $1.99 up front. 1Extn sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Sonar Ruler asks for nothing beyond the download.
1Extn holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 2.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: 1Extn has 24 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 43% of Sonar Ruler's written reviews are positive against 64% of 1Extn's.
Sonar Ruler ships an update every 105 months, 1Extn weekly. The most recent releases landed on November 10, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Sonar Ruler | 1Extn |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $1.99 |
| Rating | 2.7 (3 ratings) | 4.6 (24 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 43.5% of reviews | 63.6% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 3 | 24 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 105 months | Weekly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 5 MB | 3 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Laan Labs | Charles Kautsire |
Customer experience
Sonar Ruler
1Extn
Bugs and requests
Sonar Ruler
Reported bugs
10 issues- App crashes within 3 seconds of opening on iPhone 6 and older models
- Won't open on iOS 8.4 and later versions
- No chirping sound emitted on some devices
- Feedback loop and screaming noise on certain hardware
- Phone locks up requiring hard restart
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- Broken help video URL
- Measurements lock at same distance regardless of location
- Metric mode produces incorrect readings
- Incompatible with iPhone 4S, 5, and first-generation devices
- Inconsistent performance across different iPhone models
Requested features
11 requests- Room mapping by rotating phone in circle
- Vertical distance measurement capability
- Better ambient noise filtering
- Clearer, more intuitive user interface
- Optimized default settings (frequency, filter, chirp)
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- Larger, easier-to-manipulate sliders
- iPod Touch compatibility
- Automatic zoom functionality for measurements
- Visual indicator for when to use short vs long distance mode
- Better help video and documentation
- Accessibility features for blind users
1Extn
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Sonar Ruler
No in-app purchases
1Extn
- Optional Support Tip$2.99
Questions
Is Sonar Ruler free?
Is 1Extn free?
Which has better reviews, Sonar Ruler or 1Extn?
Do Sonar Ruler or 1Extn have ads?
Which is updated more often, Sonar Ruler or 1Extn?
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