# Sonar Ruler vs Spacemap

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Sonar Ruler at none against Spacemap's 1. Sonar Ruler also leads on iOS requirement (18.0 vs 27.0). Spacemap's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs every 105 months). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Spacemap sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Sonar Ruler asks for nothing beyond the download.

Sonar Ruler ships an update every 105 months, Spacemap every 3 days. Both last shipped on November 10, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Sonar Ruler | Spacemap |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[2.7 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sonar-ruler/id324621243/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **3** | — |
| Positive reviews | 43.5% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 105 months | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | Paid | — |
| Size | 5 MB | 3 MB |
| Requires iOS | **18.0** | 27.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Laan Labs](https://appshunter.io/developer/310916919) | [RUI QI](https://appshunter.io/developer/1772461223) |

## What reviewers say

### Sonar Ruler

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sonar-ruler/id324621243)

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.

**Highlights:** Sonic distance measurement, Up to 60 feet range, Selectable units (feet, inches, meters), Custom saved settings, Educational sonar demonstration

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 💡 Innovative sonar technology using iPhone hardware
- 🎯 Accurate measurements when used correctly (±0.5-1 inch)
- 📚 Educational value for learning sound principles
- 🎮 Fun novelty app for impressing friends
- ⚙️ Customizable settings for different environments

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes immediately on many iPhone models
- ❌ Doesn't work on older iPhone generations (iPhone 4, 4S, 5)
- 🔊 Highly sensitive to background noise and interference
- 😕 Steep learning curve and unintuitive interface
- ⚠️ Inconsistent and unreliable measurements

**Reported bugs**

- 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

**Requested features**

- 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)


### Spacemap

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spacemap-video-compressor/id6825796970)

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Spacemap Pro | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Sonar Ruler free?

Sonar Ruler is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Spacemap free?

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

### Do Sonar Ruler or Spacemap have ads?

Neither Sonar Ruler nor Spacemap shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Sonar Ruler or Spacemap?

Sonar Ruler ships an update every 105 months, and Spacemap every 3 days. Most recently, Sonar Ruler was updated on November 10, 2026 and Spacemap on November 10, 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.*
