# Visual Counter vs CountThings from Photos

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Visual Counter at none against CountThings from Photos's 5. Visual Counter also leads on iOS requirement (6.0 vs 15.6). CountThings from Photos's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 10 months) and ratings volume (152 vs 18). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. CountThings from Photos sells 5 one-off in-app purchases. Visual Counter asks for nothing beyond the download.

CountThings from Photos holds the better App Store score, 3.8 against 3.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: CountThings from Photos has 152 ratings behind it against 18, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 48% of Visual Counter's written reviews are positive against 44% of CountThings from Photos's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Visual Counter ships an update every 10 months, CountThings from Photos every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on August 20, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Visual Counter | CountThings from Photos |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.6 (18 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/visual-counter/id357414746/reviews) | **[3.8 (152 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/countthings-from-photos/id1196810823/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 18 | **152** |
| Positive reviews | **48.3% of reviews** | 44.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 10 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 3 MB | 171 MB |
| Requires iOS | **6.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [SlaVanya LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/425987343) | [Dynamic Ventures, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/921987312) |

## What reviewers say

### Visual Counter

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/visual-counter/id357414746)

Easily count objects in photos by marking them directly on the image. Zoom in and out to accurately count small or numerous items. Save your progress and customize mark colors for clarity.

**Highlights:** Count objects in photos, Mark items directly on image, Zoom in/out for detail, Add/delete marks, Change mark color, Save current count

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### CountThings from Photos

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/countthings-from-photos/id1196810823)

This app automatically counts objects in photos using advanced recognition technology. Customize counting templates and the user interface to fit specific workflows and needs. It offers privacy with offline operation and various licensing options for different users.

**Highlights:** Automatic object detection and counting, Customizable counting templates, User interface customization, OEM customization for businesses, Offline operation for privacy, Multiple licensing options

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

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 24h License | $23.99 | one-time |
| 24h Licenses - Pack of 4 | $79.99 | one-time |
| Pay-Per-Count | $79.99 | one-time |
| CountThings License (1 month) | $119.99 | one-time |
| 24h Licenses - Pack of 10 | $149.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎯 Highly accurate counting for most items
- 🚀 Fast and efficient counting process
- 📋 Extensive pre-built templates for various items
- 🏷️ Labels each item individually with numbers
- 💾 Saves photos for documentation and reference

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Extremely expensive pricing ($80-$160/month)
- ❌ Frequently inaccurate counting results
- 🔍 Struggles with partially hidden or overlapping items
- 📐 Difficulty with depth perception in stacked items
- 🎭 Fails with similar-shaped objects in same photo

**Reported bugs**

- Counts blank spaces or background areas incorrectly
- Significant undercounting of small items (pills, nematodes)
- Overcounting identical items dramatically (365 instead of 105)
- Fails to count items consistently across photo rotations
- Manual counter only counts 1 item regardless of input

**Requested features**

- Lower monthly subscription pricing ($20-30/month range)
- One-time lifetime purchase option
- Tiered pricing for occasional users
- Educational discount or free trial for students
- Postage stamp counting template


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Visual Counter free?

Visual Counter is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is CountThings from Photos free?

CountThings from Photos is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Visual Counter or CountThings from Photos?

CountThings from Photos is rated higher. Visual Counter averages 3.6 out of 5 from 18 ratings, while CountThings from Photos averages 3.8 from 152 ratings.

### Do Visual Counter or CountThings from Photos have ads?

Neither Visual Counter nor CountThings from Photos shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Visual Counter or CountThings from Photos?

Visual Counter ships an update every 10 months, and CountThings from Photos every 3 weeks. Most recently, Visual Counter was updated on August 20, 2026 and CountThings from Photos on September 22, 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.*