Comparison

BigMagnify vs optaro

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

Head to head
About

BigMagnify

Transform your device into a powerful magnifying glass with an integrated flashlight. Offers multiple focus modes, image filters, and zoom levels for enhanced readability. Freeze and share magnified images easily.

Highlights
  • Full-screen magnification
  • Image freezing and sharing
  • Multiple focus modes
  • Advanced image filters
  • Adjustable flashlight
  • Front-facing camera mirror
Features
Read full description

Turn your iPhone/iPad into a state-of-the-art magnifying glass! BigMagnify is the most advanced magnifying glass app available, offering cutting-edge features while being simple to use. Features: - Use the ENTIRE screen as a BIG magnifying glass (after in-app purchase, which removes the ads) - Freeze the current image with a single tap and share the magnified image - Auto-focus mode, locked-focus mode, manual focus mode - Advanced image filters to improve visibility and readability - invert, sharpen and mono - Image stabilization - Tap-and-hold to focus - Intuitive gestures to zoom and to focus - Magnify at 1x, 2x, 4x and 8x zoom levels - Adjustable iPhone flash/torch for viewing in low-light situations. NOTE: Continued use of this feature may dramatically decrease battery life. - Use the front-facing camera so you can use BigMagnify as a magnified mirror

About

optaro

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The optaro is the first combination app and camera/stand module for the iPhone that turns your smartphone into a digital reading aid that can assist you at home and on the move. The app allows you to operate the optaro camera and set all its functions individually according to your needs. Featured benefits include: - HIGH MAGNIFICATION RANGE: optaro provides you with variably adjustable, 3x to 15x magnification* – depending on iPhone model used. - OPTIMIZED IMAGE PROCESSING: Thanks to its exceptional imaging performance, optaro gives you a razor-sharp image at all times. - INTEGRATED LED ILLUMINATION: The optaro LED ensures perfect illumination and guarantees you a high-contrast image at all times. - CONTRAST-ENHANCING FALSE COLOR MODES: Choose between 14 different false color modes – from inverse color displays to individual color schemes – for a more comfortable reading experience. - OPTIONAL ORIENTATION GUIDES: You can also set a reading line or reading blinds for easier orientation when reading text. - TELL ME FUNCTION: Have a group of words read to you out loud. - PHOTO FUNCTION: Save important images with optaro’s photo function and store them on your iPhone. - LARGE FIELD OF VIEW: With a 41 mm field of view, optaro is perfect for your visual tasks at home and on the move. - INTUITIVE OPERATION: optaro is easy to learn and operate, with clearly recognizable on-screen icons. * the exact magnification depends on the size of the display of the smartphone used The optaro camera module is required to use the app.

Screenshots

BigMagnify4 screens
optaro4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: optaro at none against BigMagnify's 1. BigMagnify's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 3 months) and device support (3 vs 1). On price and ads 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

Both are free to download. BigMagnify sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. optaro asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

BigMagnify ships an update monthly, optaro every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
BigMagnify versus optaro: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBigMagnifyoptaro
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (2.4K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews73.9% of reviews—
Number of ratings2.4K — better—
Update frequencyMonthly — betterEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS10.3 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size26 MB54 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDave ChengEschenbach Optik GmbH

Bugs and requests

BigMagnify

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Frequent crashes
  • App freezing/not opening

Requested features

4 requests
  • Autofocus feature
  • Manual focus control
  • Improved image stabilization
  • Option to disable ads

optaro

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

BigMagnify

One-time1
  • Remove Ads$2.99
None

optaro

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is BigMagnify free?
BigMagnify is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is optaro free?
optaro is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do BigMagnify or optaro have ads?
Neither BigMagnify nor optaro shows ads.
Which is updated more often, BigMagnify or optaro?
BigMagnify ships an update monthly, and optaro every 3 months. Most recently, BigMagnify was updated on October 6, 2026 and optaro on October 1, 2026.

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