Distance Tool vs LiDAR Rangefinder
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Distance Tool
Calculate distances between points and areas of polygons on a map. Supports metric and imperial units, GPS location, and freehand drawing. Altitude calculation is also available, with or without data connectivity.
- Distance calculation between points
- Area calculation for polygons
- GPS location dropping
- Metric and imperial units
- Altitude calculation
- Freehand drawing
- Follow mode for real-time calculation
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Distance Tool allows for quick and easy calculations to find distances between points on a map, including area calculations for non-overlapping polygons drawn. Includes metric (meters, kilometers) and imperial units (yards, miles, feet for altitude) for distances. Co-ordinates can either be displayed in decimal or degrees, meters and seconds. Useful for mapping fields in agriculture, plots of land/home boundaries, or for general interest in distances and areas! Functionality to drop a point at your current location (GPS or otherwise), and to email the results. Tap briefly to drop points anywhere on the map. Share your drawing (shape) by email, which includes a file that can be opened on any device with Distance Tool. Allows the standard map views of standard, satellite and hybrid. Supports quick altitude calculation without data connectivity. Find out how high up you are! Or see the altitude of ANY point (requires data). Freehand draw: Draw any shape on the map to quickly calculate area. Follow Mode: Calculate distance or areas simply by moving! Subscription terms: - The subscription auto-renews at the end of each term. - Payment will be charged to iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase. - The subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period. - Account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period. - You may manage your subscription and turn off auto-renewal by going to your Account Settings after purchase. Privacy policy and Terms of Use: https://applorium.com/privacy-distance-tool
LiDAR Rangefinder
This utility app transforms your iPhone into a quick and easy distance measuring tool. Simply aim at a point to get an instant reading, with options to switch units and copy values. It's designed for effortless everyday use, providing fast answers for various measuring needs.
- Instant distance readout
- LiDAR-equipped iPhone compatible
- Zoom for precision aiming
- Switch between meters and feet
- Copy distance to clipboard
- Clean, minimal interface
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LiDAR Rangefinder turns your iPhone into a fast, simple range measurement tool. Aim at a point and get an instant distance reading from your phone to the surface in front of you. Built for clarity and speed, LiDAR Rangefinder gives you a clean, focused interface that makes measuring feel effortless. Whether you are estimating distances indoors, checking spacing on location, or simply curious how far away something is, LiDAR Rangefinder makes it easy to get a quick answer. Features: • Instant distance readout to the point you are aiming at • Designed for LiDAR-equipped iPhone models • Zoom the view on screen for easier aiming and improved precision • Tap the distance to cycle between metres, feet and yards • Touch-and-hold the distance to copy value to clipboard • Clean, minimal interface for fast everyday use Note: LiDAR Rangefinder works best on compatible iPhone models with a LiDAR scanner. Accuracy depends on lighting, surface type, distance, and environmental conditions. Reflective, transparent, very dark, or very distant surfaces may reduce reliability. LiDAR Rangefinder is designed for close to medium distances, from 0.1m up to a maximum of between 5m and 10m depending on iPhone model and conditions. If LiDAR lock cannot be achieved then ARKit raycast is used as a fallback measuring method and "AR Only" instead of "LiDAR" is displayed in the status bar. If you want a lightweight, modern distance tool that is ready whenever your phone is in your pocket, LiDAR Rangefinder is the simplest way to measure.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Distance Tool at 4.4 against LiDAR Rangefinder's 3.1. Distance Tool also leads on ratings volume (2.2K vs 9) and review sentiment (58% vs 33%). LiDAR Rangefinder's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 6) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, ads and iOS requirement 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
Both are free to download. Distance Tool sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. LiDAR Rangefinder asks for nothing beyond the download.
Distance Tool holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Distance Tool has 2.2K ratings behind it against 9, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 58% of Distance Tool's written reviews are positive against 33% of LiDAR Rangefinder's.
Distance Tool ships an update every 2 months, LiDAR Rangefinder every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Distance Tool | LiDAR Rangefinder |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.4 (2.2K ratings) — better | 3.1 (9 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 58.1% of reviews — better | 33.3% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 2.2K — better | 9 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 20 MB | 2 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Applorium Ltd | WILLIAM BENJAMIN BURRARD-LUCAS |
Customer experience
Distance Tool
LiDAR Rangefinder
Bugs and requests
Distance Tool
Reported bugs
4 issues- GPS not working on certain devices
- App crashes when trying to access location services
- Saved routes not loading properly
- Inconsistent distance calculations
Requested features
4 requests- Ability to edit/reposition dropped pins
- Option to toggle visibility of distance labels
- Support for entering coordinates manually
- Improved map quality and zooming capabilities
LiDAR Rangefinder
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Distance Tool
- Distance Calculator Monthly3 Days trial$3.991 Month
- Distance Measure Premium - Monthly$7.991 Month
- Distance Calculator Premium3 Days trial$19.991 Year
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- Distance Measure Premium - Yearly3 Days trial$39.991 Year
- Premium - freehand & follow$7.99
- Distance Tool Lifetime$39.99
LiDAR Rangefinder
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Distance Tool free?
Is LiDAR Rangefinder free?
Which has better reviews, Distance Tool or LiDAR Rangefinder?
Do Distance Tool or LiDAR Rangefinder have ads?
Which is updated more often, Distance Tool or LiDAR Rangefinder?
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