Comparison

xScope Mirror vs Explain This

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

Head to head
About

xScope Mirror

Preview Mac desktop images and windows directly on your iOS device or Apple Watch. Seamlessly transfer designs and test them with various scaling options, even remotely from Photoshop.

Highlights
  • Remote Mac desktop viewing
  • Apple Watch extension
  • Chromeless UI
  • Retina scaling options
  • Remote Photoshop connection
  • Multi-device connection
  • Window nudging
Features
Read full description

••• Requires xScope 4 available from the Mac App Store ••• xScope Mirror lets designers and developers effortlessly preview any Mac desktop image directly on your iOS device or Apple Watch. Unlike other preview apps, xScope Mirror doesn’t have any desktop chrome to get in your way while you work or require you to save files again and again. Simply launch xScope Mirror on iOS and then xScope on a Mac to begin. Confirm the connection on iOS and then drop an image file onto the Dock icon for xScope. A remote connection to Photoshop is also supported: this lets you preview changes in your PSD while you edit. The Mirror can also display any window on your Mac or images copied to the clipboard. Finally, any image that's displayed on the iOS device can be transferred to the Apple Watch by tapping on its screen. Layouts that are taller than the watch's screen are scrollable. Any file that matches the icon sizes for the Apple Watch will be presented with circular mask against a black background, allowing quick asset previews. Features include: • Remote Viewing – Easily view the contents of any Mac desktop window on your iOS device or Apple Watch • Apple Watch – Includes a watch extension that makes previewing on your wrist a snap! • Pin & Lock – Move the Mac window anywhere (even under other windows) & it always stays in focus on iOS • Chromeless UI – No overlaid chrome to get in the way while you work • Retina Scaling - Preview mirrored content 3:1, 2:1, 1:1, 1:2 or 1:3, great for testing on Retina devices • Compatibility – Runs on all devices using iOS 5 or later • Security – Toggle user authentication requests on/off via Preferences in the xScope desktop app • Multi-client – Multiple iOS devices can connect and view the same Mac window – Great for demos or meetings • Sharing – Copy the current image to the iOS clipboard or save it in your Photos • Nudge – Nudge the selected window one pixel at a time (useful on Retina displays)

About

Explain This

This app scans and simplifies complex documents like bills, leases, and medication labels into easy-to-understand cards. It helps users grasp important information quickly, avoid jargon, and set reminders for deadlines.

Highlights
  • Scan and understand documents
  • Simplify complex paperwork
  • Extract key information
  • Set deadline reminders
  • Save and organize scans
  • No jargon explanations
Features
Read full description

Read This For Me doesn't just scan text — it makes sure you actually understand what it says, and don't miss what matters. Confusing paperwork, explained simply — in seconds. Point your camera at anything hard to read: a prescription label, a lease, a medical bill, fine print on a contract — and get it back as a few clear, easy-to-read cards. No jargon. No re-reading the same paragraph five times. WHY PEOPLE USE READ THIS FOR ME - Understand medication labels, dosages, and warnings instantly - Make sense of insurance letters, bills, and legal notices - Catch hidden deadlines in leases and contracts before they're missed - Get reminders automatically when we spot a real date or deadline - Save every scan so you can find it again — nothing gets lost BUILT FOR REAL LIFE Caregivers managing a parent's paperwork. Renters trying to catch a hidden clause. Parents decoding school forms. Anyone who's ever squinted at print too small to read comfortably, or put off opening something because it looked too complicated. HOW IT WORKS 1. Open the camera and point it at any document 2. Get it back as a few clear cards — one idea at a time 3. Save it to Your Scans, or set a reminder if there's a deadline Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

xScope Mirror3 screens
Explain This4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Explain This at 5.0 against xScope Mirror's 3.0. Explain This also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs every 7 months) and monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs paid). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Explain This holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 1 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

xScope Mirror ships an update every 7 months, Explain This every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
xScope Mirror versus Explain This: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterxScope MirrorExplain This
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.0 (2 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews61.5% of reviews—
Number of ratings2 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 7 monthsEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.616.4 — better
Further details — not scored
Size5 MB67 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperThe IconfactoryJohn Friday

Customer experience

xScope Mirror

All ratings2 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews26 reviews
Positive61.5%
Neutral15.4%
Negative23.1%

Explain This

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

xScope Mirror

No in-app purchases

None

Explain This

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is xScope Mirror free?
xScope Mirror is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Explain This free?
Explain This is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, xScope Mirror or Explain This?
Explain This is rated higher. xScope Mirror averages 3.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Explain This averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do xScope Mirror or Explain This have ads?
Neither xScope Mirror nor Explain This shows ads.
Which is updated more often, xScope Mirror or Explain This?
xScope Mirror ships an update every 7 months, and Explain This every 4 days. Most recently, xScope Mirror was updated on October 24, 2026 and Explain This on October 21, 2026.

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