# Binoculars vs Magnifying glass ++

The clearest difference is price: Magnifying glass ++ at Free against Binoculars's $4.99. Magnifying glass ++ also leads on ratings volume (26K vs 3K). Binoculars's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and chart position (#77 vs unranked). On rating, review sentiment, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Magnifying glass ++ is free to download; Binoculars costs $4.99 up front. Magnifying glass ++ sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Binoculars asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for Binoculars against 4.6 for Magnifying glass ++. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Magnifying glass ++ has 26K ratings behind it against 3K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 36% of Binoculars's written reviews are positive against 30% of Magnifying glass ++'s.

Binoculars ships an update every 3 months, Magnifying glass ++ every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Binoculars | Magnifying glass ++ |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $4.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.5 (3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/binoculars/id497864213/reviews) | **[4.6 (26K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/magnifying-glass-plus-plus/id1190017609/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 3K | **26K** |
| Positive reviews | **35.7% of reviews** | 29.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | **#77** | — |
| Size | 106 MB | 15 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [i4software](https://appshunter.io/developer/376546133) | [Tue Nguyen Minh](https://appshunter.io/developer/434811167) |

## What reviewers say

### Binoculars

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/binoculars/id497864213)

**Currently charting:** #77 Top Paid · Utilities (US App Store)

This app provides extreme telephoto zoom capabilities for your mobile device, offering up to 32x magnification. It utilizes the full-sensor resolution for high-quality zoomed photos and videos, and includes GPS features to show your location and remember where pictures were taken.

**Highlights:** 32X extreme telephoto zoom, High-resolution photo and video, Full-sensor resolution processing, Active image stabilization, GPS location display, Picture location memory, Google Cardboard mode

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Zoom functionality
- 👍 Useful for sports/events
- 👍 Good for vision-impaired users

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and stability issues
- 🔍 Zoom quality not as advertised
- 💰 Watermark on paid version
- 🔍 Image quality issues
- 🔍 Limited zoom range

**Reported bugs**

- Upside down/mirrored display
- Video recording issues
- Compatibility problems with newer iOS versions
- Zoom functionality not working as expected

**Requested features**

- Flashlight mode for low light
- Higher zoom levels
- Better image/video quality
- Remove watermark on paid version
- Support for dual-lens cameras


### Magnifying glass ++

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/magnifying-glass-plus-plus/id1190017609)

Transform your device into a powerful magnifying glass with an integrated light. Easily read small text in dimly lit environments or when your reading glasses are forgotten. Enjoy enhanced sharpness and maximum zoom capabilities on any compatible device.

**Highlights:** Maximum zooming power, Improved sharpness, Magnifying glass with light, Read fine prints, Adjustable light level, Full screen interface

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro Features | $1.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Magnifies well
- 👍 Helpful for reading small text
- 🔍 Useful for personal experiments

**What reviewers complain about**

- ⏱️ Very short usage time before requiring upgrade
- 💰 Deceptive as a 'free' app
- 🙄 Constant upgrade prompts disrupt usage
- 🔍 Limited magnification without upgrade

**Reported bugs**

- App freezes or becomes unusable after a few seconds
- Inconsistent performance and image quality

**Requested features**

- Longer free usage time
- More magnification options in free version
- Ability to save multiple custom filters


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Binoculars free?

Binoculars costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Magnifying glass ++ free?

Magnifying glass ++ is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Binoculars or Magnifying glass ++?

Magnifying glass ++ is rated higher. Binoculars averages 4.5 out of 5 from 3K ratings, while Magnifying glass ++ averages 4.6 from 26K ratings.

### Do Binoculars or Magnifying glass ++ have ads?

Neither Binoculars nor Magnifying glass ++ shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Binoculars or Magnifying glass ++?

Binoculars ships an update every 3 months, and Magnifying glass ++ every 2 months. Most recently, Binoculars was updated on November 1, 2026 and Magnifying glass ++ on November 5, 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.*