Comparison

Smartcard Reader vs i

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

Head to head
About

Smartcard Reader

Features
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The new App named iReader App which supports all Feitian mobile readers on iOS, here is a list: iR301, bR301, bR301BLE, bR500 https://www.ftsafe.com/Products/reader iReader App support to communication with this reader with your card, contactless and contact card. also, it takes private functions for readers, like get the serial number, reader ID, Bluetooth ID, reader name, model name, manufacturer and so on. The iReader App is a reference App, which shows you how to use our API through reader do communication with your card and get your data from the card. based on this reference App, you can be based on our code to write your own App, for example, you can integrate card reader with your solution, to do payment, authentication, identification, and private network access. Technical reminder: iR301 and bR301 reader using the same SDK under iOS, since they are both accordances with iAP1 and iAP2 protocol which made by Apple, both using the External Accessory Framework. So you will need to add below protocol string into your App. External Accessory Protocol: - com.ftsafe.iR301 - com.ftsafe.bR301 bR301BLE and bR500 using Bluetooth Smart technology, apply Bluetooth 4.0 interface as a communication channel to connect with Phones. You can find the source code from Github, link below: https://github.com/FeitianSmartcardReader/FEITIAN_MOBILE_READERS Other comments: 1. The iReader App only support one reader 2. Auto Pair only work for bR301BLE and bR500, since these device using Bluetooth Smart technology 3. To export the App log, please using iTunes export the log, the log will help us to check your issues with your reader and cards.

About

i

Access and manage files on USB drives directly from your Apple device. Stream music, watch videos, and view photos stored on your USB flash drive. It also facilitates photo synchronization.

Highlights
  • Open USB Flash Drive files
  • Stream music
  • Watch videos
  • View photos
  • Sync photos
  • USB 3.0 card reader compatible
Features
Read full description

can open the" USB Flash Drive" Apple USB disk files, such as: music, video, photos, can beUSB3.0_ cardreade Apple USB disk and apple devices, sync photos. Photograph

Screenshots

Smartcard Reader4 screens
i3 screens

Verdict

The call

Smartcard Reader and i are too close to call on the numbers: across 6 compared parameters — price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Smartcard Reader ships an update every 2 months, i every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and July 5, 2026 respectively.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
Smartcard Reader versus i: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSmartcard Readeri
PriceFreeFree
Rating—2.1 (80 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—11.8% of reviews
Number of ratings—80 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS11.011.0
Further details — not scored
Size3 MB30 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperFEITIAN Technologies Co.,Ltd.裕雨 程

Bugs and requests

Smartcard Reader

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

i

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • App crashes when trying to export files
  • External storage not detected by app
  • Corrupted or lost data after file transfers
  • Compatibility issues with iPhone X and newer models

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add support for landscape mode
  • Improve video playback capabilities
  • Allow for better file management and organization
  • Provide option to change app language

In-app purchases

None

Smartcard Reader

No in-app purchases

None

i

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Smartcard Reader free?
Smartcard Reader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is i free?
i is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Smartcard Reader or i have ads?
Neither Smartcard Reader nor i shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Smartcard Reader or i?
Smartcard Reader ships an update every 2 months, and i every 3 months. Most recently, Smartcard Reader was updated on September 22, 2026 and i on July 5, 2026.

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