# Beat the Microbead vs MicroPlastics

The clearest difference is review sentiment: MicroPlastics at 100% against Beat the Microbead's 33%. MicroPlastics also leads on ads (none vs shown) and rating (5.0 vs 4.5). Beat the Microbead's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and ratings volume (28 vs 6). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. MicroPlastics sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month. Beat the Microbead asks for nothing beyond the download.

MicroPlastics holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 28 and 6 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 33% of Beat the Microbead's written reviews are positive against 100% of MicroPlastics's.

Beat the Microbead ships an update every 3 months, MicroPlastics every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Beat the Microbead | MicroPlastics |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (28 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/beat-the-microbead/id573546717/reviews) | **[5.0 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/microplastics-plastic-scanner/id6741938548/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **28** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | 32.6% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Freemium |
| Size | 52 MB | 85 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 16.4 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Plastic Soup Foundation](https://appshunter.io/developer/920784969) | [Raja Hasan](https://appshunter.io/developer/1794937925) |

## What reviewers say

### Beat the Microbead

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/beat-the-microbead/id573546717)

Quickly check cosmetics and personal care products for plastic ingredients by scanning their ingredient lists. Receive a traffic light rating and discover certified microplastic-free brands to make informed, eco-friendly choices.

**Highlights:** Scan product ingredients for microplastics, Text recognition technology, Traffic light rating system (Red, Orange, Green), Discover certified microplastic-free brands, Contribute to a database against microplastics, Barcode scanning

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### MicroPlastics

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/microplastics-plastic-scanner/id6741938548)

Scan food and drink products to assess microplastic contamination risk based on scientific research. Receive a safety score, track exposure, and discover safer alternatives. Features include AI-powered packaging analysis and context-aware scoring.

**Highlights:** Hybrid barcode and image scanning, Science-based safety scoring, Packaging material analysis, Physical wear assessment, Contextual usage modifiers, Exposure tracking dashboard, Local eco guide

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| MicroPlastics Premium Monthly | $7.99 | per month |
| MicroPlastics Premium Annual | $49.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Beat the Microbead free?

Beat the Microbead is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is MicroPlastics free?

MicroPlastics is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Beat the Microbead or MicroPlastics?

MicroPlastics is rated higher. Beat the Microbead averages 4.5 out of 5 from 28 ratings, while MicroPlastics averages 5.0 from 6 ratings.

### Do Beat the Microbead or MicroPlastics have ads?

Beat the Microbead shows ads; MicroPlastics does not.

### Which is updated more often, Beat the Microbead or MicroPlastics?

Beat the Microbead ships an update every 3 months, and MicroPlastics every 5 days. Most recently, Beat the Microbead was updated on October 24, 2026 and MicroPlastics on October 28, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*