Comparison

eXact iDip vs Nova Safe

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

Head to head
About

eXact iDip

This app transforms your smartphone into a powerful water testing tool. It works with a handheld photometer to provide accurate water analysis, store data, and track locations. Customize your testing with over 40 additional parameters available for purchase.

Highlights
  • Share test data via CSV
  • Seamless smartphone integration
  • Parameter information and data storage
  • GPS tracking
  • Over 40 purchasable test parameters
  • Quick and simple testing procedure
Features
Read full description

Harness the power of the smartphone AND upgrade the way you test water! Share E–mail test data via CSV file (spreadsheet) The exciting eXact iDip® Smart Photometer System® by ITS, Inc. harnesses the power of smart devices and the simplicity of design to handle the heavy lifting of complex water testing. The smart phone app is designed to work seamlessly with the waterproof handheld unit with parameter information, data storage and GPS tracking included. With guaranteed exact results in less time, our new smarter process will revolutionize water testing. The app comes with 4 tests installed including pH, Free Chlorine, Combined Chlorine (Chloramines) and Total Alkalinity. Over 40 additional parameters are available for in app purchase ($4.99/ea), so you can tailor the eXact iDip® to suit your needs at a fraction of the cost of competing multi-parameter photometers. The simple and quick testing procedure takes the guesswork out of results. It’s like having a laboratory in the palm of your hand.

About

Nova Safe

This safety app connects users to university safety forces for quick assistance. It allows sending crime tips with media, requesting safety escorts, and tracking friends' locations. Users can also access campus resources, shuttle schedules, and view a crime map.

Highlights
  • Contact university safety forces
  • Send crime tips with photos/videos
  • Request safety escorts
  • Friend Watch location tracking
  • View real-time shuttle locations
  • Access campus resources
  • View campus crime map
Features
Read full description

Nova Safe is the official safety app of Villanova University. If you're in a dangerous situation, use the Nova Safe application to quickly and easily contact university safety forces. Nova Safe also allows you to: -Send text messages, as well as photos and videos of crime tips and suspicious behavior directly to university safety forces. -Request a safety escort to walk you though campus. -Use the Friend Watch feature to create a peer-to-peer safety network. Walking to class alone and want some additional safety? Use Friend Watch to allow your friends and family to track your location during that activity. -View campus shuttle schedules and even view the shuttles location in real-time. -Access campus resources, such as the student handbook, and emergency procedures directly through the app. -View a crime map which displays recent incidents on campus. GPS disclaimer: "Continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life."

Screenshots

eXact iDip4 screens
Nova Safe3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: eXact iDip at 4.0 against Nova Safe's 3.5. eXact iDip also leads on update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 5 months) and review sentiment (67% vs 50%). Nova Safe's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 18) and iOS requirement (13.2 vs 15.6). On price, ads and device support 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. eXact iDip sells 18 one-off in-app purchases. Nova Safe asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

eXact iDip holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: eXact iDip has 49 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 67% of eXact iDip's written reviews are positive against 50% of Nova Safe's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

eXact iDip ships an update every 6 weeks, Nova Safe every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
eXact iDip versus Nova Safe: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParametereXact iDipNova Safe
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (49 ratings) — better3.5 (6 ratings)
Positive reviews66.7% of reviews — better50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings49 — better6
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeks — betterEvery 5 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPod, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS15.613.2 — better
Further details — not scored
Size41 MB43 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperIndustrial Test Systems Inc.Villanova University

Customer experience

eXact iDip

All ratings49 ratings
Positive71.4%
Neutral8.2%
Negative20.4%
Written reviews63 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral7.9%
Negative25.4%

Nova Safe

All ratings6 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

Bugs and requests

eXact iDip

Reported bugs

10 issues
  • Bluetooth connection problems
  • App crashes on launch or during use
  • Lost purchased tests after update
  • Results data goes missing
  • Store section not showing items
Show 5 more
  • App not working on iOS 13
  • Crashing when importing contacts
  • Cannot save tests to customer
  • Varying results from same sample
  • Hanging dialogue boxes ('configuring', 'loading algorithm')

Requested features

7 requests
  • Improve user interface and navigation
  • Allow setting customer/site once for personal use
  • Provide actual readings instead of 'LO'/'HIGH'
  • Full screen support for iPhone X and iPads
  • Better interface/integration between devices
Show 2 more
  • Option to not require GPS
  • Make test purchases more straightforward

Nova Safe

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

18 purchases

eXact iDip

One-time18
  • Chloride CH$4.99
  • Copper CU$4.99
  • Hardness, Total Low THL$4.99
Show 15 more
  • Iron, Total FE$4.99
  • Nitrate, Fresh NO3$4.99
  • Phosphate PO4$4.99
  • Sulfate SO4$4.99
  • Hardness, Total High THH$4.99
  • Calcium CA$4.99
  • Cyanuric Acid CY-III$4.99
  • Manganese MN$4.99
  • Chlorine, Total (DPD-4) CL$4.99
  • Turbidity TU$4.99
  • Bromine, Total (DPD-4) bR$4.99
  • Pool Bundle$8.99
  • Smart Brew Bundle$18.99
  • 570 Marine Bundle$23.99
  • Well Bundle$34.99
None

Nova Safe

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is eXact iDip free?
eXact iDip is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Nova Safe free?
Nova Safe is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, eXact iDip or Nova Safe?
eXact iDip is rated higher. eXact iDip averages 4.0 out of 5 from 49 ratings, while Nova Safe averages 3.5 from 6 ratings.
Do eXact iDip or Nova Safe have ads?
Neither eXact iDip nor Nova Safe shows ads.
Which is updated more often, eXact iDip or Nova Safe?
eXact iDip ships an update every 6 weeks, and Nova Safe every 5 months. Most recently, eXact iDip was updated on September 29, 2026 and Nova Safe on October 1, 2026.

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