CardRunner vs Oak Viewer
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
CardRunner
This app helps photographers quickly transfer selected images from memory cards. It identifies protected or star-rated photos for easy saving or sharing directly from the field, with options for full-size or optimized exports.
- Smart scanning by star rating or lock status
- RAW file import/export (Pro)
- Full-size or optimized image export
- Real-time photo streaming to editors
- Geotagging for imported images (Pro)
- EXIF data viewer
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For photographers who need a fast field workflow, CardRunner helps you get the right images off your camera or memory card quickly so you can stay focused on the action. CardRunner detects connected cameras and cards, searches for photos in the background, and lets you import everything for free! You can upgrade to Pro to pull only protected (locked) or star-rated shots. Once selected photos are copied locally, CardRunner clearly confirms that it’s safe to remove your card and get back to shooting. Your imported collections stay available after relaunch, can be archived for later review, and prevent accidental duplicate imports. Save to your camera roll, share with an editor, client, or friend, or send photos straight to your editor with Photostream. -- KEY FEATURES -- • Automatic Camera Detection — Connect a camera or memory card and CardRunner prepares new photos for import • Free Unlimited Import — Import as many images as you want, free forever • Fast Field Ingest — See how many new images are ready and know when it’s safe to remove your card • Persistent Collections — Review imports later, archive older collections, and avoid duplicate imports • Smart Filtering — Import only protected (locked) or star-rated images (Pro) • RAW Support — Import, save, and share ARW, CR2, CR3, NEF, ORF, PEF, RW2, and more (Pro) • Full Size or Optimized — Save originals or compress for faster transfers on slow connections • Photostream — Stream photos to your editor’s gallery with a simple join code, automatically or when you choose • Pro via Photostream — Photostream-connected users unlock Pro features automatically • Geotagging — Tag imports with your current location so every shot knows where it was delivered (Pro) • Favorites — Mark your best shots and see them on a home screen widget • EXIF Viewer — Camera, lens, ISO, aperture, shutter speed, and more at a glance • iPad Support — Works natively on iPhone and iPad -- BUILT FOR THE FIELD -- Shooting on location with limited connectivity? CardRunner keeps the card workflow focused: connect, import the photos you need, remove the card, and get back to shooting. Save full-size originals or optimized copies for faster sharing over cellular or limited connectivity while keeping your originals intact. With Photostream, your editor can see photos as soon as you import them. Prefer more control? Turn off automatic uploads and send individual photos when you’re ready. -- FREE + PRO -- Import unlimited images for free. Upgrade to CardRunner Pro for rated-only and protected-only imports, RAW support, geotagging, and additional optimization controls. If you work with Photostream, Pro features unlock automatically while connected. CardRunner is built by an independent developer and college football photographer (Go Tigers!) Feedback is always welcome — find me in Settings > Send Feedback.
Oak Viewer
A private, on-device photo viewer for art collectors and photographers. Browse online galleries, import ZIP files, and organize your collection with custom folders and ratings. Enjoy distraction-free viewing with detailed image insights and customizable themes.
- Private on-device library
- Built-in private browser for discovery
- Import ZIP galleries and batch collections
- Unlimited folders and smart folders
- 1-5 star rating system
- Full EXIF metadata and histograms
- Customizable themes and widgets
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Oak Viewer is a private, intentional photo viewer for art collectors, photographers, and anyone who loves images. Discover artwork online, download gallery ZIP files in the built-in browser, and explore your collection in a calm, distraction-free space. Swipe smoothly between images, inspect fine details, and rate your favorites, all while keeping your library fully on-device. Oak Viewer is designed to feel more like a personal gallery than a utility. FULL-SCREEN VIEWING Experience your images the way they were meant to be seen. Swipe fluidly between photos, zoom to pixel level, and explore every detail with intuitive gestures. A clean interface keeps the focus on your images, while still giving you quick access to ratings, metadata, and tools when you need them. Also supports videos, PDFs, and text files in the same library. PRIVATE, ON-DEVICE LIBRARY Your collection stays on your device. No accounts. No cloud uploads. Just your library. Optional biometric app lock adds an extra layer of protection. DISCOVER & IMPORT COLLECTIONS Browse art and photography sites with the built-in private browser. • Long-press to save images directly • Import entire ZIP galleries • Batch import collections Build your collection effortlessly. ORGANIZE YOUR GALLERY Create unlimited folders and nested folders. Use Smart Folders to automatically gather images by rating, keeping your best work always within reach. Pin favorites for instant access. RATE & CURATE Review your collection with a fluid 1–5 star rating system. Long-press and slide to rate instantly while browsing, perfect for large collections. IMAGE INSIGHTS Learn more about every image: • Full EXIF metadata • Filename and resolution details • Real-time RGB and luminance histograms • Highlight and shadow clipping indicators • Precise zoom and panning feedback WIDGETS & QUICK ACCESS Bring your collection to your Home Screen: • Picture Frame widget rotates favorite folders • Resume widget jumps back into your last session DESIGNED YOUR WAY Customize your experience: • Themes and custom app icons • Custom library backgrounds • Adjustable grid density and spacing • Slideshow viewing • Keyboard shortcuts on iPad • Configurable trash policies TRY IT FREE Oak Viewer includes a 7-day free trial with full access to every feature. After your trial, choose the plan that works for you: • Yearly — $2.99/year, auto-renewing • Lifetime — $9.99, one-time purchase Payment is processed by Apple. Manage or cancel anytime in Settings > Subscriptions. Whether you’re collecting digital art, studying photography, or simply enjoying images at your own pace, Oak Viewer gives your collection a private space to breathe. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://oakviewer.com/privacy
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Oak Viewer at every 6 days against CardRunner's every 3 weeks. CardRunner's advantage is monetization model (freemium vs paid) and iOS requirement (18.0 vs 26.1). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads 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
Both are free to download. CardRunner sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Oak Viewer sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for CardRunner against 5.0 for Oak Viewer. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 2 respectively.
CardRunner ships an update every 3 weeks, Oak Viewer every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | CardRunner | Oak Viewer |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (4 ratings) | 5.0 (2 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 4 — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 6 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Freemium — better | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 — better | 26.1 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 29 MB | 14 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | David Platt | Jeremy Dunlap |
Customer experience
CardRunner
Oak Viewer
In-app purchases
CardRunner
- All Access7 Days trial$4.991 Month
- All Access7 Days trial$49.991 Year
Oak Viewer
- Oak Viewer Pro$2.991 Year
- Lifetime Unlock$9.99
Questions
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