Comparison

Clamshell vs MSR Reader

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

Head to head
About

Clamshell

Monitor the status of all your Macs from your iPhone or iPad. This app allows you to track lid and system states remotely, ensuring you're always informed about your devices. It utilizes iCloud for secure data synchronization without third-party servers.

Highlights
  • Monitor Mac lid states
  • Track system statuses (Awake, Sleep, etc.)
  • Remote monitoring from iPhone/iPad
  • iCloud synchronization
  • Supports Mac desktops
Read full description

Clamshell goes to iPhone and iPad! This is an iOS version of the Clamshell app. It provides monitoring states of all your Macs from your iPhones and iPads that are signed in to the same iCloud account. Clamshell now supports sharing the laptop lid statuses and system statuses (Awake, Sleeping, Logging out, Restarting, Shutting down, Restarted, Shut Down, User Logged Out, App Terminated). More statuses will come in the year. No data is shared with third-party providers. Clamshell is not using any external servers but only Apple's iCloud servers. You're in full control of your data! Note for users of iMac, Mac mini, Mac Studio, and Mac Pro: Clamshell is useful for you finally! Use it to monitor statuses of your Mac desktops remotely from iPhone/iPad. Yay!

About

MSR Reader

Features
Read full description

Read, parse, and export magnetic stripe data on iPhone and iPad. MSR Reader works with MSR90 and compatible keyboard-emulation magstripe readers. Capture up to three tracks, convert supported card data into structured fields, and export your results as CSV. KEY FEATURES • Automatic 3-track capture Read Track 1, Track 2, and Track 3 data without manual entry. • Smart field parsing Extract supported fields such as cardholder name, card number, and expiration date. • Custom parsing patterns Create reusable rules for proprietary card formats and specialized workflows. • Continuous card reading Process multiple cards in sequence for faster data-entry tasks. • CSV export Open exported files in Excel, Numbers, Google Sheets, or other spreadsheet tools. • Private by design MSR Reader does not collect app data. IDEAL FOR Authorized membership, access-control, loyalty, identification, event, inventory, and data-entry workflows. COMPATIBILITY Designed for MSR90 readers and compatible magnetic-stripe readers that operate as keyboard input devices. Hardware, connection adapters, and supported card formats may vary. MSR Reader reads and organizes card data; it does not write or encode magnetic stripe cards. Use it only with cards and data you are authorized to access.

Screenshots

Clamshell2 screens
MSR Reader4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Clamshell at Free against MSR Reader's $3.99. Clamshell also leads on update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 7 months). On ads, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement 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

Clamshell is free to download; MSR Reader costs $3.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Clamshell ships an update every 6 weeks, MSR Reader every 7 months. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Clamshell versus MSR Reader: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterClamshellMSR Reader
PriceFree — better$3.99
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews80.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeks — betterEvery 7 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS18.417.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size8 MB1 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAlexander KovrazhkinTCool LTD.

In-app purchases

None

Clamshell

No in-app purchases

None

MSR Reader

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Clamshell free?
Clamshell is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is MSR Reader free?
MSR Reader costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do Clamshell or MSR Reader have ads?
Neither Clamshell nor MSR Reader shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Clamshell or MSR Reader?
Clamshell ships an update every 6 weeks, and MSR Reader every 7 months. Most recently, Clamshell was updated on October 8, 2026 and MSR Reader on October 6, 2026.

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