# Clamshell vs MSR Reader

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.

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Clamshell | MSR Reader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $3.99 |
| Rating | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/clamshell/id6477896729/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **1** | — |
| Positive reviews | 80.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 weeks** | Every 7 months |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 8 MB | 1 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.4 | **17.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Alexander Kovrazhkin](https://appshunter.io/developer/1544108014) | [TCool LTD.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1711330864) |

## What reviewers say

### Clamshell

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/clamshell/id6477896729)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### MSR Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/msr-reader-magstripe-data/id6747325787)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


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