Comparison

Magnetometer Stud Finder vs Stud Finder Pro

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

Head to head
About

Magnetometer Stud Finder

This utility app leverages your device's magnetometer to detect metal objects like studs, nails, and screws within walls. It offers adjustable sensitivity settings for precise location finding, making DIY projects easier.

Highlights
  • Detect studs on walls
  • Accurate stud location
  • Adjustable sensitivity settings
  • Settings adjustments
  • Find metal objects
Read full description

The iPhone’s built-in magnetometer does allow apps to locate metal wall studs, nails, screws or any ferromagnetic material. This app uses the magnetometer to find the studs you need to locate. This app does work very well to find the studs on walls. * Easily detect studs on walls * Very accurate to find stud location * App has sensitivity settings * Also has settings adjustments This app will help you to easily find any studs on walls with your iPhone or iPad!

About

Stud Finder Pro

Read full description

Measure twice. Drill once. Stud Finder Pro turns your iPhone's built-in magnetometer into a precision wall scanner, the same sensor that powers your compass, calibrated to find the nails and screws inside drywall, plaster, and lath. Take the case off. Hold the top of your phone flat to the wall. Slide slowly. The signal climbs as you cross a screw, peaks dead-center, and drops on the other side. Mark the peak. That is your stud. Built for the moment between picking up the drill and committing to the hole. WHAT'S INSIDE A real-time magnetic-field readout in microteslas. A clean amber arc gauge that sweeps from idle to peak as you cross metal. Audio feedback that climbs with the signal so you can scan without watching the screen. Haptic confirmation at peak. A two-second auto-calibration that zeros out the room before you start. THE WAY IT WORKS Your iPhone has a magnetometer near the top edge, the same sensor your compass app uses. Stud Finder Pro reads it forty times a second, watches for spikes against your calibrated baseline, and shows you exactly where the metal is. Wood studs themselves are not magnetic, but the screws and nails that fasten drywall to them are. Find the screw. The stud is centered around it. HOW TO GET ACCURATE READINGS Remove your phone case. Magnetic accessories, metal-rich cases, and watches all skew the magnetometer. Hold the top edge of your phone flat against the wall. Slide slowly and steadily. Calibrate first by holding still for two seconds in an open area away from metal. WORKS ON Drywall, plaster, lath, and most painted wall surfaces. Concrete walls with rebar register strong signals everywhere, which is not what the app is for. DOES NOT DETECT Wood directly. Plastic pipes. Live electrical current. Non-magnetic metals like copper or aluminum. This is a ferromagnetic detector, not an X-ray. OFFLINE-FIRST PRIVACY No accounts. No advertising trackers. The magnetometer data never leaves your device. Anonymous usage analytics through TelemetryDeck only, no personal identifiers, no cross-app tracking. PRO TOOLKIT Pro unlocks unlimited scans, calibration memory, and the full-precision experience without any session limits. One payment, yours forever. Terms of Use: https://cmlapps.github.io/studfinder/terms.html Privacy Policy: https://cmlapps.github.io/studfinder/privacy.html Support: https://cmlapps.github.io/studfinder/support.html

Screenshots

Magnetometer Stud Finder4 screens
Stud Finder Pro4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Stud Finder Pro at every 2 months against Magnetometer Stud Finder's every 7 months. On price, ads, in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Magnetometer Stud Finder ships an update every 7 months, Stud Finder Pro every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on August 11, 2026 and September 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Magnetometer Stud Finder versus Stud Finder Pro: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMagnetometer Stud FinderStud Finder Pro
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.8 (28 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews80.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings28 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 7 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationAd-supported—
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS16.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size5 MB7 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSteve VeloudosCloud Motion Lab LLC

In-app purchases

None

Magnetometer Stud Finder

No in-app purchases

None

Stud Finder Pro

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Magnetometer Stud Finder free?
Magnetometer Stud Finder is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Stud Finder Pro free?
Stud Finder Pro is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Magnetometer Stud Finder or Stud Finder Pro have ads?
Both Magnetometer Stud Finder and Stud Finder Pro show ads.
Which is updated more often, Magnetometer Stud Finder or Stud Finder Pro?
Magnetometer Stud Finder ships an update every 7 months, and Stud Finder Pro every 2 months. Most recently, Magnetometer Stud Finder was updated on August 11, 2026 and Stud Finder Pro on September 10, 2026.

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