Magnetometer Stud Finder vs Stud Finder
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- Detect studs on walls
- Accurate stud location
- Adjustable sensitivity settings
- Settings adjustments
- Find metal objects
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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!
Stud Finder
This utility app uses your iPhone's magnetometer to detect metal fasteners behind drywall, helping you locate stud lines. Simply sweep your phone across the wall to find screws and nails, then mark the spikes to identify the stud's position for mounting.
- Detects metal fasteners behind drywall
- Locates stud lines
- Uses iPhone's magnetometer
- Simple sweep-and-detect method
- No ads or interruptions
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Find studs behind drywall using your iPhone's built-in magnetometer. This app detects metal fasteners (the screws and nails holding your drywall to wood studs) and helps you locate stud lines behind your wall. HOW IT WORKS Your drywall is screwed into wooden studs roughly every 16 inches. This app picks up those screws by reading changes in the magnetic field as you sweep your phone across the wall. Find screws in a vertical line and you've found the stud. HOW TO USE Take your case off. Hold your phone flat against the wall. Sweep slowly left and right. When the signal spikes, there's metal nearby. Mark each spike, look for a vertical line of hits, and that's your stud. Drill a small pilot hole before you mount anything heavy. If the bit hits something solid, you're on the stud. If it punches right through, move an inch and try again. Takes 30 seconds. WHAT THIS APP CANNOT DO It detects metal, not wood. If there are no screws or nails in the wall where you're scanning, it won't find anything. It also won't work well through thick plaster, concrete, or tile. And it's not a replacement for a professional stud finder on structural work. For mounting a TV, hanging shelves, or putting up pictures on normal drywall, it works. No ads. No nag timers. No interruptions. PRIVACY No account. No tracking. No data leaves your phone.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: Stud Finder at none against Magnetometer Stud Finder's shown. Stud Finder also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 7 months) and monetization model (free vs ad-supported). Magnetometer Stud Finder's advantage is ratings volume (38 vs 10). On price, rating, 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Stud Finder holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 3.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 38 and 10 respectively.
Magnetometer Stud Finder ships an update every 7 months, Stud Finder every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.
| Parameter | Magnetometer Stud Finder | Stud Finder |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.9 (38 ratings) | 4.1 (10 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 80.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 38 — better | 10 |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 — better | 17.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 5 MB | 2 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Steve Veloudos | Monolayer Studio |
Customer experience
Magnetometer Stud Finder
Stud Finder
In-app purchases
Magnetometer Stud Finder
No in-app purchases
Stud Finder
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Magnetometer Stud Finder free?
Is Stud Finder free?
Which has better reviews, Magnetometer Stud Finder or Stud Finder?
Do Magnetometer Stud Finder or Stud Finder have ads?
Which is updated more often, Magnetometer Stud Finder or Stud Finder?
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