Comparison

PiFi 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

PiFi

Read full description

No need for terminal, SSH or even LuCI. PiFi has all of pro features you love from OpenWrt, reimagined to be more capable, more simple and even more fun. So things like blocking trackers and ads, connecting or switching VPN profiles and accessing your network-stored documents, photos or videos are now just a tap away on iPhone and iPad. NETWORK SETTINGS - Customize network settings, setup a travel router, and more with just a few taps WIREGUARD & OPENVPN CLIENT - Easily upload and manage multiple VPN profiles directly from your iPhone or iPad. Create a VPN network for ALL your devices in seconds ADGUARD HOME - Access AdGuard Home software for network-wide ad and tracking blocking NETWORK STORAGE - Easily expand your network storage capacity (USB storage, SSD, or SD Card) and access your files from anywhere on the network ** COMPATIBILITY NOTICE This app WILL ONLY work if your Raspberry Pi 4 or 5 has been flashed with PiFi firmware, either downloaded from the PiFi website or through a pre-configured SD Card. Standard OpenWrt builds that are not optimised for PiFi are not compatible with this app. For full compatibility details, see pifi.org TRADEMARK NOTICE Raspberry Pi is a trademark of Raspberry Pi Ltd, AdGuard and AdGuard Home are trademarks of Adguard Software Ltd, WireGuard is a registered trademark of Jason A. Donenfeld, OpenWrt is a trademark owned by Software Freedom Conservancy (SFC). All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. PiFi firmware, software, and accessories are developed by PiFi Ltd, an independent project.

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

PiFi4 screens
MSR Reader4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: PiFi at Free against MSR Reader's $3.99. PiFi also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17.0). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price Ā· Rating Ā· Positive reviews Ā· Number of ratings Ā· Update frequency Ā· Ads Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Monetization Ā· Best chart rank Ā· Devices Ā· Requires iOS

CostPrice Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Ads Ā· Monetization

PiFi 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

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 5, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences Ā· 4 level
PiFi versus MSR Reader: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPiFiMSR Reader
PriceFree — better$3.99
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksEvery 6 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS12.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size93 MB1 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPiFi LtdTCool LTD.

In-app purchases

None

PiFi

No in-app purchases

None

MSR Reader

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is PiFi free?
PiFi is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is MSR Reader free?
MSR Reader costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do PiFi or MSR Reader have ads?
Neither PiFi nor MSR Reader shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PiFi or MSR Reader?
PiFi ships an update every 6 weeks, and MSR Reader every 6 weeks. Most recently, PiFi was updated on October 5, 2026 and MSR Reader on October 23, 2026.

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