# PiFi vs MSR Reader

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.

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.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PiFi | MSR Reader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $3.99 |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | Every 6 weeks |
| Size | 93 MB | 1 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [PiFi Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1752356345) | [TCool LTD.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1711330864) |

## What reviewers say

### PiFi

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pifi-router-for-raspberry-pi/id6504454741)

**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 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 27, 2026 and MSR Reader on October 23, 2026.

---

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