Comparison

STEELMAN vs Pips!

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

Head to head
About

STEELMAN

This app transforms your iOS device into a sound and vibration detection tool. It helps pinpoint defective or worn parts in machinery and vehicles by analyzing rattles, squeaks, and grinding sounds. Requires additional hardware for full functionality.

Highlights
  • Sound and vibration detection
  • Pinpoint defective parts
  • User-friendly interface
  • Analog/Digital display options
  • Adjustable sound settings
  • Informative user guide
Features
Read full description

Developed for the service technician in mind the STEELMAN SmartEAR LITE Sound & Vibration Detection app will assist in locating and pinpointing defective or worn parts in automobiles, heavy machinery or industrial equipment. When used to diagnose vibration, rattles, squeaks and grinding sounds, the SmartEAR LITE will simplify the task of locating and pinpointing the troubled area or part with ease. When used with our specially designed hardware kits your iOS device will be able to transform into a state of the art Sound & Vibration Detection Tool allowing for ease of locating and pinpointing those hard to find troubled areas or parts. ****NOTE: Additional hardware is required to use this app. For additional information on where to purchase this hardware, please visit https://www.jsproductsinc.com Features: User friendly interface and intuitive operation. Sound level reading displays average, peak and real-time values. Sound level readings are displayed in either Analog or Digital. Analog and Digital readings have 2 display panels the user can choose from. Analog Meter or Analog Wave-Form. Digital Numeric or Digital Bar Graph. Background sound off-setting, sample rates, decibel off-setting can be manually be set. Reset/Refresh buttons reset/refresh values to default settings. Sound Level Reading Sampling Rate Decibel Off-set Master Volume Control User information guide includes informative facts about sound perception and permissible noise level exposure as well as a sound level comparison reference chart. Additional Information: Required: Any iOS device running iOS5.0+. Recommended: iPhone 4 and newer/ iPod Touch 4 and newer. Compatible: iPad 2 and newer.

About

Pips!

Generate custom tone sequences for time synchronization, inspired by global broadcast signals. Control frequency, duration, and volume to create unique 'pips' for personal or professional use. Includes presets from international broadcasters.

Highlights
  • Build custom pip sequences
  • Control frequency, duration, and volume
  • Use built-in presets
  • Recreate historical time signals
  • Generate new tone combinations
Features
Read full description

Pips is a tone sequence generator inspired by the alluring & mysterious Greenwich Time Signal and its countless friends broadcast around the world. Both amateur and professional pip connoisseurs have the power to recreate time signals of yore or innovate new combinations of boops that will delight the world's radio lovers and keep things in sync. Become time by becoming boop. This is your goal. Features! - Build a sequence of one or more custom pips and play them through your device. - Control the frequency, duration, and volume of your pips so people of all ages can keep their clocks on time. - Use our built in presets to kickstart your new pip-filled existence. Includes time signals used by international broadcasters like the BBC & CBC as well as time stations like NIST's WWV. Pips will give you the power to tame time by delineating it in your own personal style. Synchronize yourself, your family, your life. You control time now. Congratulations.

Screenshots

STEELMAN4 screens
Pips!3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: STEELMAN at none against Pips!'s 1. STEELMAN also leads on iOS requirement (9.0 vs 26.0). On price, update cadence, ads 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. Pips! sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. STEELMAN asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

STEELMAN ships an update every 22 months, Pips! every 25 months. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
STEELMAN versus Pips!: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSTEELMANPips!
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyEvery 22 months — betterEvery 25 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS9.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size20 MB3 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJS Products, Inc.Jason Thompson

Customer experience

STEELMAN

Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Pips!

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

STEELMAN

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Pips!

One-time1
  • Tip Jar$4.99

Questions

Is STEELMAN free?
STEELMAN is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Pips! free?
Pips! is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do STEELMAN or Pips! have ads?
Neither STEELMAN nor Pips! shows ads.
Which is updated more often, STEELMAN or Pips!?
STEELMAN ships an update every 22 months, and Pips! every 25 months. Most recently, STEELMAN was updated on October 2, 2026 and Pips! on September 30, 2026.

Other comparisons