Comparison

Mac Tools vs Pips!

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

Head to head
About

Mac Tools

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

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

Developed for the service technician in mind, the Mac Tools 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 information on how to purchase hardware please contact your local Mac Tools Distributor or call 1-800-MAC-TOOLS**** 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 iOS 5.0+. 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

Mac Tools4 screens
Pips!3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Mac Tools at none against Pips!'s 1. Mac Tools also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 26.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence 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. Mac Tools asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Mac Tools against 5.0 for Pips!. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 1 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Mac Tools ships an update every 28 months, Pips! every 25 months. Both last shipped on September 30, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Mac Tools versus Pips!: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMac ToolsPips!
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings11
Update frequencyEvery 28 monthsEvery 25 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size12 MB3 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJS Products, Inc.Jason Thompson

Customer experience

Mac Tools

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

Pips!

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

In-app purchases

None

Mac Tools

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Pips!

One-time1
  • Tip Jar$4.99

Questions

Is Mac Tools free?
Mac Tools is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Pips! free?
Pips! is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Mac Tools or Pips!?
Mac Tools and Pips! are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 1 ratings respectively.
Do Mac Tools or Pips! have ads?
Neither Mac Tools nor Pips! shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Mac Tools or Pips!?
Mac Tools ships an update every 28 months, and Pips! every 25 months. Most recently, Mac Tools was updated on September 30, 2026 and Pips! on September 30, 2026.

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