Comparison

Mac Tools vs StarViewer

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 utility transforms your smartphone into a sound and vibration detection tool for diagnosing issues in vehicles and machinery. It helps pinpoint rattles, squeaks, and grinding sounds, making repairs easier.

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

The Mac Tools SmartEAR2 Sound & Vibration Detection app was developed to help assist the service technician in locating and finding defective or worn parts in automobiles, heavy machinery or industrial equipment where vibration, rattles, squeaks and grinding sounds would be associated making the task very difficult or impossible to diagnose. When used with our specially designed hardware kits your smartphone will be transformed into a state of the art Sound & Vibration Detection Technicians Tool, allowing for ease of locating and finding those troubled areas. 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 iOS5.0+. Recommended: iPhone 4 and newer/ iPod Touch 4 and newer. Compatible: iPad 2 and newer.

About

StarViewer

Read full description

Connect your iPhone to Ophir's Ariel all in one laser Power / Energy meter via Bluetooth • Display, measurements as either a line graph, a simulated analog needle, or a full screen numeric display with statistics • Fully configurable Laser measurement settings • Ideal for field technicians making service calls

Screenshots

Mac Tools4 screens
StarViewer2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Mac Tools at 15.0 against StarViewer's 18.0. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Mac Tools ships an update every 23 months, StarViewer every 21 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Mac Tools versus StarViewer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMac ToolsStarViewer
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 23 monthsEvery 21 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size12 MB23 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJS Products, Inc.Ophir Optronics Solutions Ltd.

In-app purchases

None

Mac Tools

No in-app purchases

None

StarViewer

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Mac Tools free?
Mac Tools is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is StarViewer free?
StarViewer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Mac Tools or StarViewer have ads?
Neither Mac Tools nor StarViewer shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Mac Tools or StarViewer?
Mac Tools ships an update every 23 months, and StarViewer every 21 months. Most recently, Mac Tools was updated on November 1, 2026 and StarViewer on November 7, 2026.

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