# Mac Tools vs R9 Companion

The clearest difference is price: Mac Tools at Free against R9 Companion's $11.99. Mac Tools also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 4) and rating (5.0 vs 4.6). R9 Companion's advantage is update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 23 months) and ratings volume (11 vs 1). On review sentiment, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Mac Tools is free to download; R9 Companion costs $11.99 up front. R9 Companion sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Mac Tools asks for nothing beyond the download.

Mac Tools holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: R9 Companion has 11 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

Mac Tools ships an update every 23 months, R9 Companion every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Mac Tools | R9 Companion |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $11.99 |
| Rating | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mac-tools-smartear2/id673429276/reviews)** | [4.6 (11 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/r9-companion/id6470324039/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **11** |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 23 months | **Every 6 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Paid |
| Size | 12 MB | 14 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [JS Products, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/673417159) | [Angela Mcarthur](https://appshunter.io/developer/451676466) |

## What reviewers say

### Mac Tools

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mac-tools-smartear2/id673429276)

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:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### R9 Companion

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/r9-companion/id6470324039)

Enhance your driving experience with intelligent alerts and advanced muting for your radar detector. This app provides duplicate signal rejection, dual horn priority, and high-resolution strength meters for improved accuracy and awareness.

**Highlights:** Duplicate signal rejection, Dual horn priority signal queuing, High-resolution front and rear strength meters, Location-based false silencing (SpotLocks™), Customizable audio alerts, HUD with alert details and color coding, Remote detector setting control

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Snacks - Contribution | $1.99 | one-time |
| Drinks - Contribution | $3.99 | one-time |
| Lunch - Contribution | $6.99 | one-time |
| Super Fan - Contribution | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Mac Tools free?

Mac Tools is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is R9 Companion free?

R9 Companion costs $11.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Mac Tools or R9 Companion?

Mac Tools is rated higher. Mac Tools averages 5.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while R9 Companion averages 4.6 from 11 ratings.

### Do Mac Tools or R9 Companion have ads?

Neither Mac Tools nor R9 Companion shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Mac Tools or R9 Companion?

Mac Tools ships an update every 23 months, and R9 Companion every 6 weeks. Most recently, Mac Tools was updated on October 20, 2026 and R9 Companion on October 24, 2026.

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