Comparison

Scanner by i vs NearSight

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

Head to head
About

Scanner by i

Features
Read full description

A fast, lightweight QR code scanner built for everyday use, and for discovering something more. Scan any QR code instantly. When you encounter an /i/ marker, Scanner reveals annotations as overlays—information layered onto physical spaces. FEATURES • Point-and-go: captures codes instantly, even on the move • Multi-code detection: scans multiple QR codes at once • Full format support: contacts, calendar events, locations, emails, messages, phone numbers, Wi-Fi, URLs • /i/ annotations: displayed as overlays on annotated objects and spaces • 90-day scan history with favorites to pin frequently used codes • Easy sharing and export • Discreet mode for scanning without drawing attention • Quick access from Control Center or Lock Screen Scanner is part of i, a platform that lets anyone augment physical spaces with digital information. No hardware required.

About

NearSight

Discover the unseen world around you by decoding Bluetooth signals from nearby devices. Identify earbuds, trackers, and sensors, with optional AI insights for plain-language explanations. This app prioritizes privacy, working offline without ads or tracking.

Highlights
  • Real-time Bluetooth device scanning
  • Device identification (make, model, type)
  • Detection of unknown devices
  • Raw advertisement and signal strength inspection
  • Optional AI-powered insights
  • Offline functionality
  • Privacy-focused design
Features
Read full description

See the hidden world around you. NearSight listens for the Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) signals that nearby devices are constantly broadcasting and decodes what they actually are. Earbuds, watches, fitness trackers, beacons, smart-home sensors, item trackers, and more turn from anonymous radio noise into a clear, readable list right on your iPhone. WHAT YOU CAN DO • Scan live. Watch nearby devices appear in real time, sorted by how close they are. • Know what's there. NearSight recognizes a growing catalog of device types and shows make, model, and what each signal means, not just a cryptic address. • Notice the unexpected. Surface unknown or unfamiliar devices around you and decide for yourself what belongs. • Go deeper. Open any device to inspect its raw advertisement, signal strength, and parsed technical details. OPTIONAL AI INSIGHTS Turn on AI to get plain-language explanations of what NearSight is seeing. Bring your own Anthropic or OpenAI API key, or run a compact model entirely on your device. Your choice. AI is completely optional and stays off until you enable it. PRIVATE BY DESIGN Scanning happens on your iPhone. NearSight works fully offline and shows what it sees to no one but you. AI insights and anonymous telemetry are strictly opt-in and off by default. Nothing leaves your device unless you turn it on. No ads, no third-party tracking, no account required. WHAT NEARSIGHT CAN (AND CAN'T) SEE NearSight decodes the Bluetooth signals that devices broadcast but it can't see everything: • Not every device is recognized. New or niche hardware may show up as Unknown until we've researched it and added support. • Some devices are intentionally excluded. We don't surface certain safety-sensitive devices (for example personal panic buttons), because revealing someone's private safety equipment could put them at risk. However, AI Insights may identify such devices. • It only sees Bluetooth. Devices that are powered off, not currently broadcasting, or that use other radios (Wi-Fi-only cameras, wired, or cellular devices) are invisible to NearSight. NearSight is a Bluetooth explorer, not a safety or security device, bug sweeper, or hidden-camera detector. It cannot guarantee it will find every tracker, camera, or listening device near you, and not seeing something here does not mean it isn't there. If you have a real safety concern, use dedicated tools and contact local authorities. Questions, or a device you'd like us to identify? Email hello@nearsight.one.

Screenshots

Scanner by i4 screens
NearSight4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Scanner by i at every 4 days against NearSight's fortnightly. On price, ads, in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Scanner by i ships an update every 4 days, NearSight fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 8 level
Scanner by i versus NearSight: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterScanner by iNearSight
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 days — betterFortnightly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS18.017.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size26 MB39 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGhozt Systems Inc.Benjamin Smith

In-app purchases

None

Scanner by i

No in-app purchases

None

NearSight

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Scanner by i free?
Scanner by i is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is NearSight free?
NearSight is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Scanner by i or NearSight have ads?
Neither Scanner by i nor NearSight shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Scanner by i or NearSight?
Scanner by i ships an update every 4 days, and NearSight fortnightly. Most recently, Scanner by i was updated on October 9, 2026 and NearSight on October 10, 2026.

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