Comparison

Certi vs Sterling

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

Head to head
About

Certi

This app uses synthetic DNA technology to authenticate precious metals, providing instant verification of gold and silver investments. Scan a card to see factory-sealed photos and confirm the authenticity of your items, ensuring peace of mind for investors.

Highlights
  • Synthetic DNA authentication
  • Barcode scanning
  • Factory-sealed product photos
  • Tamper-evident seal verification
  • Collection tracking
  • Instant results
  • Dark mode
Features
Read full description

Worried about fake gold or silver? You're not alone. Every year, investors lose millions to counterfeit precious metals. Certi-Lock® changes everything. Instant Authentication, Total Peace of Mind Developed by Scottsdale Mint - the same company trusted by central banks in 40+ countries - Certi-Lock® is the only app that verifies precious metals using actual synthetic DNA technology. How It Works (It's Simple!): Scan the barcode on your Certi-Lock® card Instantly see factory-sealed photos of YOUR exact product Verify DNA authentication & tamper-evident seals Done! Know your investment is 100% genuine What Makes Certi-Lock® Different: - DNA Technology - Not just surface verification, but lab-grade authentication - Factory Photos - See your exact item as it was sealed at the mint - No Registration - Start verifying immediately - Track Collections - Organize and monitor all your precious metals - Lightning Fast - Results in under 2 seconds - Dark Mode - Easy on your eyes during late-night trading Trusted by: Individual investors in 40+ countries Precious metals dealers worldwide IRA custodians and vault storage facilities Anyone serious about protecting their wealth From Scottsdale Mint: ISO 9001:2015 certified. IRA approved. Manufacturing excellence since 2008. Download now and verify your first item in under 30 seconds.

About

Sterling

Features
Read full description

Sterling is a precious-metals stack tracker built for silverbugs and goldbugs who hold physical bullion for the long haul. Log every pickup - coins, bars and rounds - and Sterling does the math that matters to a stacker: - Melt value of each holding at the latest available spot - Premium you paid over spot, and how much of it you are still carrying - Where the whole stack sits right now, up or underwater, in your chosen currency - Break-even spot per item, with the dealer spread baked in, so you know where spot needs to sit to sell back whole WHY STACKERS LIKE IT - It speaks your language: stack, pickup, melt, premium, AGW and ASW. - Every figure traces back to what you actually paid, down to the fees. - Record a sale, set the dealer spread, and see your realized P&L. - Track in USD, CAD, GBP, AUD and more; switch the display currency any time without touching your records. PRIVATE BY DESIGN - Fully offline. No account, no sign-in, no backend. - No ads and no trackers. The only network activity is an optional spot-price refresh. - Your stack lives on your device and, if you choose, syncs only through your own private iCloud.

Screenshots

Certi4 screens
Sterling4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Certi at every 3 days against Sterling's every 9 days. Certi also leads on iOS requirement (15.1 vs 26.5). 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

Certi ships an update every 3 days, Sterling every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Certi versus Sterling: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCertiSterling
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.2 (5 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings5 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 days — betterEvery 9 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.1 — better26.5
Further details — not scored
Size39 MB7 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperScottsdale Mint LLLPTIEN NGUYEN KHAC

In-app purchases

None

Certi

No in-app purchases

None

Sterling

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Certi free?
Certi is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Sterling free?
Sterling is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Certi or Sterling have ads?
Neither Certi nor Sterling shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Certi or Sterling?
Certi ships an update every 3 days, and Sterling every 9 days. Most recently, Certi was updated on October 24, 2026 and Sterling on October 25, 2026.

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