# X BlackGate vs Needle Search Builder

The clearest difference is rating: Needle Search Builder at 5.0 against X BlackGate's 1.0. Needle Search Builder also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks) and ratings volume (5 vs 1). X BlackGate's advantage is device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. X BlackGate sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Needle Search Builder sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Needle Search Builder holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Needle Search Builder has 5 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

X BlackGate ships an update every 3 weeks, Needle Search Builder weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | X BlackGate | Needle Search Builder |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/x-blackgate/id6748827853/reviews) | **[5.0 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/needle-search-builder/id6791816761/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **5** |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 10 MB | 1 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [ASAPP STUDIO](https://appshunter.io/developer/1338092352) | [Kyle Lawlor](https://appshunter.io/developer/6791816764) |

## What reviewers say

### X BlackGate

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/x-blackgate/id6748827853)

This app allows you to filter and hide unwanted content on your Twitter feed, such as politics or spoilers. It helps you curate your feed to see only the tweets you care about, offering smart filtering and usage analytics.

**Highlights:** Smart Filtering by keywords, handles, or topics, Distraction-Free Reading, Usage Analytics for filtered tweets, Easy Safari Extension Integration, Content blurring and hiding

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Safari Extension

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| X BlackGate Lifetime Access | $1.99 | one-time |


### Needle Search Builder

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/needle-search-builder/id6791816761)

This utility assists in crafting precise search queries when standard searches fall short. By answering targeted questions, it generates optimized search strings for platforms like Google, YouTube, and Reddit. It helps refine results by website, file type, date, and exclusions.

**Highlights:** Build precise search queries, Target specific websites, Search by file type, Filter by date range, Exclude unwanted terms, Search Reddit content

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Needle Pro Monthly | $0.99 | per month |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is X BlackGate free?

X BlackGate is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Needle Search Builder free?

Needle Search Builder is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, X BlackGate or Needle Search Builder?

Needle Search Builder is rated higher. X BlackGate averages 1.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Needle Search Builder averages 5.0 from 5 ratings.

### Do X BlackGate or Needle Search Builder have ads?

Neither X BlackGate nor Needle Search Builder shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, X BlackGate or Needle Search Builder?

X BlackGate ships an update every 3 weeks, and Needle Search Builder weekly. Most recently, X BlackGate was updated on October 7, 2026 and Needle Search Builder on October 11, 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.*