# DetectBuddy vs VE

The clearest difference is update cadence: VE at weekly against DetectBuddy's every 6 weeks. VE also leads on device support (3 vs 1). DetectBuddy's advantage is iOS requirement (17.6 vs 26.5). On price, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. DetectBuddy sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and VE sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

DetectBuddy ships an update every 6 weeks, VE weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | DetectBuddy | VE |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Positive reviews | — | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | — | Free |
| Size | 66 MB | 15 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.6** | 26.5 |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Gabor Gyarmati](https://appshunter.io/developer/1845462118) | [Marco Frigerio](https://appshunter.io/developer/1873934230) |

## What reviewers say

### DetectBuddy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/detectbuddy-metal-detecting/id6753882247)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| DetectBuddy PRO Monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| DetectBuddy PRO Annual | $29.99 | per year |


### VE

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ve-display/id6781215472)

This app reads and displays data from Victron Energy BLE Instant Readout devices directly on your iPhone and Apple CarPlay. It provides electrical values in a clear interface and uses text-to-speech for announcements while driving.

**Highlights:** Local Victron BLE Instant Readout decoding, Configurable advertisement keys, Automatic BLE scanning, Device list with stale-device removal, iPhone display for decoded values, Apple CarPlay device list with voice announcements

**Features:** Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| VE-Display Pro | $2.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is DetectBuddy free?

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

### Is VE free?

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

### Do DetectBuddy or VE have ads?

Neither DetectBuddy nor VE shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, DetectBuddy or VE?

DetectBuddy ships an update every 6 weeks, and VE weekly. Most recently, DetectBuddy was updated on October 28, 2026 and VE on October 31, 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.*