Zero Duplicates vs The Buddy Beacon
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Zero Duplicates
Reclaim iPhone storage by finding and deleting duplicate files, even those with different names. Advanced content analysis ensures accurate identification, and a privacy-first design keeps your data local. Safely organize documents, images, videos, and more.
- Advanced content analysis for real duplicates
- Finds duplicates with different filenames
- Supports documents, images, videos, audio, and downloads
- Scans iCloud Drive and external storage
- Privacy-first local scanning
- Auto-select duplicates by newest/oldest
- Preview before deleting
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Most cleaning apps on the App Store focus on the photo library. Zero Duplicates focuses on your files: the downloads, documents, PDFs, videos and audio files that pile up in the Files app and quietly fill your storage. Zero Duplicates compares files by their content, not by their names. A renamed download, an attachment saved twice, a document copied into three folders: all of them are found, even when the file names look nothing alike. MADE FOR THE FILES ON YOUR DEVICE • Scan any folder you choose: On My iPhone, iCloud Drive, external drives • Downloads from Safari, Mail and Messages • Documents: PDF, Word, Excel, Pages, Numbers, Keynote • Images, videos, audio recordings, archives and more • USB drives and SD cards (with adapter) CONTENT MATCHING File names lie. Zero Duplicates reads the actual content of every file, so duplicates are found even when they were renamed, moved or saved from different apps. AUTO-SELECT IN SECONDS Automatic selection keeps the newest or the oldest file in every duplicate group. Review, tap once, done. No scrolling through hundreds of files by hand. SEE BEFORE YOU DELETE Every duplicate can be previewed before deletion, and you choose which copy stays. At least one version of every file always remains, so losing all copies is impossible. Deletion is permanent, so nothing is removed without a clear confirmation first. PRIVATE BY DESIGN Scanning happens entirely on your device. Your files are never uploaded anywhere. HOW IT WORKS Pick a folder, scan, review what was found, delete with confidence. Three steps to a cleaner device. System files are protected automatically. Perfect for: • Anyone seeing "Storage Almost Full" warnings • People who download and share lots of files • Managing documents, media and work files on the go • Cleaning up iCloud Drive across devices TRY WITHOUT RISK Free to download • Unlimited scans • 500 MB free deletion Premium unlocks unlimited deletion and advanced features. Terms of Use: https://zeroduplicates.com/terms
The Buddy Beacon
Easily find and coordinate with your friends in crowded places. Turn your phone into a visible beacon with custom colors and effects, share your real-time location on a map, and communicate through built-in group chat. Perfect for events, outdoor adventures, and any situation where staying connected is key.
- Customizable phone beacon
- Real-time location sharing
- Interactive group map
- Group chat functionality
- Create up to 10 groups
- Invite via QR code or link
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Lost your friends at a concert? Can't find your group in a crowded festival? Buddy Beacon makes it easy to locate and coordinate with your crew in any crowded space. LIGHT UP TO STAND OUT Turn your phone into a bright, colorful beacon that's impossible to miss. Choose from 12 vibrant preset colors or create your own custom shade. Add eye-catching effects like flash or pulse at different speeds to make yourself even more visible. Your beacon settings save automatically, so you can activate your signal with a single tap. REAL-TIME LOCATION SHARING See exactly where your group members are on an interactive map. Toggle location sharing on or off whenever you want—you're always in control of your privacy. Get directions to any group member with one tap. POWERFUL GROUP MANAGEMENT Create up to 10 groups with up to 50 members each. Customize your groups with unique wallpapers and descriptions. Invite friends easily with QR codes or shareable links. Group admins can set default colors so everyone lights up together. GROUP CHAT BUILT IN Stay connected with real-time messaging. Coordinate meetup spots, share updates, and keep the conversation going without switching apps. PERFECT FOR: • Concerts & music festivals • Sporting events & tailgates • Theme parks & fairs • Shopping trips with friends • Hiking & outdoor adventures • Large family gatherings • Any crowded venue where finding your people is a challenge
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Zero Duplicates at Free against The Buddy Beacon's $1.99. Zero Duplicates also leads on ratings volume (63 vs 1). The Buddy Beacon's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and review sentiment (100% vs 80%). On rating, ads 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
Zero Duplicates is free to download; The Buddy Beacon costs $1.99 up front. Zero Duplicates sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. The Buddy Beacon asks for nothing beyond the download.
The Buddy Beacon holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Zero Duplicates has 63 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 80% of Zero Duplicates's written reviews are positive against 100% of The Buddy Beacon's.
| Parameter | Zero Duplicates | The Buddy Beacon |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $1.99 |
| Rating | 4.8 (63 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 80.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 63 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Weekly | — |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Freemium — better | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 15.1 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 20 MB | 42 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Christopher Brock | The Buddy Beacon |
Customer experience
Zero Duplicates
The Buddy Beacon
In-app purchases
Zero Duplicates
- Monthly Subscription$4.991 Month
- Yearly Subscription$7.991 Year
- Lifetime$14.99
The Buddy Beacon
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Zero Duplicates free?
Is The Buddy Beacon free?
Which has better reviews, Zero Duplicates or The Buddy Beacon?
Do Zero Duplicates or The Buddy Beacon have ads?
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