Comparison

Stud Finder Metal Detector vs Stud Finder Pro

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

Head to head
About

Stud Finder Metal Detector

Features
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Stud Finder Metal Detector is a smart stud finder and metal detector app that uses your iPhone magnetometer to help spot magnetic metal, field changes, and possible wall hardware during DIY, carpentry, renovation, and home repair projects. Need a quick wall scanner before hanging shelves, mounting frames, checking around drywall, or reviewing a work area? Stud Finder Metal Detector gives you live sensor readings, visual feedback, sound and haptic alerts, calibration tools, estimated signal guidance, and saved scan history in one simple app. Built for DIY users, homeowners, contractors, carpenters, students, and anyone working around walls, tools, nails, screws, beams, pipes, supports, or magnetic metal objects, Stud Finder Metal Detector helps turn your iPhone into a practical magnetic field meter and wall scanning reference tool. Why you will love Stud Finder Metal Detector Stud Finder and Metal Detector Use live magnetic sensor readings to help locate magnetic metal objects such as nails, screws, brackets, metal studs, beams, and hardware. Wall Scanner Reference Tool Move your iPhone slowly across a surface and watch the gauge respond to magnetic field changes around the wall or object. Estimated Depth Guidance Review estimated signal strength and depth-style guidance to better understand where a stronger magnetic reading may be coming from. EMF and Magnetic Field Meter Check magnetic field changes with clear live values, visual indicators, and easy-to-read detection feedback. One-Tap Calibration Set a baseline before scanning to reduce background interference and improve consistency for the current area. Sound and Haptic Alerts Choose feedback options that make it easier to notice stronger readings while scanning walls, tools, or metal objects. Scan History and Notes Save detection sessions with readings, notes, photos, and details so you can review, compare, export, or share results later. Useful for DIY and Carpentry Helpful for home repair, renovation, construction prep, mounting, tool checks, and general magnetic metal detection tasks. How Stud Finder Metal Detector works 1. Open the app and calibrate the sensor away from obvious metal. 2. Move your iPhone slowly near the wall, tool, or object. 3. Watch the live gauge, magnetic field readings, and alerts. 4. Use stronger readings as a reference for possible magnetic metal nearby. 5. Save notes, photos, and scan history for later review. Stud Finder Metal Detector is ideal for users searching for a stud finder, metal detector, wall scanner, magnetic field meter, EMF detector, depth finder, pipe finder, wire detector reference, nail finder, screw finder, DIY tool, carpentry tool, and home repair scanner. Download Stud Finder Metal Detector and make magnetic metal detection easier, clearer, and more organized from your iPhone. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Disclaimer: Stud Finder Metal Detector uses available device sensors and provides magnetic field readings, estimated guidance, and reference information only. Results can vary based on device model, wall material, object type, distance, interference, and environment. The app is not a certified stud finder, safety device, electrical tester, radar scanner, construction instrument, or replacement for professional inspection tools. Do not rely on the app as the only method before drilling, cutting, wiring, plumbing, construction, or safety-critical work. Always verify with proper tools and qualified professionals when needed.

About

Stud Finder Pro

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Measure twice. Drill once. Stud Finder Pro turns your iPhone's built-in magnetometer into a precision wall scanner, the same sensor that powers your compass, calibrated to find the nails and screws inside drywall, plaster, and lath. Take the case off. Hold the top of your phone flat to the wall. Slide slowly. The signal climbs as you cross a screw, peaks dead-center, and drops on the other side. Mark the peak. That is your stud. Built for the moment between picking up the drill and committing to the hole. WHAT'S INSIDE A real-time magnetic-field readout in microteslas. A clean amber arc gauge that sweeps from idle to peak as you cross metal. Audio feedback that climbs with the signal so you can scan without watching the screen. Haptic confirmation at peak. A two-second auto-calibration that zeros out the room before you start. THE WAY IT WORKS Your iPhone has a magnetometer near the top edge, the same sensor your compass app uses. Stud Finder Pro reads it forty times a second, watches for spikes against your calibrated baseline, and shows you exactly where the metal is. Wood studs themselves are not magnetic, but the screws and nails that fasten drywall to them are. Find the screw. The stud is centered around it. HOW TO GET ACCURATE READINGS Remove your phone case. Magnetic accessories, metal-rich cases, and watches all skew the magnetometer. Hold the top edge of your phone flat against the wall. Slide slowly and steadily. Calibrate first by holding still for two seconds in an open area away from metal. WORKS ON Drywall, plaster, lath, and most painted wall surfaces. Concrete walls with rebar register strong signals everywhere, which is not what the app is for. DOES NOT DETECT Wood directly. Plastic pipes. Live electrical current. Non-magnetic metals like copper or aluminum. This is a ferromagnetic detector, not an X-ray. OFFLINE-FIRST PRIVACY No accounts. No advertising trackers. The magnetometer data never leaves your device. Anonymous usage analytics through TelemetryDeck only, no personal identifiers, no cross-app tracking. PRO TOOLKIT Pro unlocks unlimited scans, calibration memory, and the full-precision experience without any session limits. One payment, yours forever. Terms of Use: https://cmlapps.github.io/studfinder/terms.html Privacy Policy: https://cmlapps.github.io/studfinder/privacy.html Support: https://cmlapps.github.io/studfinder/support.html

Screenshots

Stud Finder Metal Detector4 screens
Stud Finder Pro4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Stud Finder Pro at none against Stud Finder Metal Detector's 2. Stud Finder Pro also leads on update cadence (every 2 months vs every 6 months). Stud Finder Metal Detector's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price ยท Rating ยท Positive reviews ยท Number of ratings ยท Update frequency ยท Ads ยท In-app purchases ยท Monetization ยท Best chart rank ยท Devices ยท Requires iOS

CostPrice ยท In-app purchases ยท Ads ยท Monetization

Both are free to download. Stud Finder Metal Detector sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Stud Finder Pro asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Stud Finder Metal Detector ships an update every 6 months, Stud Finder Pro every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences ยท 3 level
Stud Finder Metal Detector versus Stud Finder Pro: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterStud Finder Metal DetectorStud Finder Pro
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 6 monthsEvery 2 months โ€” better
AdsNo โ€” betterYes
In-app purchasesYesNo โ€” better
DevicesiPhone, iPad โ€” betteriPhone
Requires iOS18.617.0 โ€” better
Further details โ€” not scored
Size4 MB7 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperShailebhyanand GovindavajjulaCloud Motion Lab LLC

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Stud Finder Metal Detector

Subscriptions1
  • Stud Finder Pro Weekly Access3 Days trial$4.997 Days
One-time1
  • Metal Stud Finder Pro Lifetime$29.99
None

Stud Finder Pro

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Stud Finder Metal Detector free?
Stud Finder Metal Detector is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Stud Finder Pro free?
Stud Finder Pro is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Stud Finder Metal Detector or Stud Finder Pro have ads?
Stud Finder Pro shows ads; Stud Finder Metal Detector does not.
Which is updated more often, Stud Finder Metal Detector or Stud Finder Pro?
Stud Finder Metal Detector ships an update every 6 months, and Stud Finder Pro every 2 months. Most recently, Stud Finder Metal Detector was updated on October 6, 2026 and Stud Finder Pro on October 20, 2026.

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