Comparison

RF 4DAT vs PlateDetect

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

Head to head
About

RF 4DAT

Features
Read full description

RF 4DAT helps you understand how much RF activity is around you using on-device Bluetooth scanning. See live device counts, review history by location, and keep it all in clear, simple screens. RF 4DAT is free to download, and scanning is free forever. Free features: - Live RF device counts with manual scan control - Location-tagged history (manual or auto-detected) - Protect: a curated guide to RF detection, measurement, and shielding gear - Legal and ethical use guidance built in RF 4DAT Pro (one-time in-app purchase): - Trends: averages, recent changes, most-scanned places, and common devices - CSV export of your scan history Bought RF 4DAT when it was a paid app? Pro is included automatically — there is nothing to buy again. Tap Restore Purchases in Settings if it doesn't appear. Privacy: the 4DAT method Your scans stay on your device. RF 4DAT does not collect, sell, or share your data, and there is no analytics or tracking. Location, when you allow it, is used on-device only to label a scan with a place name; coordinates are never stored. Please use RF 4DAT only where you have permission and legal authority. It is not for stalking, covert surveillance, or identifying people. Device counts are estimates of nearby signals, not identifications of individuals. As an Amazon Associate, RF 4DAT earns from qualifying purchases made through links in the Protect tab. Prices and availability are set by Amazon.

About

PlateDetect

This app reads license plates directly on your device using your camera or imported photos. It offers features for checking plate readability from a distance, managing scan history, and setting up custom alerts for specific plates.

Highlights
  • On-device license plate reading
  • Live camera scan
  • Photo import recognition
  • Readability checks
  • History management
  • Watchlist alerts
  • Plate format configuration
Features
Read full description

PlateDetect is an on-device license plate reading app built for controlled field scans, photo imports, readability checks, local review, and watchlist alerts. Start by adding the plate formats used in your area, such as AA ## or AAA ####. PlateDetect strictly follows the formats you add. If no format is configured, detection stays off. Use Live Scan to read plates with the camera, or import a photo for the same on-device recognition workflow. The app combines plate localization, Apple Vision OCR, configurable confidence thresholds, and duplicate-save timing so History stays focused on useful reads instead of every frame. Field Check is a separate mode for measuring whether a plate is readable from a selected distance. It reports readiness using OCR confidence, plate size, framing, and plate shape without saving the check as a scan. History keeps each saved detection organized with normalized plate text, raw OCR text, detection confidence, OCR confidence, matched format, capture time, source, notes, optional GPS region, and saved media. You can choose how much surrounding image context is kept around the plate crop. Watchlist alerts help identify plates you choose to monitor locally. Standard detections use a quieter confirmation tone, while watchlist matches use a distinct higher alert repeated three times. Plate Rules let you allow or restrict plate endings by day and time window, with a Monday-Sunday overview for quick schedule review. PlateDetect is local-first. Detection runs on device, History is stored locally, Face ID app lock can protect saved records, and backend sync is optional through your own HTTPS endpoint. PlateDetect is a field aid, not a legal identity system. Confirm important reads against official records and follow the rules for your role and location. Standard EULA: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

RF 4DAT4 screens
PlateDetect4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: PlateDetect at none against RF 4DAT's 1. PlateDetect also leads on update cadence (every 9 days vs every 3 months). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. RF 4DAT sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. PlateDetect asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

RF 4DAT ships an update every 3 months, PlateDetect every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on September 8, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
RF 4DAT versus PlateDetect: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRF 4DATPlateDetect
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 9 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details — not scored
Size1 MB10 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer4DAT LLCOna Pacholo Asis

In-app purchases

1 purchases

RF 4DAT

One-time1
  • RF 4DAT Pro$2.99
None

PlateDetect

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is RF 4DAT free?
RF 4DAT is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is PlateDetect free?
PlateDetect is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do RF 4DAT or PlateDetect have ads?
Neither RF 4DAT nor PlateDetect shows ads.
Which is updated more often, RF 4DAT or PlateDetect?
RF 4DAT ships an update every 3 months, and PlateDetect every 9 days. Most recently, RF 4DAT was updated on September 8, 2026 and PlateDetect on September 22, 2026.

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