Comparison

Lens vs ControlPad

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

Head to head
About

Lens

Read full description

Discover the world around you with the power of AI. Our app is designed to help you identify objects, learn new information, and explore everyday items with just a photo or a quick scan. Simply point your camera at an object or upload an image from your gallery, and the app will analyze it in seconds using advanced image recognition technology. Instantly receive useful information about a wide variety of categories, including: - Food and meals, including nutritional and calorie information - Plants and flowers - Animals and pets - Insects and bugs - Coins and collectibles - Vehicles and car models - Antiques and historical items - Household devices and everyday objects - And much more Whether you're exploring nature, learning about collectibles, identifying products, or satisfying your curiosity, the app provides fast and convenient access to detailed information. Key Features: - AI-powered object recognition - Camera and gallery image scanning - Detailed information and identification results - Product discovery and item lookup tools - Support for multiple object categories - Fast and easy-to-use interface - Designed for learning, exploration, and everyday use Every scan is an opportunity to discover something new and gain valuable insights about the world around you. Disclaimer: This application is an independent third-party product and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Google or any of its services. All trademarks and product names belong to their respective owners. Subscriptions & In-App Purchases: Weekly — $4.99 Monthly — $12.99 Yearly — $39.99 Lifetime — $59.99 Subscriptions renew automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current billing period. You can manage or cancel your subscription, as well as any free trial, through your device settings. Any unused portion of a free trial period will be forfeited when purchasing a subscription. For additional information, please review our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Privacy Policy: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1YK9j3ltOt55SykqnkmxCT8NEbUz6BF3otiQo6GOKTOI/edit?usp=sharing Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

ControlPad

Transform your iPhone or iPad into a versatile remote for your Mac. It functions as a trackpad, keyboard, and app-specific control surface, adapting automatically to the application you're using. Enjoy seamless control from anywhere in the room.

Highlights
  • Mac-like trackpad experience
  • Full iPhone/iPad keyboard input
  • App-adaptive controls
  • Three customizable layouts
  • Haptic feedback
  • Private, local network connection
Features
Read full description

Turn your iPhone or iPad into a trackpad, keyboard and control surface for your Mac, one that automatically adapts to the app you're using. Control your Mac from the couch, across the room or right beside your desk. ControlPad connects directly to your Mac over your local network, with a trackpad tuned to feel like a MacBook's and controls that change as you switch apps. A TRACKPAD THAT FEELS LIKE YOUR MAC'S • Tap to click, two fingers to scroll, press and drag to move windows • Two-finger tap to right-click • Four-finger swipes for Mission Control, App Exposé and switching Spaces • Pointer speed tuned to match a MacBook trackpad, and adjustable to suit you TYPE WITH YOUR OWN KEYBOARD • Type on your Mac with the iPhone or iPad keyboard you already know, including autocorrect, dictation and emoji • Command, Option, Control and Shift, the arrow keys and Escape, always one tap away CONTROLS THAT FOLLOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING Switch apps on your Mac and ControlPad adapts automatically: tabs and navigation in Safari, replies in Mail, formatting in Notes, builds in Xcode, playback for music and video. More than 50 Mac apps have their own controls, and every other app still gets the essentials, like Undo, Copy, Paste and Find. THREE LAYOUTS • Input: the whole screen is your trackpad • Balanced: a trackpad and your app's controls, side by side • Controls: every command at a glance, beside your own keyboard and mouse Switch any time, on iPhone and iPad. MORE • Switch between the apps running on your Mac • Pair as many iPhones and iPads as you like; one controls your Mac at a time • Haptic feedback for clicks, drags, gestures and controls PRIVATE BY DESIGN • Your devices talk directly to each other over your local network, with no cloud service in between • Pair once with a code shown on your Mac; the code is never sent over the network, and every connection is secure. • No account, no sign-up and no in-app analytics GETTING STARTED ControlPad works with ControlPad for Mac, a companion app you download from controlpad.tech. Open it on your Mac, allow Accessibility access when macOS asks (it's what lets ControlPad move the pointer and type for you), then open ControlPad on your iPhone or iPad on the same local network. Your Mac appears by itself; enter the code it shows and you're connected. Requires iOS or iPadOS 26 or later, and a Mac with macOS 26.6 or later on the same local network.

Screenshots

Lens4 screens
ControlPad4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: ControlPad at none against Lens's 5. ControlPad also leads on update cadence (every 4 weeks vs every 3 months). Lens's advantage is iOS requirement (16.0 vs 26.0). On price, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Lens sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. ControlPad asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Lens ships an update every 3 months, ControlPad every 4 weeks. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Lens versus ControlPad: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLensControlPad
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—2 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 4 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size33 MB4 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperWTF STREET CART LLCAlan Bryden

In-app purchases

5 purchases

Lens

Subscriptions4
  • Weekly$4.997 Days
  • Weekly-Trial3 Days trial$4.997 Days
  • Monthly$12.991 Month
Show 1 more
  • Yearly$39.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime$59.99
None

ControlPad

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Lens free?
Lens is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is ControlPad free?
ControlPad is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Lens or ControlPad have ads?
Neither Lens nor ControlPad shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Lens or ControlPad?
Lens ships an update every 3 months, and ControlPad every 4 weeks. Most recently, Lens was updated on October 31, 2026 and ControlPad on October 31, 2026.

Other comparisons