Media Inspector vs SMB Server
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Media Inspector
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Every file, image, or video contains extensive metadata. Camera settings, GPS coordinates, timestamps, device info, and more. Media Inspector puts that data at your fingertips. Whether you're a photographer checking camera settings, a privacy-conscious user stripping location data before sharing, or cinematographer that needs to see extensive details on your video file formats - Media Inspector has you covered. Features - View detailed EXIF, IPTC, and XMP metadata from your photos (RAW, JPEG, HEIC, PNG, TIFF & more!) - Extract extensive audio and video track information from all video file formats (MP4, MPEG, MKV, AVI, MP5 & more!) - See exactly where a photo was taken on an interactive map - Edit dates, locations, and camera info - Export metadata as text, JSON, or XML - Batch inspect multiple files at once - Customize which fields you see - Apply templated metadata with one tap Media Inspector is completely free to use for individual file viewing and EXIF editing. There is a one-time pro upgrade purchase which unlocks batch editing, templates, and full customization. Privacy is not a feature. It's the foundation. Your files never leave your device. No accounts to create. No cloud sync. No analytics tracking what you inspect. This is a tool, not a service, by design. I made Media Inspector because the existing options were either bloated, ugly, or way too complicated. I wanted something fast, clean, and focused. If you've been looking for the same thing, I think you'll like it here. Thanks for supporting indie software. Terms: https://mediainspector.app/terms Privacy: https://mediainspector.app/privacy
SMB Server
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SMB Server turns your iPhone into an SMB (file sharing) server. From a Mac or Windows PC on the same Wi-Fi network, you can open your iPhone's Documents folder directly and copy, move, or delete files. No cables and no cloud required. [Great for] • Getting photos, documents, and music from your computer onto your iPhone without a cable • Quickly pulling files off your iPhone onto your computer • Moving files around at home without the cloud or an account • Handling files the familiar way, from Finder on Mac or File Explorer on Windows [Key Features] • File server supporting SMB2 (connect from Mac, Windows, Linux, and other SMB clients) • Start or stop the server with one tap • Bonjour support: appears automatically in the Network list in Mac Finder • Shows the IP address, port, and connection address (smb://...) you need, right on screen • Guest access, or set a password to restrict who can connect • Read-only mode (blocks writing and deleting from the computer) • Automatically start the server when the app launches • Keeps the screen from auto-locking while the server is running, so connections don't drop • View a log of connections, disconnections, and file operations • Shows the free space available in the shared folder • Open the same Documents folder from the Files app, too • Built-in guide for connecting, plus troubleshooting tips [How to Use] 1. Open the app, tap "Agree and Start", then tap "Start" (If asked to allow access to the local network, choose "Allow") 2. Enter the address shown on screen on your computer (YOUR_IP = the IP address shown in the app) • Mac: In Finder, choose Go, then Connect to Server, and enter smb://YOUR_IP:4455/Documents • Windows: Enter \\YOUR_IP@4455\Documents in the File Explorer address bar • Other SMB clients, such as Linux, can connect too 3. Sign in as a guest, or with the password you set Only this app's Documents folder is shared. The share name is fixed as "Documents". [Can't Connect?] • Make sure your iPhone and computer are on the same Wi-Fi network • Keep the app's screen open on your iPhone • Include the share name (/Documents) and the port number (4455) in the address • Mac Finder keeps a window in its failed state after a sign-in failure. Close the Finder window, then choose "Connect to Server" again. If it still won't connect, delete the old password in Keychain Access [Privacy] • Never connects to the internet. Works only within your local network (Wi-Fi) • Does not collect or transmit personal information, usage data, or file contents • Uses no third-party SDKs of any kind, including ads, analytics, or crash reporting • No account registration or sign-in required • Your Documents folder is shared only while the server is running. When stopped, it cannot be accessed from outside [Notes] • The server runs only while the app's screen is open. Closing the app disconnects all connections • The SMB port number is 4455 (the standard port 445 is not available due to iOS restrictions). You need to specify the port when connecting • With guest access, anyone on the same network can connect. Use it on a trusted network, or set a password
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: SMB Server at none against Media Inspector's 1. SMB Server also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 3 months) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 18.2). 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
Both are free to download. Media Inspector sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. SMB Server asks for nothing beyond the download.
Media Inspector ships an update every 3 months, SMB Server every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Media Inspector | SMB Server |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 18.2 | 15.6 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 19 MB | 1 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Swift Fox Software LLC | Maiji Saito |
In-app purchases
Media Inspector
- Media Inspector Pro$9.99
SMB Server
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Media Inspector free?
Is SMB Server free?
Do Media Inspector or SMB Server have ads?
Which is updated more often, Media Inspector or SMB Server?
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