RipReader vs ChainRanger
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
RipReader
Measure disc golf throw speed, spin, and distance using your phone's camera. Automatically detects forehand and backhand throws, providing slow-motion playback with metrics. Track progress and compare disc performance.
- Phone camera radar gun
- Automatic throw detection
- Velocity and spin measurement
- GPS distance tracking
- Slow-motion playback
- Disc bag builder
- Performance analytics
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Measure your disc golf throws with your phone. RipReader turns your phone's high-speed camera into a $300 radar gun. Set your phone on the ground, throw your disc, and get instant metrics. No extra hardware required. Tap Start and place your phone on the ground or on a spare disc. Throw your disc and motion detection captures it automatically. Review slow-motion footage with your metrics overlaid. No button timing. No second person needed. Just throw. RipReader measures velocity and spin for every throw, plus GPS distance from your throw to the landing spot. Forehand and backhand are detected automatically. Every throw is saved with slow-motion playback, organized into sessions by date and location. An analytics dashboard tracks your averages, trends, and personal records over time. You can also build your disc bag, and after each session RipReader automatically matches throws to the right disc using on-device visual recognition and compares performance across different discs. Dedicated throw measurement hardware can run $300 to $400. RipReader works with every disc you own, runs on the phone already in your pocket, and costs a fraction of the price. RipReader is designed for players who practice with purpose. Auto-detection means you stay in your rhythm, no fumbling with buttons between throws. Capture an entire field session, then review everything after. Subscription details: - Unlimited Annual: $24.99/year, auto-renewing - Payment is charged to your Apple ID at purchase confirmation - Auto-renewing subscriptions renew unless turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period - Renewal cost is charged to your account in the 24 hours prior to the end of the current period - Manage or cancel subscriptions in your Apple ID Account Settings Privacy Policy: https://ripreaderapp.com/privacy Terms of Use (Apple Standard EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
ChainRanger
This app uses your phone's camera to instantly measure the distance to a disc golf basket, indicating whether it's uphill or downhill. It helps players understand putting rules and strategize throws based on elevation and distance.
- Real-time camera-based rangefinder
- Measures distance in meters or feet
- Detects uphill/downhill angles
- Calculates plays-like distance with elevation
- LiDAR assist for iPhone Pro models
- Basket presets and custom dimensions
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ChainRanger turns your phone into a disc golf rangefinder. Point your camera at the basket and the on-device AI finds the chains and shows the distance instantly — in meters or feet, plus whether the basket sits uphill or downhill. No laser, no GPS waiting, no pacing it off. HOW IT WORKS • Aim your camera at the disc golf basket. • ChainRanger detects the basket in real time and calculates the distance. • A stabilized reading shows on screen. All image processing happens 100% on your phone. Camera frames are never uploaded anywhere. KNOW YOUR CIRCLES Distance to the basket is not just a number — it decides which rules and stats apply: • Circle 1 (C1) is everything within 10 meters (33 ft) of the basket. Inside Circle 1 the putting stance rule applies: after releasing the putt you may not step past your marker, you must show full balance behind it. ChainRanger tells you instantly whether you are inside the 10 m circle, so a borderline lie never catches you out. • Circle 2 (C2) reaches from 10 to 20 meters (33–66 ft). Putts made from here separate good rounds from great ones. • Parked, C1X and C2 are the stat categories that actually measure putting: Parked is inside 3.3 m (11 ft), C1X counts Circle 1 putts excluding parked tap-ins, and C2 covers the long range. When you know the exact distance, every putt goes into the right category. READ THE ELEVATION — AND WHAT IT PLAYS LIKE Distance alone doesn't tell the whole story: an uphill basket plays longer, a downhill one shorter — and because a disc glides, every meter of height changes the throw far more than in ball golf. ChainRanger reads your phone's tilt to show the up/downhill angle and the height difference, and Full Range adds the plays-like distance from a disc-flight model, so you can pick your disc and power with confidence. LIDAR ASSIST ON IPHONE PRO On LiDAR-equipped iPhones, ChainRanger fuses the scanner with the camera measurement for sharper readings at close range. LiDAR also unlocks tape-free calibration — dial in your camera and basket dimensions without a measuring tape. On other iPhones the app measures with the camera only. PERFECT FOR PUTTING PRACTICE Set up at exact distances for structured putting routines. Train at 5, 7 and 10 meters instead of guessing — and watch your C1X percentage climb. FREE AND FULL RANGE • Free: exact distance everywhere inside Circle 1 (10 m) — a complete putting trainer. Try Full Range with 10 free full-range readings. • Full Range (one-time purchase, no subscription): exact distance at all ranges, including Circle 2 and beyond, plus the plays-like distance on sloped holes. FEATURES • Real-time disc golf rangefinder using your camera • Distance to the basket in meters or feet • LiDAR assist on iPhone Pro models for close-range precision • Uphill/downhill angle and height difference to the basket • Plays-like distance on elevation, from a disc-flight model (Full Range) • Basket presets for PDGA-verified target models, or dial in custom dimensions • Calibrate at any known distance — the hole length from the tee sign will do • Three detection modes: Simple is the lightest, Pro sees the farthest, Balanced fits most iPhones best • Stabilized reading with a soft haptic tick when it settles • Hold button to freeze the reading • Magnifier zoom to reach far-away baskets • Supports multiple rear camera lenses with per-lens calibration • Smart exposure that locks onto the detected basket, tap to adjust • Power-saving mode and automatic heat protection for long sessions • Built-in guide with tips for getting the best readings • 100% on-device AI — works without a network connection GOOD TO KNOW • ChainRanger measures the distance from you to the basket. To measure the length of your throws, use a GPS measuring app or a laser rangefinder. • ChainRanger is a measuring aid for practice, casual rounds and competition. Grow your range. Find the chains. ChainRanger.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: ChainRanger at 5.0 against RipReader's 4.5. ChainRanger also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 65%) and iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.6). RipReader's advantage is ratings volume (73 vs 2). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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. RipReader sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month and ChainRanger sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
ChainRanger holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: RipReader has 73 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 65% of RipReader's written reviews are positive against 100% of ChainRanger's.
RipReader ships an update weekly, ChainRanger every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | RipReader | ChainRanger |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.5 (73 ratings) | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 65.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 73 — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Weekly — better | Every 10 days |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 18.6 | 16.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 163 MB | 66 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Sarulian LLC | RIKU-MATTI HEIKKI INNILA |
Customer experience
RipReader
ChainRanger
In-app purchases
RipReader
- RipReader Premium Monthly$9.991 Month
- RipReader Pro Annual$24.991 Year
- RipReader Premium Annual$99.991 Year
ChainRanger
- Full Range$12.99








