Comparison

Mic vs MicButton

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

Head to head
About

Mic

This app verifies the functionality of a physical microphone blocker hardware accessory. It tests if your microphone is truly silent when the blocker is attached and shows you what your microphone can hear without it. It also helps you find the correct hardware model for your specific device.

Highlights
  • Tests microphone blocker hardware
  • Visualizes microphone audio levels
  • Recommends compatible hardware
  • Stores private test history locally
  • Works offline
Features
Read full description

Mic-Lock® is the official companion app for Mic-Lock® hardware microphone blockers. WHY YOU MIGHT WANT THIS Every app you've ever granted microphone access to can listen on its own schedule, until you remember to go into Settings and revoke that permission. Most people never do. A Mic-Lock® is a small dongle that plugs into your charging port and physically cuts the microphone signal at the connector — no app, no software update, no zero-day can get around it. This app makes sure your Mic-Lock® is actually doing its job. WHAT THE APP DOES - Tests your Mic-Lock®. Plug it in, tap one button. The app listens through your microphone for five seconds and tells you, in plain English, whether any sound got through. - Shows you what your microphone hears right now. Without a Mic-Lock® plugged in, run the same test and watch the audio level any app with microphone permission could be capturing. It is a wake-up call. - Finds the right Mic-Lock® for your device. iPhone with USB-C? iPad with Lightning? Older phone with a headphone jack? The app detects your device and points you at the matching model. - Keeps a private history. Past test results stay on your device only. YOUR AUDIO NEVER LEAVES YOUR PHONE Mic-Lock® does not talk to any servers. There is no account to create, no email to enter, no cloud. Microphone audio is only used during the five-second test, only on this phone, and is gone the moment the test ends. No tracking. No analytics. No third-party SDKs. The app works fully offline once installed. ABOUT MIC-LOCK® Mic-Lock® is a patented microphone-blocker product line made by Columbia Network Security Inc. in Camas, Washington. See the full product line at mic-lock.com.

About

MicButton

Features
Read full description

MicButton is your physical mute button for working by voice. It lets you mute or unmute your Mac’s system microphone from your Apple Watch or iPhone Action Button without leaving a ChatGPT Voice or Codex conversation. Whether you're stepping away for a quick side conversation during a video call or working alongside a voice assistant that shouldn't hear you talking to someone else, MicButton lets you mute in an instant — right from your wrist or phone. It’s a master mute switch. MicButton mutes your Mac’s system microphone itself rather than muting inside a single app — so when it’s off, nothing running on your Mac is listening: not a call, not a browser tab, not an assistant. Your mic is off because you turned it off, and you can confirm it from your wrist without walking back to your desk. FEATURES • One-tap mute/unmute from Apple Watch • iPhone Action Button and Lock Screen control support • Live mute status shown in the Dynamic Island • Mutes the Mac’s system microphone at the source, not inside a single app • Works entirely over your local network — no internet connection required, and no audio ever leaves your devices • Lightweight menu bar app that stays out of your way MicButton is built for anyone who works from a Mac and wants mute control without breaking their flow.

Screenshots

Mic3 screens
MicButton2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Mic at 17.0 against MicButton's 26.5. On price, ads, in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Scorecard1 real difference · 7 level
Mic versus MicButton: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMicMicButton
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings1 — better—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, Mac, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS17.0 — better26.5
Further details — not scored
Size1 MB3 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPanav Kalranedrelow, LLC

In-app purchases

None

Mic

No in-app purchases

None

MicButton

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Mic free?
Mic is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is MicButton free?
MicButton is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Mic or MicButton have ads?
Neither Mic nor MicButton shows ads.

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