Comparison

Metal Detecting vs Detectorist

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

Head to head
About

Metal Detecting

Features
Read full description

DetectorOS is a modern field intelligence platform built for metal detectorists, relic hunters, and outdoor explorers. Plan hunts, track finds, manage routes, monitor live field weather, and organize your detecting sessions through a cinematic tactical interface designed for real outdoor use. Features include: • Interactive hunt maps • Route planning and field tracking • Find logging with photos and notes • Real-time weather awareness and alerts • Team operations and shared hunt coordination • Cloud sync and data backup • DetectorOS Pro premium features DetectorOS Pro unlocks advanced weather intelligence, unlimited routes and find logs, premium export tools, cloud sync, and advanced field operations. Subscription Details: • DetectorOS Pro Monthly — $3.99/month • Payment is charged to your Apple ID account at confirmation of purchase • Subscription automatically renews unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period • Manage or cancel subscriptions anytime in Apple ID account settings Whether you're searching old homesteads, parks, battle sites, beaches, or remote fields, DetectorOS helps keep your hunts organized, intelligent, and mission-ready. Terms of Use: https://rayray579.github.io/DetectorOS/terms-of-use Privacy Policy: https://rayray579.github.io/DetectorOS/privacy-policy

About

Detectorist

Features
Read full description

Detectorist is the field logbook for metal detectorists. Record every find the moment you dig it — with GPS, photos, depth, and your detector's signal ID — then relive your hunts on a map and in your stats. Built for the field: big buttons, glove-friendly pickers instead of fiddly typing, high-contrast design that's readable in bright sun, and full dark mode. Everything works completely offline — GPS tagging and track recording need no signal. LOG FINDS FAST • One tap to add a find: auto-captures your GPS location • Snap photos with the camera or attach from your library • Quick pickers for category (coin, relic, jewelry, junk, other) and material (gold, silver, copper, iron, alloy) • One-tap VDI / target-ID presets from your detector profiles • Depth in centimetres or inches, plus free-text notes MAP YOUR DIGS • Every find as a colour-coded pin, clustered when you zoom out • Save sites with land-permission status (granted, pending, public) • Long-press the map to drop a new site TIME YOUR HUNTS • Start a hunt to time your session and record your walked GPX track • Live Activity on the Lock Screen and Dynamic Island shows your timer and find count SEE YOUR STATS • Finds by category and over time, as clean charts • Your best site by finds-per-hour • "Junk ratio" per site, so you know where the good ground is YOUR DATA, YOUR DEVICE • 100% offline and private — no account, no tracking, nothing leaves your iPhone • Export every find as CSV or GPX waypoints, and any hunt track as a GPX route • Import finds from a CSV or GPX file to migrate or restore Free to use for your first 20 finds. DETECTORIST PRO Upgrade to Pro for: • Unlimited finds • The full Stats tab • CSV & GPX export Pro is an auto-renewing yearly subscription. Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase and renews automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the period. Manage or cancel any time in Settings → Apple Account → Subscriptions. Happy hunting! Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Metal Detecting4 screens
Detectorist4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Metal Detecting at 15.1 against Detectorist's 17.0. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price Ā· Rating Ā· Positive reviews Ā· Number of ratings Ā· Update frequency Ā· Ads Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Monetization Ā· Best chart rank Ā· Devices Ā· Requires iOS

CostPrice Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Ads Ā· Monetization

Both are free to download. Metal Detecting sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $3.99 per month and Detectorist sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $9.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Scorecard1 real difference Ā· 5 level
Metal Detecting versus Detectorist: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMetal DetectingDetectorist
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyDaily—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
DevicesiPhone, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.1 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size53 MB2 MB
Age rating9+4+
DeveloperRaymond ViscitoArtur Pahasian

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Metal Detecting

Subscriptions1
  • DetectorOS Pro$3.991 Month
1 purchases

Detectorist

Subscriptions1
  • Detectorist Pro Yearly$9.991 Year

Questions

Is Metal Detecting free?
Metal Detecting is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Detectorist free?
Detectorist is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Metal Detecting or Detectorist have ads?
Neither Metal Detecting nor Detectorist shows ads.

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