Comparison

Ping vs BudGuard

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

Head to head
About

Ping

Features
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Lost your AirPods under the couch? Can't find your headphones in your bag? Ping helps you find Bluetooth devices hiding nearby using precision radar tracking and haptic feedback. PERFECT FOR FINDING DEVICES NEARBY Most lost devices aren't far away - they're hiding somewhere close. Ping is designed for those frustrating moments when you know your device is nearby but can't see it: Under couch cushions or between furniture Buried in your bag or backpack Lost in bed sheets or blankets Behind your desk or office clutter Somewhere in your car Around your home or office HOW IT WORKS Ping detects Bluetooth signals from nearby devices. For best results: 1: Device must be OUT of its case and powered on 2:Works with devices that actively broadcast Bluetooth Low Energy signals DEVICE COMPATIBILITY Works with BLE devices: AirPods, Galaxy Buds, Beats, smartwatches, fitness trackers, AirTag, Tile Works best with earbuds OUT of case or trackers that always broadcast Won't detect: devices in closed cases, powered-off devices, or devices beyond Bluetooth range Limited detection: over-ear headphones and Bluetooth speakers (use classic Bluetooth, not BLE) All Bluetooth scanning happens locally on your device for maximum privacy. FREE FEATURES Bluetooth Device Scanner - Detect all nearby BLE devices instantly Signal Strength Bars - See how close you are at a glance Distance Estimation - Approximate distance in meters or feet Device Grouping - Organized by category (Audio, Wearables, Trackers, etc.) PREMIUM FEATURES Precision Radar View - Visual radar with animated pulse rings Real-Time Proximity - See exact proximity percentage (0-100%) Geiger Counter Haptics - Feel faster pulses as you get closer Advanced Filtering - Smooth, accurate signal processing Unlimited Tracking - Find devices as many times as you need HOW TO USE 1. Make sure your lost device is OUT of its case (if applicable) 2. Open Ping and tap the blue scanning button 3. Find your device in the list - sorted by distance 4. Tap to upgrade to Premium for radar tracking 5. Follow the proximity meter and haptic pulses 6. Physically search the area - the app guides you! WORKS WITH BLUETOOTH LOW ENERGY (BLE) DEVICES AirPods (all models), AirPods Pro, AirPods Max Beats, Galaxy Buds, Sony WF earbuds, Jabra Apple Watch, Galaxy Watch, Fitbit, Garmin, Whoop AirTag, Tile, Galaxy SmartTag, Chipolo Mi Band, Oura Ring, fitness trackers BLE-enabled keyboards, mice, game controllers WHY PING? No login or account required Works instantly - no setup needed Privacy-first - no data collection or tracking Beautiful dark mode interface Multi-brand support (works beyond Apple ecosystem) Unit selection (meters or feet) PRIVACY Your privacy matters. Ping scans for Bluetooth devices locally on your iPhone. No personal information is collected, no data is transmitted to external servers, and no tracking or analytics are used. IMPORTANT NOTES • Device must be powered on and OUT of case to be detected • Distance accuracy depends on obstacles and interference • This app is a TOOL to assist in locating nearby devices, not a guarantee • Cannot find devices that are truly far away, dead, or in sleep mode • Works best in open spaces with minimal interference REALISTIC USE CASES Finding AirPods that fell under your couch Locating a single lost earbud in your room Tracking down headphones buried in your bag Finding your Apple Watch somewhere at home Locating fitness trackers around the house Finding AirTag or Tile trackers Download Ping today - perfect for finding devices hiding nearby! Support: https://tinygiantapps.com/ping/support Privacy Policy: https://tinygiantapps.com/ping/privacy Terms of Use: https://tinygiantapps.com/ping/terms

About

BudGuard

Features
Read full description

I created BudGuard after losing an earbud on a black diamond trail. If you’ve ever dropped an earbud outdoors, you know tracking it down is nearly impossible. Even when standing right next to it with a perfect cellular signal, a pin on a map is just not enough. Outdoors, an earbud always finds a way to hide in the dirt, mud or tall grass. As an MTB rider and a developer, I realized I could turn the lost earbud into a sonic beacon. That first version already saved my earbud a few times, and the search became surprisingly fast and easy. Since then, I’ve refined the engine to generate the optimal beacon sound for the situation. Whether it's loud winds, rain or crickets, BudGuard will find the right beacon to be heard. *Made to Shred* Designed for earbuds: Your earbud acts as a sonic beacon with a specialized, high-frequency audio pulse engineered to be heard in any conditions. Shine bright: Whether it's loud winds, rain, or crickets, BudGuard finds the right sonic beacon to be heard. It works: If your earbud is connected and within range, you will find it. No registration, no tracking and no GPS or cell service required. Smart indicator: Listen for the sonic beacon. The smart on-screen indicator will help you sync with the beacon pulse and also show you when you're getting closer. 100% Offline, Local and Private: Does not require cell service, GPS signal or internet connection. No registrations. No sign-ins. No ads. *BudGuard is a solo-ride passion project* The app includes a free 24-hour search pass to help you find your earbud right now. If you find this app to be helpful, you can choose to unlock lifetime access permanently or make a voluntary single tip contribution to support the project.

Screenshots

Ping4 screens
BudGuard4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: BudGuard at every 6 weeks against Ping's every 3 months. 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. Ping sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days and BudGuard sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Ping ships an update every 3 months, BudGuard every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 5 level
Ping versus BudGuard: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPingBudGuard
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 6 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.615.4 — better
Further details — not scored
Size1 MB13 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer志琼 羊Gil Gur Arie

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Ping

Subscriptions2
  • Weekly Premium$3.997 Days
  • Yearly Premium$14.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Premium Access$29.99
2 purchases

BudGuard

One-time2
  • Developer Tip$1.99
  • Lifetime Trail Pass$4.99

Questions

Is Ping free?
Ping is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is BudGuard free?
BudGuard is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Ping or BudGuard have ads?
Neither Ping nor BudGuard shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Ping or BudGuard?
Ping ships an update every 3 months, and BudGuard every 6 weeks. Most recently, Ping was updated on October 15, 2026 and BudGuard on October 6, 2026.

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