Comparison

Sonar vs Hidden Camera Bug Detector

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

Head to head
About

Sonar

Features
Read full description

SONAR: HIDDEN CAMERA AND TRACKER DETECTOR Sonar helps you check for hidden cameras, hidden microphones, and Bluetooth/Wi-Fi trackers, a privacy inspection support tool with infrared, Wi-Fi network, and Bluetooth scanning. Whether you're in a motel room, hotel, Airbnb, locker room, public restroom, fitting room, car, or your own luggage, Sonar helps you inspect the space in minutes. IMPORTANT: no phone app can guarantee with certainty that a space is free of hidden cameras. Sonar is a support tool, each finding comes with a confidence level so you can physically check the spot it flags. Always use it alongside a manual inspection. DETECTOR FEATURES Infrared scanner Point your phone's camera and look for the telltale reflection of hidden spy camera lenses, a common sign in cameras disguised as a button camera, pen camera, charger, smoke detector, or clock. Works best in a dark room and doesn't replace a physical check. Wi-Fi network and Bluetooth device detection Sonar scans the local Wi-Fi network and nearby Bluetooth devices to flag devices with characteristics of connected cameras or trackers. Each result shows a confidence level, not a definitive confirmation. Bluetooth tracker detector Flags signals from Bluetooth trackers nearby: in your car, bag, luggage, or personal belongings, as support against unwanted tracking during travel and everyday life. Guided sweep A practical checklist walks you through spots where cameras and microphones are commonly hidden: outlets, smoke detectors, picture frames, mirrors, chargers, clocks, and more, so you can physically inspect each one. Clear, straightforward results See the confidence level of each finding, with real-time visual indication, no technical jargon. WHY USE SONAR Works offline Simple interface anyone can use Fast: full sweep in just a few minutes No complicated sign-up GREAT FOR - Motel, hotel, and Airbnb stays - Short-term rentals and vacation homes - Locker rooms, gyms, and public restrooms - Store fitting rooms - Checking your car and luggage for trackers - Confidential meetings and work spaces YOUR PRIVACY COMES FIRST Hidden cameras and trackers are more common than you'd think. Sonar exists to give you a support tool for checking your space, simple and accessible, always as a complement to your own inspection, never as an absolute guarantee. WHERE YOU CAN USE SONAR Hotel room · Motel room · Airbnb · Vacation rental · Bed and breakfast · Hostel · Resort · Spa · Sauna · Public restroom · Gym locker room · Pool locker room · Club locker room · Store fitting room · Lingerie fitting room · Event or theater dressing room · Meeting room · Shared office · Coworking space · Rental car · Uber or taxi · Rented beach house · Vacation cabin · Guest room at someone else's home · Doctor's office or clinic · Short-term rental property THE GUIDED CHECKLIST COVERS COMMON SPOTS LIKE Smoke detector · Wall clock · Desk clock · Alarm clock · Phone charger · USB wall adapter · Power strip · Wi-Fi router · Bluetooth speaker · Wall art · Picture frame · Mirror · Desk lamp · TV remote control · Teddy bear · Glasses · Pen · Keychain · Fake potted plant · Book on a shelf Download Sonar now and run your first sweep in under 2 minutes. ---------------------------- Terms of Use (EULA): https://sonarcameradetector.com/terms

About

Hidden Camera Bug Detector

Features
Read full description

Vigil turns your phone into a five-channel sweep for hidden cameras, microphones and trackers. It is the check worth doing before you unpack in a hotel room, a holiday rental, a changing room or an office. FIVE WAYS TO FIND A CAMERA Infrared: night-vision cameras flood a dark room with light your eyes cannot see. The front camera can see it, and Vigil under-exposes the sensor until only the emitters are left. Lens glint: glass reflects light straight back at its source. Sweep with the torch and a lens answers with a small, hard, motionless spark. Magnetic: every camera worth hiding holds a magnet and a switching supply, both of which bend the local field. This is the only channel that finds a camera that is switched off. Wi-Fi: lists every device on the network you are on and flags the ones answering on the ports IP cameras stream over. Bluetooth: finds battery cameras, voice recorders and trackers that advertise themselves, and tells you when one is getting closer. WHERE TO LOOK Smoke detectors, air vents, alarm clocks, chargers, mirrors, TV bezels, power strips, air fresheners and decorative holes. Each mode explains what it is measuring and how to sweep properly. PRIVATE BY DESIGN Every scan runs on your device. No video is recorded, no network data leaves the phone, no account is needed and nothing is uploaded — a privacy tool that phoned home would be a contradiction. Vigil raises suspicion, it does not prove anything. If you find something you cannot explain, stop, leave it in place and call the front desk or the police. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Sonar4 screens
Hidden Camera Bug Detector4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Sonar at none against Hidden Camera Bug Detector's 2. On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. Hidden Camera Bug Detector sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Sonar asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard1 real difference · 5 level
Sonar versus Hidden Camera Bug Detector: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSonarHidden Camera Bug Detector
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS16.4 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size52 MB12 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCaue Mattos SilvestreHALIME USLU

In-app purchases

None

Sonar

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Hidden Camera Bug Detector

Subscriptions2
  • Vigil Pro Weekly3 Days trial$4.997 Days
  • Vigil Pro Yearly$49.991 Year

Questions

Is Sonar free?
Sonar is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Hidden Camera Bug Detector free?
Hidden Camera Bug Detector is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Sonar or Hidden Camera Bug Detector have ads?
Neither Sonar nor Hidden Camera Bug Detector shows ads.

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