WebFX vs The Stranger
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
WebFX
This app allows you to perform a magic trick where a spectator names any playing card, and it appears in a photograph on their own device's website. It requires no accomplice and can even provide a free customizable website if you don't have one.
- Spectator uses their own device
- No accomplice needed
- Free customizable website provided
- Easy to perform
- No memory work
- Any card can be named
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A playing card prediction effect with a borrowed phone. - A spectator visits a website on THEIR OWN phone, tablet or computer. - You point out a photograph on the site. - BEFORE they see the full image, you then ask them to name any playing card. - The spectator then looks at the photo that has been on the screen of their own device the entire time to see a perfect match! WebFX directs potential clients to your website, with no accomplice required. Don't have a website? No problem! WebFX provides you with a free customisable site. * Very EASY to perform. * NO memory work! * ANY card can be named. * Your phone is NOT in play. * The spectator is ALREADY on your website before thinking of a card. * Works with ANY modern device. Note: - This app lets you use WebFX with photos of stock playing cards. These can be changed to photographs of yourself with cards with an upgrade after purchase. Please check with your web host if either iframes or loading external javascript are supported. - WebFX provides all users with a customisable single page site to use for the effect. - Video and audio broadcasting of any description (including TV, radio and Internet) of this effect is prohibited without the written consent of its creator. WebFX includes a Pro Upgrade which can be purchased via a one-time fee or via a monthly subscription. The Pro Upgrade gives access to more images, more input methods, the ability to embed the image to an existing website, setting your own image, plus more functionality within the app. If choosing to subscribe, note: - Your Pro Upgrade payment will be charged to your iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase. - You can cancel your subscription any time. - The subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period by going to your iOS Account Settings after purchase. - The current subscription price is $0.99 USD/month, but a lifetime purchase is available. - Your account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period. - Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user's Account Settings after purchase. - Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription. Privacy Policy and Terms of Use: https://tinyhost.pw/privacy/webfx.php
The Stranger
This app enables performers to create impossible moments where a random stranger reveals information chosen by the audience. It supports various revelations, including playing cards, words, numbers, and names, with international language support for a global audience.
- Reveal chosen playing cards
- Reveal thought-of words
- Reveal numbers from addresses
- Reveal names of loved ones
- International language support
- Customizable phone screen language
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“There are very few effects that transcend ‘magic trick’. ’The Stranger' is one of those effects." -David Regal, "Genii Magazine" “The Stranger” offers unlimited scenarios: A playing card is chosen, a word is thought of from a Book Test, the numbers from someone’s address are named, an envelope is freely selected, or the name of someone’s loved one is offered…and then, a random stranger is called. The audience has a conversation with the stranger and the stranger reveals the information. This is an impossible moment. It leaves the audience with a feeling they cannot explain and they erupt in applause! Not out of a desire to be kind, rather as an uncontrollable, visceral reaction. And it happens every time. With this purchase, you can have a playing card—any card, using no force of any kind—revealed by a stranger. Other effects can be unlocked to allow a number or a word revealed, read an NFC tag, or to simply allow the audience member to speak and have key details revealed by the stranger on the other end of the call without the performer saying a word. “It crushed! One guy jumped out of his seat and ran out of the theater!” —Larry Wilmore “So clever... the method alone opens up SO many possibilities” —Danny Garcia "It may just be the most fantastic five minutes of entertainment possible with a cell phone!” —Jim Steinmeyer “This is one of the strongest and most well put together phone app effects I've ever seen!” —Tony Clark “This brilliantly thought-out routine defies explanation.” —Mike Caveney “Jonathan has put a lot of work into this versatile app to make it an incredibly useful approach to the modern day Mr. Wizard effect… and much more!” — Marc Kerstein "I am having a blast with ‘The Stranger.’ A perfect, offbeat trick that I pull out when I want to send them over the edge.” —Paul Gertner “You did it! This is definitely the best 'Call a Stranger' idea ever! For the working pro to the beginner. This is a real winner!” —Dan Harlan “When I watched Jonathan Levit perform ’The Stranger,' he received the largest explosive reaction I've ever heard inside the Chicago Magic Lounge.” —Danny Orleans “Jonathan has thought of everything. Do yourself a huge favor, download 'The Stranger' today!” —Carl Andrews, "Vanish Magazine" INTERNATIONAL GLOBALIZATION: Support for International regions and languages include the following: Phone Number Display: When dialing a phone number within or to a country, the proper phone number format will display on screen. Ringer Tones: The tones you hear while waiting for the call to pick-up are correct for the region. Disconnected Number Recording Convincer: This convincer prior to calling a recording or a live Stranger, will be in the language of the region set by the user. Phone Screen Language Translation: The phone dial screen and active call screen display the correct language for the screens. Conversation Recordings: Phone conversations are in the language of the region chosen by the user. ___________________________ REGIONS AND INTERNATIONAL FEATURES SUPPORTED: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, China (Cantonese), El Salvador, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, UK, USA: Phone number, Ringer tones, Disconnected number recording, Phone screen translation, Recordings China (Mandarin), Denmark (Danish), Netherlands (Dutch), Russia, Switzerland, Belgium, Kuwait, Philippines, Croatia, Vietnam, Romania: Phone number, Ringer tones, Disconnected number recording, Phone screen translation India, Japan: Phone number, Ringer tones, Disconnected number recording, Recordings NOTE: If you do not see your region listed above, please feel free to contact me directly at thestranger@jonathanlevit.com to request for your region to be included in a future update. This app is for entertainment purposes only. Click here (http://thestrangerapp.com/terms/) to see Terms of use for more information.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: The Stranger at fortnightly against WebFX's every 2 months. The Stranger also leads on review sentiment (96% vs 87%). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads 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. WebFX sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and The Stranger sells 15 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for WebFX against 4.9 for The Stranger. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 112 and 86 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 87% of WebFX's written reviews are positive against 96% of The Stranger's.
WebFX ships an update every 2 months, The Stranger fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | WebFX | The Stranger |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (112 ratings) | 4.9 (86 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 87.1% of reviews | 95.6% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 112 — better | 86 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod, Apple Watch — better |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 4 MB | 246 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Marc Kerstein | Jonathan Levit Consulting |
Customer experience
WebFX
The Stranger
In-app purchases
WebFX
- WebFX Subscription$1.991 Month
- WebFX Pro$9.99
- WebFX Custom$41.99
- WebFX Premium$49.99
The Stranger
- Activate Friend Auto Texting$3.991 Month
- Live to Pro (1 month)$18.991 Month
- Monthly Access Autocrib AI1 Month trial$29.001 Month
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- Live to Pro (1 year)$199.991 Year
- Recording: Poor Cell Reception$14.99
- Recording: Memdeck$14.99
- Nail Writer Revelation$49.99
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- Upgrade To Lite$49.99
- Book Test Revelation$99.99
- Activate Friend Auto Texting$99.99
- Upgrade To Live From Lite$149.00
- Playing Card revelation$149.99
- Listen Revelation$199.99
- Upgrade To Live From Trial$299.00
- Stranger system$999.99








