Comparison

iGenii vs The Stranger

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

Head to head
About

iGenii

Explore the world of magic with a digital version of a long-standing magazine. Discover in-depth stories, product reviews, and exclusive magic tricks with detailed explanations. Access the latest issues and a year's worth of archives on your mobile device.

Highlights
  • In-depth feature stories on magicians
  • Product reviews for magic books, DVDs, and apparatus
  • Magic tricks with full explanations
  • Advertiser showcases for magic merchants
  • Monthly issues and archived content
  • Access on iPhone and iPad
Features
Read full description

Genii, The International Conjuror’s Magazine, is your entry into the fascinating world of magic. The largest selling independent magazine for magicians, published since 1936, Genii is a full-color magazine devoted to this hobby and profession. For over 75 years, Genii has been magicians’ favorite publication, filled with in-depth feature stories about the great magicians, current shows, product reviews (the latest books, DVDs, and apparatus sold to magicians) and the trend-setting magic tricks, with full explanations, for your own performances. And if you’ve ever wondered where magicians buy their illusions, it’s from our advertisers! Here are the latest creations from the most exclusive magic merchants. This renowned magazine provides an amazing look at the personalities and secrets in this fascinating world. Every month, Genii brings the world’s greatest magic to the world’s greatest magicians and its available wherever you take your iPad or iPhone. Genii is available by subscription. Once you’ve subscribed, this free iGenii app will allow you to read monthly issues through your Apple iPhone or iPad. The previous months of issues will always be archived and available to read on your iPad or iPhone in addition to the latest issue. When you read Genii, you’ll experience the world of magic and magicians in a completely new way.

About

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.

Highlights
  • Reveal chosen playing cards
  • Reveal thought-of words
  • Reveal numbers from addresses
  • Reveal names of loved ones
  • International language support
  • Customizable phone screen language
Features
Read full description

“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

iGenii4 screens
The Stranger4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: iGenii at none against The Stranger's 15. The Stranger's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (96% vs 63%). On price, ratings volume, 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. The Stranger sells 15 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. iGenii asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

The Stranger holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 59 and 86 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 63% of iGenii's written reviews are positive against 96% of The Stranger's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

iGenii ships an update every 6 months, The Stranger fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
iGenii versus The Stranger: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameteriGeniiThe Stranger
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (59 ratings)4.9 (86 ratings) — better
Positive reviews62.5% of reviews95.6% of reviews — better
Number of ratings5986 — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 monthsFortnightly — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationSubscriptionFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPod, Apple Watch
Requires iOS15.115.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size37 MB246 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGenii, The Conjurors’ MagazineJonathan Levit Consulting

Customer experience

iGenii

All ratings59 ratings
Positive93.2%
Neutral1.7%
Negative5.1%
Written reviews32 reviews
Positive62.5%
Neutral3.1%
Negative34.4%

The Stranger

All ratings86 ratings
Positive96.5%
Neutral1.2%
Negative2.3%
Written reviews68 reviews
Positive95.6%
Neutral1.5%
Negative2.9%

In-app purchases

None

iGenii

No in-app purchases

15 purchases

The Stranger

Subscriptions4
  • Activate Friend Auto Texting$3.991 Month
  • Live to Pro (1 month)$18.991 Month
  • Monthly Access Autocrib AI1 Month trial$29.001 Month
Show 1 more
  • Live to Pro (1 year)$199.991 Year
One-time11
  • Recording: Poor Cell Reception$14.99
  • Recording: Memdeck$14.99
  • Nail Writer Revelation$49.99
Show 8 more
  • 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

Questions

Is iGenii free?
iGenii is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is The Stranger free?
The Stranger is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, iGenii or The Stranger?
The Stranger is rated higher. iGenii averages 4.7 out of 5 from 59 ratings, while The Stranger averages 4.9 from 86 ratings.
Do iGenii or The Stranger have ads?
iGenii shows ads; The Stranger does not.
Which is updated more often, iGenii or The Stranger?
iGenii ships an update every 6 months, and The Stranger fortnightly. Most recently, iGenii was updated on October 16, 2026 and The Stranger on October 9, 2026.

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