Comparison

FieldLogger vs Metal Detector EMF & Stud

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

Head to head
About

FieldLogger

Features
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Use FieldLogger to conduct location-bound measurements in the field, store the values on your phone in csv-format, and share the measurements by mail or FTP. You can add locations by hand, or import them from a csv-file. You can choose which type of measurements can be performed at each location, before you add new measurements. At the end of the day, you can mail the locally stored locations and measurements to yourself or anybody else. The locations and measurements can also be imported into the app. FieldLogger was initially build to log measurements of groundwater head in wells, but it has grown into a tool to store measurements that are bound to a location, but vary with time. No internet connection is needed to perform the measurements (the google maps background needs an internet connection though). The app is completely free, with no ads. If you find any bugs, please contact us. If you use the app and like it, please rate it. The data is stored in two csv-files: the locations in the file locations.csv and the measurements in the file measurments.csv. The locations.csv has the following propierties: The columns are separated by ';', and the title-row has to include the following fields: NAME, SUBNAME, LAT, LON. If the user wants to use his own input-fields at each location, the field INPUTFIELD needs to be added to the header as well. For each location the input-fields are separated by '|'. At the top of the file these input-fields have to be defined by three column rows, preceeded by the header NAME;INPUTTYPE;HINT. For each location the input-fields are selected by matching the INPUTFIELD in the location list to the NAME string in the input-field list. So the locations.csv-file will look something like this: NAME;INPUTTYPE;HINT Value;number;in m. to top of tube Comment;text;make comment... NAME;SUBNAME;LAT;LON;INPUTFIELD Well1;Well1_1;53.2983;6.6653;Value|Comment Well1;Well1_2;53.2983;6.6653;Value|Comment Well2;Well2_1;53.2988;6.7286;Value|Comment The measurements.csv has the following propierties: A five-column (also seperated by ';') csv-file with the header LOCATION;DATE;TIME;VALUE;TYPE So the meassurements.csv-file will look something like this: LOCATION;DATE;TIME;VALUE;TYPE Well1_1;26-08-2014;07:56:14;5.53;Value Well1_1;26-08-2014;07:56:14;Waterlevel is high;Comment Well1_2;26-08-2014;07:57:11;The well is dry;Comment The development of this iOS app, including the additional features, was made possible by the Dutch Waterboard Peel & Maasvallei.

About

Metal Detector EMF & Stud

Features
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Detecto is a magnetic field instrument for your iPhone. It reads the built-in 3-axis magnetometer, measures how noisy your particular sensor is, and turns that into readings you can trust for everyday DIY. WHAT IT CAN AND CAN'T FIND Detecto senses iron and steel: screws, nails, rebar, steel pipes, brackets and magnets. It cannot detect gold, silver, aluminum or copper, and it does not see through the ground. Range is a few centimeters. GUIDED CALIBRATION • A 15-second figure-8 and hold-still routine • Measures the ambient field and your sensor's own noise floor • Signals inside that noise band are filtered out, so the gauge stays calm until something real is there METAL SCANNER (FREE) • Live field strength in microtesla on a radial gauge • Sound and haptics that rise as the field changes • One-tap Zero to re-baseline anywhere 3-AXIS FIELD VECTOR • See the disturbance on X, Y and Z separately • An arrow shows which way the extra field points relative to your phone • A stronger/weaker cue helps you home in on the source WALL SWEEP RECORDER • Slide your phone along a wall and record the field • Each screw or nail shows up as a numbered peak • Detecto checks whether peaks repeat evenly — the signature of a stud row • Enter the sweep length to estimate spacing in centimeters • Save sweeps and export them as CSV EMF FLUCTUATION • Shows how fast the magnetic field is changing, in µT/s, near cables and appliances Detecto Pro unlocks the 3-axis view, wall sweep recorder, EMF view and history with CSV export. Metal scanning and calibration are free. Subscriptions renew automatically until cancelled. Readings are approximate and depend on your iPhone model and surroundings. Always confirm with a dedicated tool before drilling near wiring or pipes. Support: https://app.notion.com/p/Support-Detecto-37a0cc7ee7368046a9d6eaef135a0b69?source=copy_link Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

FieldLogger3 screens
Metal Detector EMF & Stud4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: FieldLogger at none against Metal Detector EMF & Stud's 2. FieldLogger also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 4 months) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 16.0). On price, ads 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 Detector EMF & Stud sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. FieldLogger asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

FieldLogger ships an update every 3 weeks, Metal Detector EMF & Stud every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences Ā· 3 level
FieldLogger versus Metal Detector EMF & Stud: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFieldLoggerMetal Detector EMF & Stud
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 4 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS8.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size17 MB11 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperArtesiaMUHAMMET USLU

In-app purchases

None

FieldLogger

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Metal Detector EMF & Stud

Subscriptions2
  • Weekly Pro3 Days trial$2.997 Days
  • Yearly Pro$24.991 Year

Questions

Is FieldLogger free?
FieldLogger is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Metal Detector EMF & Stud free?
Metal Detector EMF & Stud is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do FieldLogger or Metal Detector EMF & Stud have ads?
Neither FieldLogger nor Metal Detector EMF & Stud shows ads.
Which is updated more often, FieldLogger or Metal Detector EMF & Stud?
FieldLogger ships an update every 3 weeks, and Metal Detector EMF & Stud every 4 months. Most recently, FieldLogger was updated on November 6, 2026 and Metal Detector EMF & Stud on October 31, 2026.

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