Comparison

Marvin's iMagic 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

Marvin's iMagic

Experience a magical preview of enhanced features within a newly updated magic app. Discover exciting new content and functionalities that have been integrated into the latest version.

Highlights
  • Magic tricks
  • Entertainment content
  • Preview of new features
  • Updated magic app integration
Features
Read full description

All the Marvin’s iMagic app features you loved have been moved to our newly updated Marvin’s Magic app. In this latest update we included a small preview of what’s else you can expect to see.

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

Marvin's iMagic2 screens
The Stranger4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: The Stranger at 96% against Marvin's iMagic's 25%. The Stranger also leads on rating (4.9 vs 2.2) and ratings volume (84 vs 17). Marvin's iMagic's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.0). On price, update cadence, ads 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. The Stranger sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Marvin's iMagic asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

The Stranger holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 2.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 17 and 84 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 25% of Marvin's iMagic's written reviews are positive against 96% of The Stranger's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Marvin's iMagic ships an update monthly, The Stranger fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Marvin's iMagic versus The Stranger: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMarvin's iMagicThe Stranger
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.2 (17 ratings)4.9 (84 ratings) — better
Positive reviews25.0% of reviews95.6% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1784 — better
Update frequencyMonthlyFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPod, Apple Watch
Requires iOS11.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size137 MB246 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperStarz-UK LtdJonathan Levit Consulting

Customer experience

Marvin's iMagic

All ratings17 ratings
Positive29.4%
Neutral5.9%
Negative64.7%
Written reviews92 reviews
Positive25.0%
Neutral3.3%
Negative71.7%

The Stranger

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

In-app purchases

None

Marvin's iMagic

No in-app purchases

10 purchases

The Stranger

Subscriptions2
  • Activate Friend Auto Texting$3.991 Month
  • Monthly Access Autocrib AI1 Month trial$29.001 Month
One-time8
  • Recording: Poor Cell Reception$14.99
  • Recording: Memdeck$14.99
  • Nail Writer Revelation$49.99
Show 5 more
  • Book Test Revelation$99.99
  • Activate Friend Auto Texting$99.99
  • Upgrade To Live From Lite$149.00
  • Playing Card revelation$149.99
  • Upgrade To Live From Trial$299.00

Questions

Is Marvin's iMagic free?
Marvin's iMagic 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, Marvin's iMagic or The Stranger?
The Stranger is rated higher. Marvin's iMagic averages 2.2 out of 5 from 17 ratings, while The Stranger averages 4.9 from 84 ratings.
Do Marvin's iMagic or The Stranger have ads?
Neither Marvin's iMagic nor The Stranger shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Marvin's iMagic or The Stranger?
Marvin's iMagic ships an update monthly, and The Stranger fortnightly. Most recently, Marvin's iMagic was updated on November 1, 2026 and The Stranger on November 2, 2026.

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