Can you imagine scanning the ground and detecting coins, nails, or hidden metal objects using just your smartphone? It's a reality at your fingertips!

Don't waste time or money: below are the three essential apps to turn your phone into a reliable and accessible detector for any exploration.

Choose your detector

Today, your phone comes equipped with a magnetic sensor capable of measuring variations in the Earth's magnetic field... incredible! With the right app, each change translates into visual and audible alerts that guide you to the metal.
In this section you will learn Metal Detector, Metal Sensor X and Gauss HunterThree apps with different levels of precision and advanced tools. By the end, you'll have all the information you need to choose your ideal tool and head out into the field ready to find metals.

Metal Detector

Description:
Metal Detector is a simple, free app that uses your phone's magnetometer to display a virtual needle that moves as you approach metals. Ideal for beginners, it offers automatic calibration and basic audible alerts.

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Pros

• Free and no payment options.
• Automatic calibration in seconds.
• Moderate battery consumption.

Cons

• Medium accuracy, may generate false alarms.
• No interference filtering.
• Very basic interface (just needle and beeps).

Metal Sensor X

Description:
Metal Sensor X elevates the experience with a bar graph indicating intensity in microteslas (µT) and a peak meter. It includes ambient noise filtering and advanced sensitivity adjustments.

Pros

• High precision thanks to EM filtering.
• Intuitive bar chart and alert colors.
• Custom sensitivity and threshold settings.

Cons

• Free version with limited features.
• Recurring ads if not paid.
• It consumes more resources and battery.

Gauss Hunter

Description:
Gauss Hunter is the most professional option, with a real-time histogram, peak counter, and support for external antennas via OTG. It allows manual calibration and data export in CSV format.

Pros

• Very high accuracy, ideal for serious detectorists.
• Compatible with external probes for greater range.
• Findings log and heat maps.

Cons

• High single payment.
• Technical interface, learning curve.
• Requires advanced system permissions.

You can download the apps from their stores

App comparison

App	Precision	Compatibility	Price	Extras
Metal Detector	Average	Android 5.0+ / iOS 11+	Free	Automatic calibration
Metal Sensor X	High	Android 6.0+ / iOS 12+	Free/Paid	Noise filtering, UMF settings
Gauss Hunter	Very high	Android 7.0+ / iOS 13+	Single payment	OTG Antennas, CSV Export

Extra tips

• Headphones with microphone: Capture beeps without distractions and keep your hands free to mark finds.
• External antenna: Connect a probe via OTG to detect metals at greater depths.
• Periodic calibrations: Repeat “eight” movements every 15 minutes of use or when changing zones to ensure accuracy.
• Threshold adjustment: Set minimum values of 5–15 µT to ignore ferrous and go up to 20–30 µT if you are looking for deeper metals.
• Power saving mode: Lower the brightness and activate moderate saving to extend your detection session.

With these apps and recommendations, your phone will be ready to find metals where there was only dirt before. Get your gear ready and go exploring!