Ranking updated
Measure apps: a ruler, tape measure and level on your phone
A phone can stand in for a tape measure and a spirit level. Measure from Apple on iPhone gauges real objects with the camera. Grymala Ruler App measures lengths, areas and angles in AR and has a bubble level, Pocket Bubble Level shows tilt on iPhone and Android, and Ruler on iPhone combines an on-screen ruler with AR.
How we chose: free measuring apps from Apple and from registered companies, with features taken from each app’s store description.
Measure on iPhone
Measure from Apple turns an iPhone or iPad into a tape measure. Draw lines to estimate length horizontally and vertically, let it measure rectangular objects by itself and share the result in Mail or Messages. On iPhone 12 Pro and later Pro models it shows guide lines for large objects, measures a person’s height from the floor and keeps a list of measurements with screenshots.
Grymala Ruler App with AR and a level
Grymala makes Ruler App · AR Tape Measure Tool for iPhone and AR Ruler App for Android. Both measure with the camera in AR. On iPhone the listing adds areas, angles, volume, distance and height, a flexible tape for curved shapes, a bubble level and a surface level, slope measurement, an on-screen ruler for small objects and a photo ruler. The App Store lists Ukrainian.
Pocket Bubble Level
Pocket Bubble Level by ExaMobile uses the accelerometer and gyroscope to show angle or inclination in each plane, like a laser level. You can lock the orientation and measure the slope of a roof, a table or a wall. It works without the internet, and a premium version removes ads.
Ruler with an on-screen scale
Ruler by MATRIKS GRUP shows a ruler on the screen in centimetres or inches for small objects. With the camera it measures in AR, levels objects with a bubble meter, measures the distance to a point, corners, the area and perimeter of a room, volume, path length and height, and saves measurements.
Which one to choose
iPhone, start with Apple Measure. A level on iPhone or Android, Pocket Bubble Level. A tape, AR and a level in one app on both platforms, Grymala Ruler App. A ruler on the screen plus AR on iPhone, Ruler. To measure a plot of land, see apps to measure land area, and to plan a room, interior design apps. To work with the numbers afterwards, see the calculator apps.
| App | Platform | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Apple MeasureApp Store | iPhone, iPad | lines and lengths, rectangles measured automatically, height of a person on Pro models |
| Grymala Ruler AppApp StoreGoogle Play | iPhone and Android | AR lengths, areas, angles and volume, flexible tape, bubble level, on-screen ruler |
| Pocket Bubble LevelApp StoreGoogle Play | iPhone and Android | angle or inclination in each plane, lock orientation, roof pitch, no internet needed |
| RulerApp Store | iPhone | on-screen ruler in cm or inches, AR tape, bubble meter, area, volume and height |
Frequently asked questions
Is there a ruler on iPhone?
Yes. Apple makes Measure, a free app that measures real objects with the camera.
Which app is a spirit level on Android?
Pocket Bubble Level by ExaMobile is on Google Play and shows tilt in each plane.
How do I measure a small object on the screen?
Grymala Ruler App and Ruler both have an on-screen ruler for small objects placed on the display.