Comparison

The Phillips Machinist vs CNC Path

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

Head to head
About

The Phillips Machinist

Access essential machine codes, calculators, and practical resources for machinists. Get direct support from engineers and explore a library of machining information. Enhance your productivity and problem-solving on the shop floor.

Highlights
  • Haas G & M reference codes
  • Error and Alarm Codes
  • Calculator library (Inch/Metric)
  • Speeds & Feeds calculator
  • Direct contact with engineers
  • Customizable machine and interest tracking
  • FAQ library
Features
Read full description

The Phillips Machinist is your personalized digital manufacturing assistant, with quick access to essential machine codes and calculators, direct contact with Phillips engineers, and practical resources designed to make your life easier. Spark your ingenuity with the Phillips Machinist, the only App you’ll need to succeed! The completely redesigned Phillips Machinist delivers a next level experience offering these key benefits: EASY ACCESS TO CODES AND MANUALS A few clicks and you can access Haas G & M reference codes, Error and Alarm Codes, Macro Variables, and functions – and find information on how to apply them to your machines. Right away. Right on the shop floor. Explore our additional libraries with items from Okamoto, Hermle, Kent, Universal Robots and Markforged. CALCULATOR LIBRARY Enhanced everyday Calculators for the CNC Machinist in both Inch and Metric wherever applicable. Now featuring an information page that not only explains how to use the calculator but also the core concepts behind it! Some inputs have been configured to show suggested ranges for the optimal performance of a CNC program to keep you on the cutting edge. The Result section provides accurate outputs along with supportive images for better understanding of the concept and the results are further fortified with an abundance of videos and articles related to that particular calculator. For example: In the Material Library and Speeds & Feeds Calculator, we have added Haas “Tip of the Day” videos, specifically talking about how the spindle speed and feed-rates affect the surface finish of a machined part. All of this is provided at your fingertips. You’ll have access to these calculators that help make your job easier on the shop floor. From Single Point Thread Turning to Speeds & Feeds we’ve got you covered. With 15 calculators and counting! • Single Point Thread Turning • Mat. Library-Speed & Feeds • Simple Speed & Feeds • Square Hex • Tap Drill - Cutting Tap • Tap Drill - Thread Forming • True Position • Bolt Circle • Countersink • Right Angle Triangle • Drill Tip Depth • Socket Head Cap Screw • Helicoil Tap Drill • Simple Bolt Clearance Chart • Simple Drill Chart A PERSONALIZED EXPERIENCE Your machines and your interests are at the forefront. Keep tabs on your machines, and requests right on your homepage. Look at custom curated videos and manuals to take your knowledge to the next level. See what is trending by checking out our featured trending topics. Favorite your most used manuals to keep everything just the way you want it! ASK THE EXPERTS Running into problems on the shop floor? Ask “live” questions to some of the country’s premier applications engineers. The “Ask Joe” section gives you a direct link to the Phillips applications team. Our vast FAQ library has a wealth of knowledge from general machining, 5-axis, and more! Any questions/or concerns, please reach out to us. We would love to hear from you through the app, or at tpm@phillipscorp.com

About

CNC Path

This app serves as a mobile workspace for managing, editing, and visualizing CNC programs. It offers features like a local library for programs, a mobile-friendly editor, and on-device OCR for importing from images. Users can also simulate toolpaths and look up CNC instructions.

Highlights
  • Local Program Library
  • Mobile-friendly editor
  • OCR program import
  • Toolpath simulation
  • CNC instruction lookup
  • Syntax checking
Features
Read full description

CNC Path is an iPhone and iPad workspace for CNC professionals and learners to manage, edit, OCR-import, and visualize supported CNC programs. Key features: - Create, organize, import, and export CNC programs in a local Program Library - View and edit CNC program text with a mobile-friendly editor - Import programs from camera or images with on-device OCR and review the result before saving - Look up CNC instructions and their current support boundaries - Run lightweight toolpath simulation for supported basic instructions - Use OCR, import/export, syntax checking, and advanced macro-program, fixed-cycle, and arithmetic-expression simulation The Program Library, editing, instruction reference, and ordinary supported simulation remain free. OCR, import/export, syntax checking, macro programs, fixed cycles, and arithmetic-expression simulation require an active trial or membership. The seven-day trial starts only when selected and does not renew or charge. Monthly and Pro Lifetime Unlock prices are shown by the App Store. CNC Path provides auxiliary toolpath visualization only. It does not guarantee collision detection, machining safety, or complete real-machine verification. Users must manually verify OCR results and CNC programs. Terms of Use (Apple Standard EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

The Phillips Machinist4 screens
CNC Path4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: The Phillips Machinist at none against CNC Path's 2. The Phillips Machinist also leads on ratings volume (394 vs 2). CNC Path's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 4 days vs every 6 weeks). On price, 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. CNC Path sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. The Phillips Machinist asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

CNC Path holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: The Phillips Machinist has 394 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

The Phillips Machinist ships an update every 6 weeks, CNC Path every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
The Phillips Machinist versus CNC Path: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterThe Phillips MachinistCNC Path
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (394 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews78.3% of reviews—
Number of ratings394 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksEvery 4 days — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.6 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size152 MB7 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPhillips Corporation宇 张

Customer experience

The Phillips Machinist

All ratings394 ratings
Positive90.6%
Neutral4.3%
Negative5.1%
Written reviews60 reviews
Positive78.3%
Neutral3.3%
Negative18.3%

CNC Path

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

The Phillips Machinist

Reported bugs

11 issues
  • Cannot sign in via Apple
  • Password incorrect error
  • Cannot reset password
  • White screen on speed and feeds calculator (iPhone)
  • Speeds and feeds calculator boxes not proper
Show 6 more
  • Unable to login, registration error
  • Blank white screen after update
  • Signup not working
  • Unable to select country for signup
  • App crashes on launch
  • No volume on videos

Requested features

4 requests
  • Fix sign-in issues
  • Resolve white screen on calculator
  • Enable offline functionality
  • Add volume to videos

CNC Path

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

The Phillips Machinist

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

CNC Path

Subscriptions1
  • Monthly Membership$0.991 Month
One-time1
  • 专业版永久解锁$7.99

Questions

Is The Phillips Machinist free?
The Phillips Machinist is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is CNC Path free?
CNC Path is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, The Phillips Machinist or CNC Path?
CNC Path is rated higher. The Phillips Machinist averages 4.6 out of 5 from 394 ratings, while CNC Path averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do The Phillips Machinist or CNC Path have ads?
The Phillips Machinist shows ads; CNC Path does not.
Which is updated more often, The Phillips Machinist or CNC Path?
The Phillips Machinist ships an update every 6 weeks, and CNC Path every 4 days. Most recently, The Phillips Machinist was updated on October 8, 2026 and CNC Path on October 10, 2026.

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