# Beam Calculator vs HydroCalc Basic

The clearest difference is price: HydroCalc Basic at Free against Beam Calculator's $2.99. HydroCalc Basic also leads on update cadence (every 11 days vs every 15 months). Beam Calculator's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1). On ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

HydroCalc Basic is free to download; Beam Calculator costs $2.99 up front. HydroCalc Basic sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Beam Calculator asks for nothing beyond the download.

Beam Calculator ships an update every 15 months, HydroCalc Basic every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on September 3, 2026 and September 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Beam Calculator | HydroCalc Basic |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $2.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.0 (12 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/beam-calculator/id1046482593/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **12** | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 15 months | **Every 11 days** |
| Monetization | Paid | — |
| Size | 4 MB | 35 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.1 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [V PUGAZHENTHI](https://appshunter.io/developer/491898049) | [Transparent Blue Water LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1847968351) |

## What reviewers say

### Beam Calculator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/beam-calculator/id1046482593)

This app provides 34 civil engineering calculators for beam analysis and conversion, referencing industry codes. It features auto-fill pickers for sections and materials, dual unit systems, and calculation history. Professionals and students can generate PDF reports and access built-in reference tables.

**Highlights:** 34 Civil Engineering Calculators, AISC, ACI, ASCE Code References, Auto-fill Section and Material Pickers, Dual Unit System (Imperial/Metric), Calculation History with Notes, PDF Export for Reports, Built-in Reference Tables

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### HydroCalc Basic

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hydrocalc-basic/id6752577110)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium - Flow Units & Ad-Free | $1.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Beam Calculator free?

Beam Calculator costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is HydroCalc Basic free?

HydroCalc Basic is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do Beam Calculator or HydroCalc Basic have ads?

Neither Beam Calculator nor HydroCalc Basic shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Beam Calculator or HydroCalc Basic?

Beam Calculator ships an update every 15 months, and HydroCalc Basic every 11 days. Most recently, Beam Calculator was updated on September 3, 2026 and HydroCalc Basic on September 8, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*