Comparison

IC References vs Smith Charts

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

Head to head
About

IC References

Access reference designs for electronic and electromechanical components. Search by manufacturer, reference number, or part number, and link directly to design files and datasheets. Facilitates communication by allowing direct email sharing of information.

Highlights
  • Search by IC Manufacturer, Reference, or Part Number
  • Link to IC Reference Designs
  • Link to Würth Elektronik Datasheets
  • Parametric Search for Reference Designs
  • Email Sharing of Information
  • Multilingual Support (English, German, French)
Features
Read full description

The “IC References” App allows you to access all reference designs containing Electronic & Electromechanical Components from Würth Elektronik. Features: - Search via IC Manufacturer, IC Reference or Würth Elektronik Part number - Link to the IC Reference designs - Link to the Würth Elektronik data sheets - Parametric search for any reference design with Würth Elektronik components - Send E-mails direct from the app to inform your customer or colleague - App available in English, German and French

About

Smith Charts

Design matching networks, analyze device parameters, and compute stability circles with this interactive tool. Supports S parameters, various components, and offers advanced engineering features for RF design. Available in dark mode and exportable to PDF.

Highlights
  • Interactive Smith chart with drag and zoom
  • Design matching networks with various components
  • Compute stability, equi gain, and noise circles
  • Import S parameters from Touchstone files
  • Export designs to PDF, image, or file
  • Dark mode support
  • Ruler for wavelength measurement
Features
Read full description

A great experience of the Smith chart. Also in dark mode. Design matching networks, insert S parameters and convert them, or import from touchstone file. Compute stability circles, equi gain and noise circles.  Easy interaction with the Smith chart. This chart can easily replace a physical one, making its use much faster. Smith chart interactivity: - Works on iPhone, iPad and Mac (on Apple Silicon). - Drag and zoom in the chart. - Create multiple Smith Charts and name them. - Switch easily between input and output planes. - Use a ruler and drag it to obtain the wavelength toward generator of a point on the chart, instantly. - Tap the chart to show the coordinates in algebraic notation, you will see also magnitude and phase of that location, and the corresponding impedance. - Insert circles by hand; modify the radius dragging a circle to keep the center in place, or press to translate them and modify the radius keeping the opposite side in place. Then use the padlock button to disable interaction of gestures with circles. - You can also insert a custom circle and a segment in the input and in the output plane, defining its center and radius in a textfield. - Export to file, image or PDF Advanced tools for engineering: Matching networks: - Choose electronic components to design a matching network for your device. - Available components are: L, C, R, Z and lines (transmission line, parallel or series stub, open or shorted). - For each component it is possible to specify the parasites. - For transmission lines, it is possible to choose between Z0, K or L, C representations, and converting between the two (also for parasites). - Tapping on a component it is added to the network and the impedance seen from your device toward the matching network is shown on the smith chart. - You can create a matching network both for input and output planes of the device. - Each network has its own termination (source or load), which can be a one port device or a two ports device where you can choose a termination for the second port. - Each termination can be defined by network parameters (S, Z, Y or h) and the parameters can be imported from a touchstone file. - Components supported: Resistor, Capacitor, Inductor, General impedance (R+jX), Transmission line, Parallel stub, series Stub (both shorted or open). - Each component can be cascaded in series or in parallel, no limits of components. - You can choose a frequency for the impedance calculation and a frequency span for the plot on the Smith Chart. - For S parameters, you can specify a dedicated characteristic impedance, the tool will renormalize the Γ of that termination to be correctly shown on the Smith chart, when the smith chart is defined on a different characteristic impedance. Device analysis: - You can insert the following parameters of a device: network parameters (S, Z, Y or h), specifications (Ga, Gp, Gt, NF), noise data (gamma s optimum noise, minimum NF, rn) and the input/output reflection coefficients. - You can convert network parameters (S, Z, Y, h), and the port type (Γ, Z, Y). - While you are inserting data, you will see the computed results appearing on the chart and on the relative fields. - Results representable on the smith chart: input/output stability circles, power gain and noise circles (equiGa, Gp, Gt, NF circles), reflection coefficients towards load and source and optimum power coefficients. - Other results: obtained power gains and noise (Ga, Gp, Gt, NF) and stability (D, K, kind of stability). - You can display on the Smith chart the input impedance of your component versus frequency (as a function of load impedance) when importing a touchstone file. - For S parameters, you can specify a different characteristic impedance and the tool will automatically convert it to the one defined for the Smith chart, it will let you know the new renormalized parameters.

Screenshots

IC References4 screens
Smith Charts4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Smith Charts at 50% against IC References's 0%. Smith Charts also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). IC References's advantage is price (Free vs $3.99) and rating (5.0 vs 3.7). On ratings volume, ads, in-app purchases 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

IC References is free to download; Smith Charts costs $3.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

IC References holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 3 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 0% of IC References's written reviews are positive against 50% of Smith Charts's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

IC References ships an update every 2 months, Smith Charts every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
IC References versus Smith Charts: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterIC ReferencesSmith Charts
PriceFree — better$3.99
Rating5.0 (2 ratings) — better3.7 (3 ratings)
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews50.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings23 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS9.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size61 MB24 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperWuerth Elektronik eiSos GmbH & Co. KGEdoardo Orzes

Customer experience

IC References

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

Smith Charts

All ratings3 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

In-app purchases

None

IC References

No in-app purchases

None

Smith Charts

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is IC References free?
IC References is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Smith Charts free?
Smith Charts costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, IC References or Smith Charts?
IC References is rated higher. IC References averages 5.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Smith Charts averages 3.7 from 3 ratings.
Do IC References or Smith Charts have ads?
Neither IC References nor Smith Charts shows ads.
Which is updated more often, IC References or Smith Charts?
IC References ships an update every 2 months, and Smith Charts every 3 weeks. Most recently, IC References was updated on November 2, 2026 and Smith Charts on November 6, 2026.

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