# IES ShapeDB vs GCTS gTest

The clearest difference is update cadence: GCTS gTest at every 3 weeks against IES ShapeDB's every 7 months. IES ShapeDB's advantage is iOS requirement (9.3 vs 14.2). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

IES ShapeDB ships an update every 7 months, GCTS gTest every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on October 3, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | IES ShapeDB | GCTS gTest |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ies-shapedb/id1068309510/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **1** | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 81 MB | 144 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.3** | 14.2 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [INTEGRATED ENGINEERING SOFTWARE INC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1068309509) | [GCTS Testing Systems](https://appshunter.io/developer/539767606) |

## What reviewers say

### IES ShapeDB

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ies-shapedb/id1068309510)

Access a comprehensive database of over 18,000 structural shapes and their engineering properties. Perform simple beam and column stress analysis for various materials like steel, wood, aluminum, rebar, and cables. Ideal for field use by engineers.

**Highlights:** 18,000+ structural shapes, Engineering properties database, Simple beam stress analysis, Column stress analysis, Supports steel, wood, aluminum, rebar, cables, Calculates bending and combined stresses

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### GCTS gTest

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gcts-gtest/id1588420445)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is IES ShapeDB free?

IES ShapeDB is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is GCTS gTest free?

GCTS gTest is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do IES ShapeDB or GCTS gTest have ads?

Neither IES ShapeDB nor GCTS gTest shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, IES ShapeDB or GCTS gTest?

IES ShapeDB ships an update every 7 months, and GCTS gTest every 3 weeks. Most recently, IES ShapeDB was updated on October 3, 2026 and GCTS gTest on October 3, 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.*