# IES ShapeDB vs DFORMA

The clearest difference is ads: IES ShapeDB at none against DFORMA's shown. IES ShapeDB also leads on monetization model (free vs ad-supported) and iOS requirement (9.3 vs 14.0). DFORMA's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 7 months). On price, rating, ratings volume and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for IES ShapeDB against 5.0 for DFORMA. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 1 respectively.

IES ShapeDB ships an update every 7 months, DFORMA weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 3, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | IES ShapeDB | DFORMA |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ies-shapedb/id1068309510/reviews) | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dforma/id6767935219/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 1 |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Ad-supported |
| Size | 81 MB | 56 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.3** | 14.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [INTEGRATED ENGINEERING SOFTWARE INC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1068309509) | [Kovan M Salih](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896522442) |

## 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


### DFORMA

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dforma/id6767935219)

This platform offers augmented reality measurement tools, advanced engineering simulations, and AI-powered calculation assistance. Connect with a community of verified engineers, access professional tools for project management, and enroll in specialized training courses to enhance your skills.

**Highlights:** Augmented reality measurement tools, Finite element analysis for structures, AI-powered engineering calculations, BOQ data extraction from documents, Verified engineer community, Project budget and expense tracking, Engineering courses and training

**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 DFORMA free?

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

### Which has better reviews, IES ShapeDB or DFORMA?

IES ShapeDB and DFORMA are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 1 ratings respectively.

### Do IES ShapeDB or DFORMA have ads?

DFORMA shows ads; IES ShapeDB does not.

### Which is updated more often, IES ShapeDB or DFORMA?

IES ShapeDB ships an update every 7 months, and DFORMA weekly. Most recently, IES ShapeDB was updated on October 3, 2026 and DFORMA on October 1, 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.*