Comparison

Ugly's Electrical References vs Wire Color Code

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

Head to head
About

Ugly's Electrical References

This app provides electricians and electrical professionals with up-to-date digital information based on the National Electrical Code. It includes formulas, wiring diagrams, conduit bending guides, and calculators for various electrical calculations. The app is designed for on-the-job reference and works offline.

Highlights
  • NEC 2026 updates
  • Mathematical formulas and calculators
  • Conduit bending guide with videos
  • Ampacity and conduit fill information
  • Wiring diagrams
  • Conversion tables
  • Works offline
Features
Read full description

The Ugly's Electrical References App has been updated to reflect changes to the 2026 National Electrical Code (NEC) and the 2026 Edition of our popular Ugly’s Electrical References book. The Ugly’s App offers the most pertinent, up-to-date digital information for electricians, including table change information, mathematical formulas; National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) wiring configurations; a conduit bending guide with videos, ampacity and conduit fill information, transformer and control circuit wiring diagrams, and conversion tables. The 2026 Edition: * Reflects changes to the 2026 NEC * Features expanded coverage of the following topics: * Full-load currents for 3-phase transformers  * Maximum number of conductors in electrical metallic tubing for trade sizes 5 and 6  * Equipment grounding conductors  * General lighting loads for non-dwelling occupancies  * Overview of important NEC code changes from 2020, 2023 and 2026  Electricians and electrical professionals have used ‘Ugly’s Electrical References’ book as their on-the-job reference for over 35 years. This app will serve you even better in the field today.  FEATURING Calculators and Interactive Features • Ohm’s Law Calculator • Voltage Drop Calculator • Ampacity Calculator • To Find: Amps, Watts, Horsepower, KVA • To Find: Inductance, Impedance, Reactance • Three-phase AC Motor Data: Starter, Breaker, Heater, Wire, and Conduit Size • Power Factor Correction • Full Load Current for Motors and Transformers • Locked-Rotor Current Calculator • Offset Bending Calculator • Conduit Fill Calculator • Conversions for Area, Length, Temperature, Time, Volume, and Weight • NEMA Wiring Configurations *Pinch & Zoom for improved readability *Conduit Bending Video Tutorials *Search function helps you quickly find what you need to know *NEC Updater outlines and explains changes to the National Electrical Code© *Electrical Safety including definitions, boundaries, procedures, PPE guidance, and life-saving *First aid procedures *Blueprint symbol identifier *Bookmark your commonly used screens *High-definition images and interactive tables that can be zoomed in for detail *Works offline *Great for electricians, students, engineers, contractors, maintenance workers, and military Interested in a buying more than one copy of the Ugly’s Electrical Reference app for your commercially owned devices? Please email info[at]uglys[dot]net for details on volume purchases. Privacy Policy - http://www.jblearning.com/privacy/ Terms of Service - http://www.jblearning.com/use/ Support – http://www.uglys.net/appsupport The Ugly’s Electrical Reference app is part of the popular Ugly’s Professional Reference® series, which is an imprint of Jones & Bartlett Learning. National Electrical Code and NFPA 70 are registered trademarks of the National Fire Protection Agency and are not associated with Ugly’s Electrical References in any way.

About

Wire Color Code

This app helps electricians and DIYers identify electrical wire colors globally. It offers country-specific codes, a large circuit database, and quick search functionality. Customize colors for your projects and enjoy a user-friendly interface for efficient electrical panel wiring.

Highlights
  • Global country-specific wire color codes
  • Extensive circuit database (up to 1000 circuits)
  • Quick search for phase colors
  • Customizable phase colors for projects
  • User-friendly interface
Features
Read full description

Introducing Wire Color Code, your go-to companion for electrical panel wiring across the globe! Whether you're an experienced electrician or a DIY enthusiast, this app is designed to simplify the complexities of circuit identification by adhering to the electrical norms of various countries. Key Features: 1. Global Compatibility: Choose your country from a comprehensive list to access accurate and country-specific wire color codes. Stay compliant with local regulations, ensuring safety and efficiency in your electrical installations. 2. Extensive Circuit Database: Access information for up to 1000 circuits, providing a wealth of data for your wiring projects. Effortlessly navigate through circuit numbers to find the precise color codes you need. 3. Quick Search Functionality: Save time with our intuitive search feature, allowing you to swiftly locate the phase color for a specific circuit number. 4. Customization for Your Project: Tailor the app to match your current project requirements by modifying phase colors. Enhance project organization and clarity by adjusting colors to align with your unique preferences. 5. User-Friendly Interface: Enjoy a sleek and user-friendly design that facilitates easy navigation and quick access to essential information. Why Wire Color Code? Reliability: Trust in accurate and up-to-date wire color information based on local electrical norms. Efficiency: Streamline your workflow and reduce errors with quick access to circuit color codes. Global Applicability: Perfect for electricians working on projects worldwide, ensuring adherence to diverse electrical standards. Stay ahead of the curve in electrical panel wiring with Wire Color Code. Download the app today and experience the convenience of a comprehensive, globally-aware solution for all your circuit identification needs.

Screenshots

Ugly's Electrical References4 screens
Wire Color Code4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Wire Color Code at Free against Ugly's Electrical References's $12.99. Ugly's Electrical References's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and chart position (#6 vs unranked). On rating, review sentiment, ratings volume and update cadence 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

Wire Color Code is free to download; Ugly's Electrical References costs $12.99 up front. Wire Color Code sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Ugly's Electrical References asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Wire Color Code holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.5K and 999 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 47% of Ugly's Electrical References's written reviews are positive against 43% of Wire Color Code's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Ugly's Electrical References ships an update every 3 months, Wire Color Code every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
Ugly's Electrical References versus Wire Color Code: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterUgly's Electrical ReferencesWire Color Code
Price$12.99Free — better
Rating4.4 (1.5K ratings)4.6 (999 ratings) — better
Positive reviews47.1% of reviews — better42.9% of reviews
Number of ratings1.5K — better999
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
Best chart rank#6 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS1716.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size63 MB13 MB
Age rating9+4+
DeveloperInformed PublishingBonsaisoft LLC

Customer experience

Ugly's Electrical References

All ratings1,495 ratings
Positive84.9%
Neutral5.7%
Negative9.4%
Written reviews172 reviews
Positive47.1%
Neutral16.9%
Negative36.0%

Wire Color Code

All ratings999 ratings
Positive90.9%
Neutral1.9%
Negative7.2%
Written reviews14 reviews
Positive42.9%
Neutral14.3%
Negative42.9%

User reviews

Ugly's Electrical References

From 1.5K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Quick reference
  • 👍 Helpful for apprentices and journeymen
  • 👍 Convenient to have on phone
  • 👍 Useful calculators
  • 👍 Great resource

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Videos/audio not working
  • 🐛 Bookmarking issues
  • 🐛 Glitchy navigation
  • 🐛 Difficult to find information
  • 🐛 Annoying review pop-up

Wire Color Code

From 999 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Saves time identifying wire colors and circuit numbers
  • 📚 Useful reference tool for electricians
  • 🎯 Helpful for professional electrical work
  • 👍 Intuitive and illustrative design

Room to improve

  • 💰 Hidden costs beyond initial purchase price
  • 🔒 Account/license transfer issues between devices
  • 📉 Limited free version functionality (only 11 circuits)
  • ⚠️ Overpriced for basic information
  • 🎨 Could use better UI/UX design

Bugs and requests

Ugly's Electrical References

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Videos not playing
  • Bookmarks not working correctly
  • Navigation issues causing app crashes
  • Incorrect calculation results

Requested features

5 requests
  • Zoom functionality
  • Better search capabilities
  • Spanish language support
  • Offline access to full content
  • Improved bookmarking system

Wire Color Code

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • App locks users out after switching phones despite previous purchase
  • License/purchase not properly restored on new devices

Requested features

3 requests
  • Ability to change order or hide countries/regions not needed
  • More comprehensive free version with expanded circuit options
  • Better visual design and polish

In-app purchases

None

Ugly's Electrical References

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Wire Color Code

One-time1
  • Pro Version$9.99

Questions

Is Ugly's Electrical References free?
Ugly's Electrical References costs $12.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Wire Color Code free?
Wire Color Code is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Ugly's Electrical References or Wire Color Code?
Wire Color Code is rated higher. Ugly's Electrical References averages 4.4 out of 5 from 1.5K ratings, while Wire Color Code averages 4.6 from 999 ratings.
Do Ugly's Electrical References or Wire Color Code have ads?
Neither Ugly's Electrical References nor Wire Color Code shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Ugly's Electrical References or Wire Color Code?
Ugly's Electrical References ships an update every 3 months, and Wire Color Code every 2 months. Most recently, Ugly's Electrical References was updated on September 24, 2026 and Wire Color Code on September 21, 2026.

Other comparisons