Comparison

WeldEquations vs Welding Reference Pro

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

Head to head
About

WeldEquations

Features
Read full description

Useful for the preliminary sizing of welds, WeldEquations is an engineering calculator app that computes the section properties for typical welding patterns used in steel construction. After selecting a Weld Group, the user enters the dimensions for the depth and width. The section properties for the Weld Group, including the area, section moduli and polar moment of inertia, are instantly calculated. For practicality, both weld group dimensions are limited to a minimum of 0.25" and a maximum of 100".  The equations used by the app are available for reference and manual verification.

About

Welding Reference Pro

This app provides welders with essential tools, including calculators for settings and costs, comprehensive reference guides, and exam preparation modules. It offers offline access to all features, with a one-time purchase unlocking advanced calculators and exam practice.

Highlights
  • Weld setting calculators
  • Filler metal estimation
  • Unit conversion
  • Reference guides
  • Training modules
  • Exam preparation
  • Qualification tracking
Features
Read full description

Welding Reference Pro puts every tool a welder needs in one app — calculators, reference guides, training, and QA checklists. No internet required. No subscription. One price, everything unlocked. CALCULATORS (8) Weld Settings — enter your process, material, and thickness to get amperage, voltage, wire speed, and electrode recommendations for MIG, TIG, Stick, and Flux-Core. Wire Feed Speed — convert between wire feed speed and deposition rate across 6 wire diameters. Gas Flow — get shielding gas type and flow rate recommendations by process, material, joint type, and position. Filler Weight Estimator — calculate pounds of filler metal needed for 5 joint types with waste factors. Unit Converter — 7 categories including length, temperature, pressure, flow rate, weight, heat input, and area. Weld Cost Estimator — estimate labor, filler, and gas costs with your own custom rates. Edit every rate in the app. Heat Input (Pro) — calculate joules per inch with process efficiency factors for SMAW, GMAW, GTAW, FCAW, and SAW. Preheat Calculator (Pro) — input your carbon equivalent elements and thickness to get preheat temperature and crack sensitivity assessment. REFERENCE GUIDES (9) 27 electrodes and filler metals — E6010 through Inconel, searchable by classification, type, or application. Electrode Guide, Welding Symbol Decoder (18 AWS A2.4 symbols), Joint Preparation Guide (13 joints), Weld Defect ID (10 defects with causes and fixes), Gas Reference Chart, Material Properties (18 materials including duplex and nickel alloys), NDE Methods, Heat Treatment Reference, and Pipe Welding schedules. TRAINING ACADEMY 6 study modules with spaced repetition: Welding Fundamentals, Electrode Mastery, Blueprint Reading, Metallurgy, Weld Quality, and Code Awareness. Questions you get wrong come back sooner. Track your streak and progress. EXAM PREP (Pro) Practice for CWI (56 questions), AWS D1.1 (85 questions), ASME Section IX (88 questions), OSHA Welding Safety (56 questions), and Welding Math (45 questions). Timed mode, score history, and category filtering. ENTERPRISE FEATURES Qualification Tracker — track your welding certifications, positions, and expiration dates. Get warned when a cert is expiring. QA Checklists — pre-weld, during-weld, and post-weld inspection checklists with standard templates. Tag by project. Weld Log — attach a photo from your library, tag welding parameters, and save locally. Export to CSV or PDF for QA documentation. Global Search — type "7018" and find the electrode, compatible settings, and defect fixes all at once. Tap any result to copy it to clipboard. Save and name any calculation. Export results as PDF. FREE FEATURES: 6 calculators (Weld Settings, Wire Feed Speed, Gas Flow, Filler Weight, Unit Converter, Weld Cost), all 9 reference guides, Training Academy study modules, qualification tracker, checklists, weld log (up to 15 entries). PRO UNLOCK ($9.99 one-time): Heat Input Calculator, Preheat Calculator, CWI Exam Prep, AWS D1.1 Exam Prep, ASME IX Exam Prep, OSHA Safety Exam Prep, Welding Math practice, WPS Reference templates, Distortion Guide, unlimited weld log entries. No subscription. No ads. No account required. No personal data collected — just anonymous usage diagnostics.

Screenshots

WeldEquations4 screens
Welding Reference Pro4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: WeldEquations at none against Welding Reference Pro's 1. Welding Reference Pro's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs every 12 months) and iOS requirement (18.0 vs 26.0). On price, ads 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

Both are free to download. Welding Reference Pro sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. WeldEquations asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

WeldEquations ships an update every 12 months, Welding Reference Pro every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on September 27, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 6 level
WeldEquations versus Welding Reference Pro: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterWeldEquationsWelding Reference Pro
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyEvery 12 monthsEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
Monetization—Free with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS26.018.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size7 MB6 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGlendale Coding Labs, IncZIma Logistics LLC

In-app purchases

None

WeldEquations

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Welding Reference Pro

One-time1
  • Pro Tools$9.99

Questions

Is WeldEquations free?
WeldEquations is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Welding Reference Pro free?
Welding Reference Pro is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do WeldEquations or Welding Reference Pro have ads?
Neither WeldEquations nor Welding Reference Pro shows ads.
Which is updated more often, WeldEquations or Welding Reference Pro?
WeldEquations ships an update every 12 months, and Welding Reference Pro every 4 days. Most recently, WeldEquations was updated on September 27, 2026 and Welding Reference Pro on September 26, 2026.

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