Comparison

Key Retrieve vs Electrician's Sidekick

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

Head to head
About

Key Retrieve

Features
Read full description

***Important: Key Retrieve requires a login each and every time before using. The login will generate a random lock code in which the correct bitting will need to be provided. If you are not in the locksmith industry you will be unable to use this app.*** Have a customer who lost the combination to their push button lock box? Then this tool will help you retrieve your customer's keys and allow the ability to reuse their lock box. This tool was made specifically for the style lock boxes that have mechanical push buttons numbered one through five along the left side, 6 through zero along the right side, a vertical slider in the top-middle to open, and a vertical slider in the bottom-middle to clear all the buttons that may have been pressed. These lock boxes allow any combination of the ten numbers to be set from simply no combination at all to using all ten numbers, barring that no number can be repeated and the order in which the numbers are pressed do not matter. There are two different methods in which Key Retrieve uses: lock boxes that cannot be manipulated and lock boxes that can. This tool will not help manipulate nor will it show which method to use, but instead facilitates the process by eliminating wasted attempts and removes possibilities that would never exist. Overview: Key Retrieve consists of two different methods for opening which are simply named System 1 and System 2. You can toggle between the systems using the switch in the upper right hand corner. Both systems are executed using the controls at the bottom: Eject resets everything to default. Left Arrow moves back a step. Play begins the sequence automatically. Pause stops the sequence. And Right Arrow moves forward a step. (moving back a step is infinite for System 1 but limited to one step for System 2). Right above the controls is a progress bar that displays the amount of combinations tried out of the combinations available, as well at the very top is a slider to control the speed when using the automatic sequence (play control). Lastly, in the middle displays the combination to be tried in text as well as a graphic representation of the lock where the corresponding numbers/buttons will highlight to help as a visual aid. System 1: This system is only used on locks that cannot be manipulated and/or when no prior knowledge exists. Use System 2 if any part of the combination is known. Because these locks do not care about order and numbers cannot be repeated, there are only 1,024 possibilities (including no combination). This system will exhaust all 1,024 if needed, which with no strategy amounts to pressing over 7,000 buttons. However, only about a third of this 7,000+ total will be required for this system's method.

 To start, press Play or use the Next control repeatedly. The app will tell you one by one which button to press that you will simply copy onto the lock. You can set your speed by using the slider at the top if utilizing the Play control to run automatically. Tip: Before starting set the speed at various settings to calibrate your comfort. System 2: This system is only used when you have at least one known number in the combination, which is typically achieved from manipulation. Every number that is known in advance cuts the total possibilities in half. To start, tap on each number that is known and one at a time the number will be highlighted with a blue halo (tap again to turn off). After all known numbers have been selected, begin by using the Play or Next controls similar to System 1, except instead of a single button being displayed, the entire combination followed by Open and Clear will result as a single cycle. Remember that order does not matter: if the combination displayed contains a 1, 5, and an 8, then pressing 8 then 1 then 5 will result the same. Tip: Take your time manipulating the lock before using the app. Spending an extra minute or two up front can save much more later on.

About

Electrician's Sidekick

This free tool consolidates essential electrical calculations and reference guides into a single app. It offers precise tools for conduit bending, wire sizing, voltage drop, and conduit fill, designed to enhance fieldwork efficiency and accuracy for professionals. The app functions offline, ensuring constant access to critical information.

Highlights
  • Conduit bending calculator
  • Wire sizing and voltage drop calculator
  • Conduit fill calculator
  • Construction calculator (feet/inches)
  • Electrical wiring color charts
  • Digital clinometer (level)
Features
Read full description

Tired of juggling multiple calculators and reference guides on the job? The Electrician's Sidekick app from IDEAL Electrical is a free tool that combines the functions of many electrical calculators into one convenient app. Instantly calculate rolling offsets and bends with the precise conduit bending calculator and integrated level. Determine accurate wire sizing, voltage drop, and conduit fill to meet compliance standards. Designed by pros for pros, this app maximizes your fieldwork efficiency and accuracy from layout to final connection. The calculators continue to function even without internet connectivity, ensuring you always have access to the information you need. Key features include: Connector Selector – input the wire combination and connector style to receive recommendations for the right connector for the job. Smart Meter Connectivity - Connect compatible IDEAL smart test instruments to automatically capture measurements, monitor readings in real time, and document results directly from your mobile device. Wire Sizing & Voltage Drop Calculator – input wire size, voltage, amperage, and length to determine volts and drop percentage. Conduit Bending Calculator – select the type of conduit and desired bend (offset, saddle bend, or rolling offset), then input the angle, offset distance, and clearance. The dynamic display quickly shows the bend required, shrink, and other important information. Conduit Fill Calculator – input the conduit type and the number/size of conductors to calculate the minimum conduit size required for a certain percentage of fill. Construction Calculator – this specialized calculator permits electricians to add and multiply feet and inches and get the answer back in feet and inches. Electrical Wiring Color Charts – provides the wiring code for the various phases in a panel for both 120/280V and 277/480V systems. Clinometer – transform your phone into a digital level with zero/reset options. When placed on a flat surface, it automatically becomes a bubble level. Simplify every job with this all-in-one electrician's companion. Join the thousands of other electricians using the free Electrician’s Sidekick app from IDEAL Electrical. DATA COMM - T568A/T568B Wiring Reference and conduit fill calculator for data cables. Box Fill Calculator - Calculate NEC® box fill requirements in seconds. Account for conductors, devices, grounding conductors, cable clamps, fixture studs, and plaster rings while instantly verifying box capacity and available volume.

Screenshots

Key Retrieve4 screens
Electrician's Sidekick4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Electrician's Sidekick at Free against Key Retrieve's $9.99. Electrician's Sidekick also leads on update cadence (every 4 months vs every 12 months). Key Retrieve's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 16.0). On 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

Electrician's Sidekick is free to download; Key Retrieve costs $9.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Key Retrieve ships an update every 12 months, Electrician's Sidekick every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Key Retrieve versus Electrician's Sidekick: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterKey RetrieveElectrician's Sidekick
Price$9.99Free — better
Rating—3.6 (18 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—33.3% of reviews
Number of ratings—18 — better
Update frequencyEvery 12 monthsEvery 4 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS12.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size12 MB52 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperFarren DomeniciIDEAL INDUSTRIES, INC

In-app purchases

None

Key Retrieve

No in-app purchases

None

Electrician's Sidekick

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Key Retrieve free?
Key Retrieve costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Electrician's Sidekick free?
Electrician's Sidekick is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Key Retrieve or Electrician's Sidekick have ads?
Neither Key Retrieve nor Electrician's Sidekick shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Key Retrieve or Electrician's Sidekick?
Key Retrieve ships an update every 12 months, and Electrician's Sidekick every 4 months. Most recently, Key Retrieve was updated on October 26, 2026 and Electrician's Sidekick on October 24, 2026.

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