# IBS 2026 vs Castle Events

The clearest difference is update cadence: Castle Events at every 5 days against IBS 2026's every 12 months. Castle Events also leads on iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.0). 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.

IBS 2026 ships an update every 12 months, Castle Events every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | IBS 2026 | Castle Events |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (1.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ibs-2026/id1446351348/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **1.5K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 36.4% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 12 months | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 116 MB | 38 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [National Association of Home Builders](https://appshunter.io/developer/1225615011) | [Castle Building Centres Group Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1453707085) |

## What reviewers say

### IBS 2026

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ibs-2026/id1446351348)

Plan your visit to the NAHB International Builders’ Show (IBS) with the official mobile app. Access exhibitor lists, maps, show highlights, education schedules, and event details to make the most of your time at the show.

**Highlights:** Exhibitor list, Maps, Show Highlights, Education schedules, Event details, Favorites

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Convenient app for the event
- 🚀 Easy to navigate between meetings
- 💡 Helpful for finding exhibitors

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and unstable on various devices
- 🤔 Weak search functionality
- 🤨 Confusing map and navigation
- 🔒 Login and account issues

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes and screen jumping on tablets
- Unable to log in or access account information

**Requested features**

- Integrate favorites/saved exhibitors into the map
- Provide more detailed floor plans and exhibitor information
- Improve search capabilities to easily find specific exhibitors


### Castle Events

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/castle-events/id6479718187)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is IBS 2026 free?

IBS 2026 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Castle Events free?

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

### Do IBS 2026 or Castle Events have ads?

Neither IBS 2026 nor Castle Events shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, IBS 2026 or Castle Events?

IBS 2026 ships an update every 12 months, and Castle Events every 5 days. Most recently, IBS 2026 was updated on October 24, 2026 and Castle Events on October 25, 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.*