Comparison

W/WO 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

W/WO

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Background When welders or welding operators are used for pressure welding, welders must be qualified for the welding process. ASME Section IX Table QW-416 list essential variables for welder performance qualification using arc welding process. Welder performance qualification must address all applicable essential variables for qualification. Applicable Code / Edition & Standards The ranges qualified are in accordance with ASME Section IX 2023 Edition. Utility For inspection companies it is required to verify, if performance variables are addressed correctly and ranges qualified are in accordance with ASME Section IX and construction Code. It is hard to determine quickly performance ranges unless dive into Section IX or use knowledge and experience (or memorization although not recommended), if you are one having this issue, than we have solution for you through this app. Scope This app address welder performance qualification variables for arc welding processes (OFW, SMAW, FCAW, GMAW, GTAW, SAW, PAW & LBW). Each variable is addressed separately so that you can do a spot check on required variable quickly and efficiently. Competitive Edge This app is different than those available in the market in that, you don’t have to generate QW-484A form to determine welder performance qualification ranges instead directly check individual variable with qualified range. Hence productive and efficient. Target Audience This app targets inspection agencies, pressure items manufacturing organizations, quality control personnel, welders, welding operators, students who are involved in welding trades and institutions who are doing performance qualification testing. Subscription Requirement: This is paid application, you can download the app from App Store for free however monthly or annual subscription is need before you can use any of the function of this app. Purchase can be made by going to the menu of the application. Terms and condition are also provided there. Terms of Use: This app follow Apple Standard Term of Use (EULA) more information about apple standard Licensed Application End User License Agreement can be found at https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

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
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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

W/WO4 screens
Welding Reference Pro4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Welding Reference Pro at every 4 days against W/WO's monthly. W/WO's advantage is device support (4 vs 1) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 18.0). On price, ads and in-app purchases 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. W/WO sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month and Welding Reference Pro sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

W/WO ships an update monthly, Welding Reference Pro every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 6 level
W/WO versus Welding Reference Pro: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterW/WOWelding Reference Pro
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
Monetization—Free with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone
Requires iOS13.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size4 MB6 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperShabbir AhmedZIma Logistics LLC

In-app purchases

2 purchases

W/WO

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly Auto-Renewing Subs$7.991 Month
  • Annual Auto-Renewing Subs$14.991 Year
1 purchases

Welding Reference Pro

One-time1
  • Pro Tools$9.99

Questions

Is W/WO free?
W/WO is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Welding Reference Pro free?
Welding Reference Pro is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do W/WO or Welding Reference Pro have ads?
Neither W/WO nor Welding Reference Pro shows ads.
Which is updated more often, W/WO or Welding Reference Pro?
W/WO ships an update monthly, and Welding Reference Pro every 4 days. Most recently, W/WO was updated on October 27, 2026 and Welding Reference Pro on October 31, 2026.

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