A vs Welding Reference Pro
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
A
This utility app calculates the A-Number for deposited weld metal based on its chemical composition. It simplifies the process of comparing weld metal composition against ASME Section IX standards, aiding in procedure qualification and ensuring compliance.
- Determines A-Number from chemical composition
- Compares weld metal to ASME Section IX ranges
- Aids in procedure qualification
- Supports ASME Section IX 2023 Edition
- Provides accurate results
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Background The A-Number is essential variable in most of the welding process in ASME Section IX. A-Number in WPS does not refer to the filler wire or electrode chemical composition, it refers to the deposited weld metal chemical composition. The filler metal and deposited weld metal have different chemical composition. Acceptable method of determining weld metal chemical composition is given in QW-404.5 of ASME Section IX. Applicable Code / Edition & Standards The weld metal A-Number determination is in accordance with ASME Section IX 2023 Edition. Utility This app determine the assigned A-Number based on chemical composition in a "as weld" condition. Weld metal A-Number is used for procedure qualification. Changes in weld metal A-Number may require procedure re-qualification. Competitive Edge There is no app available in the market to determine weld metal A-Number. User mostly compare weld metal composition against ranges given in ASME Section IX. This handy tool makes life easy by comparing the chemical composition to that of the ranges for given A-Number and provide accurate result. 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 procedure qualification testing.
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.
- Weld setting calculators
- Filler metal estimation
- Unit conversion
- Reference guides
- Training modules
- Exam preparation
- Qualification tracking
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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
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Welding Reference Pro at every 4 days against A's every 10 months. A's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and device support (4 vs 1). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads 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
Both are free to download. A sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Welding Reference Pro sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for A against 5.0 for Welding Reference Pro. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 1 respectively.
A ships an update every 10 months, Welding Reference Pro every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on September 7, 2026 and August 27, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | A | Welding Reference Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 10 months | Every 4 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 2 MB | 6 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Shabbir Ahmed | ZIma Logistics LLC |
Customer experience
A
Welding Reference Pro
In-app purchases
A
- Non-Consumable Subscription$1.99
Welding Reference Pro
- Pro Tools$9.99





