Comparison

Baluster Layout vs Chippy Tools

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

Head to head
About

Baluster Layout

Easily calculate the number and placement of balusters for deck or stair railings. Input railing length, baluster width, and spacing to ensure code compliance. Supports multiple rail sections and units of measurement.

Highlights
  • Calculate baluster quantity
  • Determine baluster placement
  • Support for multiple rail sections
  • Inch and centimeter units
  • Building code compliance assistance
  • Share results via text or email
Features
Read full description

Calculate how many balusters you’ll need for a deck or stair railing by entering the railing length, baluster width and spacing. Multiple rail sections can be entered. Can use inches or centimeters. The results will show how many balusters are needed for each section and the location that each baluster should be attached to meet the proper spacing. Making sure your structure is compliant with local building codes is important and this App will help get the proper spacing. The results can be shared by text or email.

About

Chippy Tools

This app simplifies complex calculations for construction professionals. It offers a variety of tools for tasks like spacing, measurements, and material estimation, helping to reduce errors and save time on job sites. Available on iPhone and iPad, it aims to be an essential tool for tradespeople.

Highlights
  • Baluster spacing calculator
  • Flat run attached baluster calculator
  • Square calculator
  • Concrete calculator
  • Stair calculator
  • Supports millimeters, feet, and inches
Features
Read full description

Chippy Tools is the must-have calculator for carpenters and handy folks looking to simplify math on the job. Whether you're on your iPhone or iPad, Chippy Tools is for you. Its user-friendly design lets you focus on carpentry while the app handles the math. Perfect for architects, builders, carpenters, construction workers, contractors, designers, engineers, tradespeople, and woodworkers of all kinds, Chippy Tools speeds up common calculations with precision. Save time and cut costs by reducing site errors. WHAT IS A CHIPPY? In Australia, carpenters are often called Chippy. WHY CHIPPY TOOLS? Our mission at Chippy Tools is to redefine top-notch apps for carpenters. We aim to develop a sustainable business model, adding new calculations to keep saving you time and money. FEATURES • Baluster spacing calculator - Quickly calculate spacing for flat runs. • Flat run attached baluster calculator - Simple, fast calculations for attached balusters. • Supports millimeters, feet, and inches. PREMIUM FEATURES (Requires Subscription) • Square calculator - Ensure structures are perfectly square. • Concrete calculator - Calculate concrete needed for slabs and posts. • Dumpy level calculator - Find relative level from benchmarks. • Equal spacing calculator - Calculate even spacing effortlessly. • Gravel calculator - Determine gravel volume needed. • Pitch calculator - Calculate pitch with rise and run. • Raked wall calculator - Measure raked walls using height or pitch. • Running calculations - Enter start number and interval. • Soil calculator - Find soil volume for landscaping. • Stair calculator - Calculate going, stringer, and rise for stairs. • Triangle calculator - Solve triangle measurements with ease. FEEDBACK Want a new calculator? Email us at feedback@chippy.tools. NO ADS EVER We promise no ads in Chippy Tools. Enjoy the best experience for your purchase. SUPPORT Got questions or feedback? Contact us for free tech support at support@chippy.tools. If Chippy Tools aids you, please leave an App Store review to help others find it. Subscription Terms of Service: https://chippy.tools/terms/ Proudly made in Brisbane, Australia.

Screenshots

Baluster Layout4 screens
Chippy Tools4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Chippy Tools at Free against Baluster Layout's $1.99. Chippy Tools also leads on ratings volume (905 vs 24) and rating (4.5 vs 4.3). Baluster Layout's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10) and iOS requirement (14.0 vs 16.0). On 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

Chippy Tools is free to download; Baluster Layout costs $1.99 up front. Chippy Tools sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. Baluster Layout asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Chippy Tools holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Chippy Tools has 905 ratings behind it against 24, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Baluster Layout versus Chippy Tools: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBaluster LayoutChippy Tools
Price$1.99Free — better
Rating4.3 (24 ratings)4.5 (905 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—55.2% of reviews
Number of ratings24905 — better
Update frequency—Every 8 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFreemium — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS14.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size0 MB46 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperH3 Apps, LLCPeth Pty Ltd

Customer experience

Baluster Layout

All ratings24 ratings
Positive83.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative16.7%

Chippy Tools

All ratings905 ratings
Positive88.6%
Neutral3.0%
Negative8.4%
Written reviews58 reviews
Positive55.2%
Neutral5.2%
Negative39.7%

Bugs and requests

Baluster Layout

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Chippy Tools

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Square check feature not working
  • Measurements disappear after partial use

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add more construction-related calculators
  • Improve stair and rafter tools
  • Include material quantity estimations
  • Add support for metric and imperial units

In-app purchases

None

Baluster Layout

No in-app purchases

9 purchases

Chippy Tools

Subscriptions8
  • Chippy Tools Pro - Weekly1 Month trial$2.997 Days
  • Chippy Tools Pro - Weekly3 Days trial$3.997 Days
  • Chippy Tools Pro - Quarterly3 Months trial$4.993 Months
Show 5 more
  • Chippy Tools Pro - Monthly$5.991 Month
  • Chippy Tools Pro - Monthly1 Month trial$5.991 Month
  • Chippy Tools Pro - Annual3 Days trial$19.991 Year
  • Chippy Tools Pro - Annual1 Year trial$19.991 Year
  • Chippy Tools Pro - Annual$19.991 Year
One-time1
  • One Time Purchase2 variants$85.00

Questions

Is Baluster Layout free?
Baluster Layout costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Chippy Tools free?
Chippy Tools is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Baluster Layout or Chippy Tools?
Chippy Tools is rated higher. Baluster Layout averages 4.3 out of 5 from 24 ratings, while Chippy Tools averages 4.5 from 905 ratings.
Do Baluster Layout or Chippy Tools have ads?
Neither Baluster Layout nor Chippy Tools shows ads.

Other comparisons