# Trex AR vs Deck Planner

The clearest difference is rating: Trex AR at 3.9 against Deck Planner's 3.3. Trex AR also leads on ratings volume (700 vs 15) and device support (3 vs 1). Deck Planner's advantage is review sentiment (25% vs 6%) and monetization model (ad-supported vs free with in-app purchases). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Trex AR holds the better App Store score, 3.9 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Trex AR has 700 ratings behind it against 15, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 6% of Trex AR's written reviews are positive against 25% of Deck Planner's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Trex AR ships an update every 5 months, Deck Planner every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Trex AR | Deck Planner |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.9 (700 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/trex-ar/id1561806489/reviews)** | [3.3 (15 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/deck-planner/id1567236987/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **700** | 15 |
| Positive reviews | 5.7% of reviews | **25.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Every 3 months** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 536 MB | 198 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Trex Co, Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1496171022) | [Simpson Strong-Tie Company Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/496859988) |

## What reviewers say

### Trex AR

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/trex-ar/id1561806489)

Visualize outdoor living spaces with this augmented reality tool. Explore different decking and railing options in your own environment. Design basic deck shapes, estimate square footage, and find local professionals.

**Highlights:** AR visualization of decking and railing, View entire decking portfolio, Experiment with railing pairings, Build basic deck shapes, Estimate square footage, Order samples, Find builders and retailers

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great visual effects
- 👍 Handy and easy to use

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Freezes upon opening
- 🐛 Glitchy and buggy
- 👎 Not user-friendly
- 👎 Difficult to use
- 👎 Unclear how to proceed

**Reported bugs**

- Camera function doesn't work
- Can't save or restart scans
- Deck placement and sizing issues
- Crashes and freezes frequently

**Requested features**

- Allow uploading photos to build off of
- Add ability to adjust deck height and add stairs
- Improve visualization and make it more realistic
- Provide more guidance and instructions


### Deck Planner

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/deck-planner/id1567236987)

Easily design a beautiful and safe deck in minutes. Visualize your dream deck with realistic 3D models, customizable options, and augmented reality. Generates a complete materials list for a stress-free building experience.

**Highlights:** Deck design tool, High-quality material selection, Customizable dimensions, Color and hardware options, Photo Mode visualization, Augmented Reality (AR) view, Generates materials list

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Trex AR free?

Trex AR is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Deck Planner free?

Deck Planner is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Trex AR or Deck Planner?

Trex AR is rated higher. Trex AR averages 3.9 out of 5 from 700 ratings, while Deck Planner averages 3.3 from 15 ratings.

### Do Trex AR or Deck Planner have ads?

Neither Trex AR nor Deck Planner shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Trex AR or Deck Planner?

Trex AR ships an update every 5 months, and Deck Planner every 3 months. Most recently, Trex AR was updated on September 23, 2026 and Deck Planner on September 14, 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.*