Comparison

PCS Instruments vs GradPad

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

Head to head
About

PCS Instruments

This utility app simplifies Hertz contact calculations for various geometries and materials. It allows users to input loads and material properties to instantly determine contact conditions, or calculate required loads for specific contact sizes.

Highlights
  • Hertzian geometry calculations
  • Load and material property input
  • Instant contact condition results
  • Customizable contact types
  • Load calculation for desired contact size
  • Pre-loaded specimen data for PCS instruments
Features
Read full description

Designed by PCS Instruments, the PCS App allows you to easily and quickly calculate Hertz contact pressures and sizes for any valid Hertzian geometry with specified loads and materials. Specimen geometries and material properties for all our instruments are loaded on the app: simply select your specimens, input the load, and the app does the rest - giving you all the contact conditions instantly! For custom Hertz contacts, you can select from a range of standard (and custom) contact types to fit all your testing needs. For circular and line contacts you can even set just the radius of the sample and any other parameter, and the app will calculate the load required to achieve this and all the other parameters. These parameters are: - Load - Max pressure - Contact radius - Mean pressure - Contact area - Approach For users of PCS Instruments machines, the PCS App comes pre-loaded with all the contact geometry and standard specimens and materials from our instruments including the: - MTM - EHD - HSD - ETM - HFRR - HPR - MPR - ABS - ABSSL Moreover, the PCS App not only comes pre-loaded with properties for all the standard specimen materials we supply, but many more common materials, and the option for you to add and save your own custom materials.

About

GradPad

Features
Read full description

The simplest way to manage your GradPad Resident account from your fingertips. The GradPad Resident app brings everything you need all in one place: • Make rent payments • View all your documents in one place • Contact the site team The GradPad Resident app is free to download. It's quick and easy to install and makes managing your accommodation easy.

Screenshots

PCS Instruments4 screens
GradPad4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: GradPad at every 9 months against PCS Instruments's every 55 months. GradPad also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.6). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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

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

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PCS Instruments ships an update every 55 months, GradPad every 9 months. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.

Scorecard2 real differences · 6 level
PCS Instruments versus GradPad: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPCS InstrumentsGradPad
PriceFreeFree
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Update frequencyEvery 55 monthsEvery 9 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.612.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size5 MB56 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPCS InstrumentsYardi Systems, Inc.

In-app purchases

None

PCS Instruments

No in-app purchases

None

GradPad

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is PCS Instruments free?
PCS Instruments is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is GradPad free?
GradPad is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do PCS Instruments or GradPad have ads?
Neither PCS Instruments nor GradPad shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PCS Instruments or GradPad?
PCS Instruments ships an update every 55 months, and GradPad every 9 months. Most recently, PCS Instruments was updated on November 3, 2026 and GradPad on November 3, 2026.

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