Chippy Tools vs BuildCalc
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- Baluster spacing calculator
- Flat run attached baluster calculator
- Square calculator
- Concrete calculator
- Stair calculator
- Supports millimeters, feet, and inches
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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.
BuildCalc
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Type the sizes. Get the shopping list. BuildCalc turns measurements into exact material quantities — concrete, tile, lumber, paint, gravel, drywall and more — with waste, price and “already have” built in. 200 CALCULATORS, ONE SEARCH • Concrete: slabs, footings, piers, stairs, block walls, rebar • Framing: studs, joists, sheathing, board feet, deck boards • Roofing & exterior: shingles, underlayment, siding, roof pitch, rafters • Interior: paint, drywall, tile, thinset, wallpaper, baseboard, insulation • Landscaping: mulch, gravel, topsoil, sod, pavers, raised beds • Electrical & plumbing: Ohm’s law, voltage drop, conduit fill, pipe volume, BTU, CFM • Converters: metric ↔ imperial, fractions, board feet and more SEE IT BEFORE YOU BUILD • Live 3D previews drawn from your numbers: stairs, decks, fences, roofs, tile layouts • AR tape measure: point the camera, tap, and the length drops into the field • AR at real size: place your finished deck, stairs, fence, patio or garden bed in your yard at 1:1 scale and walk around it LIVE PROJECT TEMPLATES • Deck, fence, raised bed, paver patio, deck stairs, garden shed • Move the sliders — the full bill of materials recounts live, down to the screws • Build sequence included, add everything to the shopping list in one tap PLAN LIKE A PRO • Waste percentage, price per unit and “already have” on every calculator • Feet-inches-1/16 tape-measure keypad for imperial sizes • Shopping list with check-off and running totals • Projects with budget tracking and PDF estimates • History, Spotlight search, Siri shortcuts and a Home Screen widget WORKS WHERE YOU WORK • 100% offline, no sign-up • Optional iCloud sync across your iPhone and iPad • Light and dark themes • 40 languages, metric and imperial • iPhone and iPad Estimates only — always verify quantities before ordering materials. — BuildCalc Pro (optional in-app purchase) Unlock all 200+ calculators and every pro tool — Cut Optimizer, Canvas, AR, PDF estimates, saved projects and unlimited history. • Monthly — $4.99 per month • Yearly — $29.99 per year, including a 3-day free trial • Lifetime — $59.99, a one-time purchase Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase. A subscription renews automatically unless it is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. You can manage or cancel auto-renewal anytime in your Apple Account settings. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://sites.google.com/view/buildcalc-material-calculator/privacy-policy
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Chippy Tools at every 8 days against BuildCalc's every 2 months. 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
Both are free to download. Chippy Tools sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days and BuildCalc sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Chippy Tools ships an update every 8 days, BuildCalc every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Chippy Tools | BuildCalc |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.5 (907 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 55.2% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 907 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 8 days — better | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Freemium | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 46 MB | 11 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Peth Pty Ltd | Serhii Tykhonenko |
Bugs and 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
BuildCalc
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Chippy Tools
- 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
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- 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 Time Purchase2 variants$85.00
BuildCalc
- Pro Monthly$4.991 Month
- Pro Yearly3 Days trial$29.991 Year
- Pro Lifetime$59.99
Questions
Is Chippy Tools free?
Is BuildCalc free?
Do Chippy Tools or BuildCalc have ads?
Which is updated more often, Chippy Tools or BuildCalc?
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