# BalusterPro vs Stair Calculator

BalusterPro and Stair Calculator both sit at 4.2 stars, but that hides the real split: 83% of BalusterPro's written reviews are positive against 21% of Stair Calculator's. BalusterPro also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2) and chart position (#105 vs unranked). Stair Calculator's advantage is price (Free vs $2.99) and ratings volume (738 vs 17). On rating, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Stair Calculator is free to download; BalusterPro costs $2.99 up front. Stair Calculator sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per year. BalusterPro asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.2 for BalusterPro against 4.1 for Stair Calculator. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Stair Calculator has 738 ratings behind it against 17, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 83% of BalusterPro's written reviews are positive against 21% of Stair Calculator's.

BalusterPro ships an update every 2 months, Stair Calculator every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | BalusterPro | Stair Calculator |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $2.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.2 (17 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/balusterpro/id304928739/reviews)** | [4.1 (738 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stair-calculator-construction/id1493037366/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 17 | **738** |
| Positive reviews | **83.1% of reviews** | 21.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | **#105** | — |
| Size | 5 MB | 1 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Greg Gabrio](https://appshunter.io/developer/304928742) | [Phan Nhat Đang](https://appshunter.io/developer/1437390098) |

## What reviewers say

### BalusterPro

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/balusterpro/id304928739)

**Currently charting:** #105 Top Paid · Utilities (US App Store)

This app simplifies the calculation of baluster spacing for handrails and other projects requiring equal spacing. It allows users to input dimensions and adjust the number of balusters to meet code requirements, displaying precise measurements on one screen.

**Highlights:** Calculate baluster spacing, Input handrail dimensions, Adjust balusters needed slider, View spacing between balusters, Display centers and edges, Select measurement precision (1/16, 1/32, metric, 1/64), Audio output of measurements

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Time saver for calculations
- 👍 Easy to use for baluster spacing
- ✅ Accurate results
- 🛠️ Versatile for various projects (wainscoting, beams, etc.)
- 💰 Makes money by saving time

**What reviewers complain about**

- ⚠️ Limited angle range (40 degrees)
- 🐌 App is slow
- 튕 Kicks out randomly
- 🔢 Metric input only whole numbers
- 🚫 No option to start with center baluster

**Reported bugs**

- App kicks you out randomly
- App crashes when tapping view tab
- App crashes when clicking on flat run balisters attached

**Requested features**

- Allow angles past 40 degrees
- Loosen angle tolerance
- Update the app
- Add visualization tool
- Option to start with a center baluster


### Stair Calculator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stair-calculator-construction/id1493037366)

This app calculates essential parameters for stair construction, offering flexibility in input and providing multiple step set options. It supports various units and allows results to be easily copied.

**Highlights:** Calculate stair construction parameters, Flexible input for Run or Total Run, Determine largest and smallest step sets, Support for various units, Copy results to clipboard

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Annual Premium Package | $9.99 | per year |
| Unlock all features | $5.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Helpful information
- 🚀 Provides useful calculations

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Doesn't work as expected
- 🔒 No way to cancel subscription
- 🔒 Difficult to cancel trial
- 🤬 Obnoxious ads
- 🤬 Misleading as a learning tool

**Reported bugs**

- Subscription numbers don't add up
- Doesn't provide promised features after purchase

**Requested features**

- Option to uninstall app
- Ability to calculate run based on rise and landing space
- Provide more detailed diagrams and visuals


## Frequently asked questions

### Is BalusterPro free?

BalusterPro costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Stair Calculator free?

Stair Calculator is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, BalusterPro or Stair Calculator?

BalusterPro is rated higher. BalusterPro averages 4.2 out of 5 from 17 ratings, while Stair Calculator averages 4.1 from 738 ratings.

### Do BalusterPro or Stair Calculator have ads?

Neither BalusterPro nor Stair Calculator shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, BalusterPro or Stair Calculator?

BalusterPro ships an update every 2 months, and Stair Calculator every 3 months. Most recently, BalusterPro was updated on September 23, 2026 and Stair Calculator on September 18, 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.*