BalusterPro vs Stair Stringer
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
BalusterPro
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.
- 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
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***Named one of the top 100 new home products for 2011 in This Old House magazine*** BalusterPro is a unique and handy tool designed for carpenters and woodworkers, but useful for do-it-yourselfers and homeowners alike. BalusterPro makes the chore of calculating spacing of handrail balusters a quick and elementary task. It can also be used for any job requiring equal spacing between boards or slats. Use for picket fences, bench/chair backs,decking or column flutes. ____________________________________ What users are saying: Punch in staircase and handrail dimensions, choose the configuration, and this app saves you the tedium of calculating baluster spacing. Hallelujah. This Old House Magazine BalusterPro is an awesome app and can be used for a multitude of layout tasks, at your desk, on the job, in your car—wherever your phone goes, and it only costs a few bucks. Gary Katz - Master finish carpenter and publisher of THISiscarpentry.com BalusterPro makes building that stairway more heavenly homefixated.com ____________________________________ Instructions for Use: BalusterPro offers calculations for six different common handrail situations which you may encounter. First, tap the settings button to select your measurement input method, then select the desired type of baluster installation. Use the keypad or sliders to enter your measurements for ‘Run Length’ (distance between the newel posts) and the ‘Baluster Width.’ Finally, just drag the ‘Balusters Needed’ slider to see your required number of balusters. As you adjust the ‘Balusters Needed’ slider, the “Spacing Between Balusters” will simultaneously update. Stop when your ‘Spacing Between Balusters’ meets your specific code requirements. Tap the view button to see a list of all the centers and edges of the balusters. No longer will you need to keep pressing the add button on your traditional calculator to list your centers....they are all shown on one screen! It’s just that simple! You can display your measurements by selecting 1/16, 1/32, or metric on the main screen to determine your precision level. If desired you can also display your result down to 1/64. To do this, once you have done your calculation, simply tap the 'Spacing Between Balusters' result and if possible it will be further reduced down to 1/64 and displayed for 5 seconds. This is handy if you want to cut all your fillets at once as it nearly eliminates cumulative error. Tap the speak buttons at the bottoms of the list columns to have the app speak your measurements. ____________________________________________________________________ Check out my other construction related apps...StairBuilderPro for a stair stringer layout tool & TilePro for a simple tile layout tool. ____________________________________________________________________ Check out the video demo at my website to see BalusterPro in action.
Stair Stringer
This app calculates all necessary measurements for building a stair stringer, including risers, run, angle, and length. Easily adjust parameters and switch between Imperial and Metric units. Share your calculated results via email or text.
- Calculates stair risers and run
- Determines stair angle and stringer length
- Calculates step height and tread depth
- Determines the number of steps
- Adjustable parameters
- Imperial or Metric units
- Share results via email/text
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This App is used for finding the measurements needed to construct a Stair Stringer. It calculates stair risers and run, stair angle, stringer length, step height, tread depth, and the number of steps required for a given run of stairs. Easy to adjust parameters to customize and fit your requirements. Inputs and Results can be Imperial or Metric. The calculated results can be emailed or texted as needed.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Stair Stringer at 4.7 against BalusterPro's 4.2. Stair Stringer also leads on ratings volume (86 vs 17) and price ($1.99 vs $2.99). BalusterPro's advantage is review sentiment (83% vs 67%) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 14.0). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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
BalusterPro costs $2.99 and Stair Stringer $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Stair Stringer holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Stair Stringer has 86 ratings behind it against 17, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 83% of BalusterPro's written reviews are positive against 67% of Stair Stringer's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
BalusterPro ships an update every 2 months, Stair Stringer every 5 weeks. Both last shipped on September 23, 2026.
| Parameter | BalusterPro | Stair Stringer |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2.99 | $1.99 — better |
| Rating | 4.2 (17 ratings) | 4.7 (86 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 83.1% of reviews — better | 66.7% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 17 | 86 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 5 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Best chart rank | #136 | #126 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 14.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 5 MB | 2 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Greg Gabrio | H3 Apps, LLC |
Customer experience
BalusterPro
Stair Stringer
Bugs and requests
BalusterPro
Reported bugs
3 issues- App kicks you out randomly
- App crashes when tapping view tab
- App crashes when clicking on flat run balisters attached
Requested features
18 requests- Allow angles past 40 degrees
- Loosen angle tolerance
- Update the app
- Add visualization tool
- Option to start with a center baluster
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- Improve metric input (decimals)
- Fix crashing when tapping view tab
- Allow input with keypad instead of sliders
- Compute longer runs
- Allow setting measurements with keypad
- Allow input of actual parameters of existing conditions
- Input fields for precise measurements/placements of Posts
- Allow in-field measurements for angles of rise & run
- Allow input of spacing per local code to calculate baluster count
- Fix baluster count recalculation
- Automatically add baluster width to run measurement
- Improve slider controls for better precision
- Add dark mode option
Stair Stringer
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
BalusterPro
No in-app purchases
Stair Stringer
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is BalusterPro free?
Is Stair Stringer free?
Which has better reviews, BalusterPro or Stair Stringer?
Do BalusterPro or Stair Stringer have ads?
Which is updated more often, BalusterPro or Stair Stringer?
Which is more popular, BalusterPro or Stair Stringer?
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