Comparison

BalusterPro vs Stair Stringer

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

Head to head
About

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.

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
Currently charting
Read full description

***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.

About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

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

BalusterPro4 screens
Stair Stringer4 screens

Verdict

The call

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

BalusterPro costs $2.99 and Stair Stringer $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

BalusterPro ships an update every 2 months, Stair Stringer every 5 weeks. Both last shipped on September 23, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
BalusterPro versus Stair Stringer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBalusterProStair Stringer
Price$2.99$1.99 — better
Rating4.2 (17 ratings)4.7 (86 ratings) — better
Positive reviews83.1% of reviews — better66.7% of reviews
Number of ratings1786 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 5 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
Best chart rank#136#126 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS12.0 — better14.0
Further details — not scored
Size5 MB2 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGreg GabrioH3 Apps, LLC

Customer experience

BalusterPro

All ratings17 ratings
Positive76.5%
Neutral5.9%
Negative17.6%
Written reviews59 reviews
Positive83.1%
Neutral5.1%
Negative11.9%

Stair Stringer

All ratings86 ratings
Positive91.9%
Neutral4.7%
Negative3.5%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%

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
Show 13 more
  • 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

None

BalusterPro

No in-app purchases

None

Stair Stringer

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is BalusterPro free?
BalusterPro costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Stair Stringer free?
Stair Stringer costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, BalusterPro or Stair Stringer?
Stair Stringer is rated higher. BalusterPro averages 4.2 out of 5 from 17 ratings, while Stair Stringer averages 4.7 from 86 ratings.
Do BalusterPro or Stair Stringer have ads?
Neither BalusterPro nor Stair Stringer shows ads.
Which is updated more often, BalusterPro or Stair Stringer?
BalusterPro ships an update every 2 months, and Stair Stringer every 5 weeks. Most recently, BalusterPro was updated on September 23, 2026 and Stair Stringer on September 23, 2026.
Which is more popular, BalusterPro or Stair Stringer?
BalusterPro currently peaks at #136 in the App Store charts, and Stair Stringer at #126. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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