Comparison

BalusterPro vs Baluster Layout

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

Baluster Layout

Easily calculate the number and placement of balusters for deck or stair railings. Input railing length, baluster width, and spacing to ensure code compliance. Supports multiple rail sections and units of measurement.

Highlights
  • Calculate baluster quantity
  • Determine baluster placement
  • Support for multiple rail sections
  • Inch and centimeter units
  • Building code compliance assistance
  • Share results via text or email
Features
Read full description

Calculate how many balusters you’ll need for a deck or stair railing by entering the railing length, baluster width and spacing. Multiple rail sections can be entered. Can use inches or centimeters. The results will show how many balusters are needed for each section and the location that each baluster should be attached to meet the proper spacing. Making sure your structure is compliant with local building codes is important and this App will help get the proper spacing. The results can be shared by text or email.

Screenshots

BalusterPro4 screens
Baluster Layout4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is chart position: BalusterPro at #110 against Baluster Layout's unranked. BalusterPro also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 14.0). Baluster Layout's advantage is price ($1.99 vs $2.99). On rating, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases 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 Baluster Layout $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.2 for BalusterPro against 4.3 for Baluster Layout. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 17 and 24 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 8 level
BalusterPro versus Baluster Layout: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBalusterProBaluster Layout
Price$2.99$1.99 — better
Rating4.2 (17 ratings)4.3 (24 ratings) — better
Positive reviews83.1% of reviews—
Number of ratings1724 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 months—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
Best chart rank#110 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS12.0 — better14.0
Further details — not scored
Size5 MB0 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%

Baluster Layout

All ratings24 ratings
Positive83.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative16.7%

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

Baluster Layout

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

BalusterPro

No in-app purchases

None

Baluster Layout

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is BalusterPro free?
BalusterPro costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Baluster Layout free?
Baluster Layout costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, BalusterPro or Baluster Layout?
Baluster Layout is rated higher. BalusterPro averages 4.2 out of 5 from 17 ratings, while Baluster Layout averages 4.3 from 24 ratings.
Do BalusterPro or Baluster Layout have ads?
Neither BalusterPro nor Baluster Layout shows ads.

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