BalusterPro vs Baluster Calculator Elite
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.
Baluster Calculator Elite
This app calculates precise baluster spacing for handrails, accommodating both flat and sloped surfaces. It provides detailed measurements for installation, including the number of balusters, spacing between them, and marking points. Users can also switch between metric and imperial units for convenience.
- Flat railing calculations
- Stair railing calculations
- Max baluster spacing input
- Baluster width input
- Run length input
- Unit preference settings (inches, cm, mm)
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Baluster Calc Elite is an industry leading tool and calculator designed to simplify solving baluster spacing measurements for handrails (both flat and on a rake). Flat Railing (inputs): -Max baluster spacing -Baluster width -Run length Flat Railing (outputs): -Number of balusters -Space between centers -Number of spaces -Space between balusters -Measurements for marking centers of each baluster Stair Railing (inputs): -Max baluster spacing -Baluster width -Run length (on rake) -Rake angle, stair rise, stair run, or stair run/stair rise Stair Railing (outputs): -Number of balusters -Space between centers (on rake) -Number of spaces -Space between balusters (on rake) -Space between balusters -Measurements for marking centers of each baluster Preference settings for easily switching between inches, centimeters, and millimeters for all dimensions. If you are not 100% satisfied with this calculator please email us at techsupport@cyberprodigy.com so we can make things right before posting any negative reviews. We read all emails. We are also open to any suggestions you may have for future enhancements to this app.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Baluster Calculator Elite at 4.9 against BalusterPro's 4.2. Baluster Calculator Elite also leads on ratings volume (359 vs 17). BalusterPro's advantage is update cadence (every 2 months vs every 18 months) and price ($2.99 vs $8.99). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model and chart position 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 Baluster Calculator Elite $8.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Baluster Calculator Elite holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Baluster Calculator Elite has 359 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 59% of Baluster Calculator Elite'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, Baluster Calculator Elite every 18 months. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | BalusterPro | Baluster Calculator Elite |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2.99 — better | $8.99 |
| Rating | 4.2 (17 ratings) | 4.9 (359 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 83.1% of reviews — better | 58.8% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 17 | 359 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months — better | Every 18 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Best chart rank | #144 | #116 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 15.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 5 MB | 15 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Greg Gabrio | Cyberprodigy LLC |
Customer experience
BalusterPro
Baluster Calculator Elite
User reviews
BalusterPro
From 17 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Time saver for calculations
- 👍 Easy to use for baluster spacing
- ✅ Accurate results
- 🛠️ Versatile for various projects (wainscoting, beams, etc.)
- 💰 Makes money by saving time
Room to improve
- ⚠️ Limited angle range (40 degrees)
- 🐌 App is slow
- 튕 Kicks out randomly
- 🔢 Metric input only whole numbers
- 🚫 No option to start with center baluster
Baluster Calculator Elite
From 359 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Saves time and money
- 👍 Accurate calculations
- 👍 Easy to use
- 👍 Helpful for stairs and railings
- 👍 Works perfectly
Room to improve
- 🐛 Stops at 1/16 inch increments
- 🐛 Error when deleting previous entry
- 🐛 Well out on angled and flat runs
- 🐛 Useless for small spacings (less than 25mm)
- 🐛 Last picket was off
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 moreShow fewer
- 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 Calculator Elite
Reported bugs
18 issues- Stops at 1/16 inch increments
- Cannot delete previous entry
- Errors on subsequent calculations after initial entry
- Inaccurate on angled and flat runs
- Does not allow for spacing less than 25mm
Show 13 moreShow fewer
- Last picket is off
- Only provides baluster centers
- Maximum spacing limited to 12 inches
- Maximum run limited to 200 inches
- Smallest increment of 1/16 inch is not useful for certain tasks
- Misleading icon regarding tread surface mount measurements
- Cannot input horizontal rake inputs
- Only works with balusters less than 1 inch width
- Massive icon appears on screen
- Calculation for sloped railing with landing does not work
- Not as user-friendly as Android version
- Requires manual placement of blocks
- Provides center measurements instead of side measurements for spindle drop
Requested features
12 requests- Fix 1/16 inch increment issue
- Allow deletion of previous entry
- Add ability to calculate end piece length without manual deduction
- Add option to change baluster measurements from center to before or after
- Add column function
Show 7 moreShow fewer
- Add ability to input horizontal rake inputs
- Improve user-friendliness and add Android parity
- Calculate material location directly
- Allow for smaller spacing increments
- Provide measurements for tread surface mount
- Allow for calculation of sloped railings including landings
- Provide side of spindle drop measurements
In-app purchases
BalusterPro
No in-app purchases
Baluster Calculator Elite
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is BalusterPro free?
Is Baluster Calculator Elite free?
Which has better reviews, BalusterPro or Baluster Calculator Elite?
Do BalusterPro or Baluster Calculator Elite have ads?
Which is updated more often, BalusterPro or Baluster Calculator Elite?
Which is more popular, BalusterPro or Baluster Calculator Elite?
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