Comparison

iSectionLite vs Auto RC

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

Head to head
About

iSectionLite

This engineering app calculates mechanical and structural properties for built-up section members. It supports various international steel shapes and allows input and output in both metric and imperial units.

Highlights
  • Calculates moment of inertia, modulus of section, radius of gyration, area, and weight
  • Supports European, American, Canadian, and British steel shapes
  • Input and output in mm or inch units
  • Calculations in principal axes
  • Light version with limitations on hot rolled library and flange dimensions
Features
Read full description

iSection: For all structural engineers, steel designers, mechanical engineers: This engineering application for the iPhone or the iPod Touch calculates the mechanical and structural properties of three-plate built up section members. That includes moment of inertia, modulus of section, radius of gyration, area and weight. The calculations are done in both principal axes. This program is particularly useful for analysis and design of indeterminate structures and for calculating actual and allowable (permissible) stresses of structural members (beams, columns, etc.). The input is top flange width, top flange thickness, bottom flange width, bottom flange thickness, web depth and web thickness. The top flange and bottom flange dimensions can vary. You can select a section from a large library of hot rolled shapes: European IPE, HEA, HEB, HEM and American W shapes Canadian W metric shapes and British universal beams and columns (UB and UC shapes). More shapes from other countries will be added in the next releases. The input can be in mm or inch units, the output of area, Ixx, Sxx, Sxt, Sxb, Iyy, Iyt, Iyb, Syy rx, ry, rt, rb, Syt, Syb, depth and neutral axis can be displayed in mm or inch units. The weight can be displayed in kg/m or Lb/ft. This is a light version with limitations: The hot rolled library contains selected American shapes only and the built up section can have only equal top and bottom flanges. For the full version see iSection in the App Store. See also iConcrete in the App Store which designs single and double reinforced concrete rectangular and T beams.

About

Auto RC

This app transforms structural design into a superpower by automatically generating beam layouts from floor plans using AI. It offers tools for analyzing and designing structural elements, with advanced features for full building modeling and detailed exports available through a subscription.

Highlights
  • AI-powered floor plan scanning
  • Automatic beam layout generation
  • 3D rebar detailing
  • Full building structural modeling
  • 3D structural analysis
  • Exportable calculation reports and CAD plans
Features
Read full description

Structural design becomes your new superpower. Auto RC doesn't just deliver fast results — it helps you understand the fundamentals of structural design and empowers you to create professional-grade structures with confidence. Free Features for All Users 1) Scan floor plans and auto-generate beam layouts using AI 2) Analyze and design structural elements automatically (up to 50 beams per plan) 3) View 3D rebar details for beams 4) Customize beam and slab design as needed 5) Save projects by watching ads Premium Features for Subscribers 1) Build full structural models with Pro Mode 2) Design and edit entire buildings: slabs, beams, columns, foundations, stairs, roofs, and steel frames 3) Run full 3D structural analysis with load combinations 4) Export full calculation reports 5) Auto-generate rebar models for the entire structure 6) Export bar cut lists and shop drawings 7) Export bill of quantities (BOQ) 8) Export structural CAD plans 9) Export 3D rebar models in IFC format for BIM compatibility 10) Enjoy an ad-free experience Auto RC Subscription Plans Weekly: $4.99 Monthly: $9.99 Yearly: $99.99 (save 2 months) Free 7-day trial – cancel anytime. Your premium access stays active until the end of the trial or billing cycle. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

iSectionLite2 screens
Auto RC4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Auto RC at 4.5 against iSectionLite's 2.1. Auto RC also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 46 months) and review sentiment (75% vs 50%). iSectionLite's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 8) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 16.0). On price, ratings volume, ads and device support 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

Both are free to download. Auto RC sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. iSectionLite asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Auto RC holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 2.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 13 and 6 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of iSectionLite's written reviews are positive against 75% of Auto RC's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

iSectionLite ships an update every 46 months, Auto RC every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
iSectionLite versus Auto RC: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameteriSectionLiteAuto RC
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.1 (13 ratings)4.5 (6 ratings) — better
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews75.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings13 — better6
Update frequencyEvery 46 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS8.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size0 MB75 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developerahmjvachiraphun mekvarmdee

Customer experience

iSectionLite

All ratings13 ratings
Positive23.1%
Neutral7.7%
Negative69.2%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

Auto RC

All ratings6 ratings
Positive83.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative16.7%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%

In-app purchases

None

iSectionLite

No in-app purchases

8 purchases

Auto RC

Subscriptions2
  • สมัครสมาชิกรายเดือน7 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • สมัครสมาชิกรายปี7 Days trial$99.991 Year
One-time6
  • Export IFC model file$2.99
  • Export structural model file$2.99
  • สมัครสมาชิกแบบไม่ต่ออายุ$4.99
Show 3 more
  • Export structural model file$4.99
  • Export structural model file$7.99
  • Export structural model file$9.99

Questions

Is iSectionLite free?
iSectionLite is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Auto RC free?
Auto RC is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, iSectionLite or Auto RC?
Auto RC is rated higher. iSectionLite averages 2.1 out of 5 from 13 ratings, while Auto RC averages 4.5 from 6 ratings.
Do iSectionLite or Auto RC have ads?
Neither iSectionLite nor Auto RC shows ads.
Which is updated more often, iSectionLite or Auto RC?
iSectionLite ships an update every 46 months, and Auto RC every 3 weeks. Most recently, iSectionLite was updated on October 6, 2026 and Auto RC on October 1, 2026.

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