Comparison

BuildCalc vs Knot Guide HD

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

Head to head
About

BuildCalc

This app enhances traditional construction calculators with advanced functions for layout, material estimation, and complex calculations. It offers interactive features, customizable material sizes, and streamlined results presentation to reduce complexity and improve accuracy for professionals.

Highlights
  • Advanced baluster and stair layout
  • Fence post and material estimation
  • Interactive calculation adjustments
  • Customizable material sizes
  • Miter saw vs. protractor rafter calculations
  • Streamlined results display and saving
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

What if you could take the best construction calculator and fix it. That’s right ... you love it, it has served you well, and you stand by it ... but could it do more? Could it be easier to use? After testing by pros from around the world, BuildCalc is ready to give you more - more function and more answers with less complexity, less hassle, and less confusion. MORE FUNCTIONALITY: • Advanced Baluster Function: Complete layout of railing and staircase balusters with less guess work - and with all the flexibility you need for every custom job. • Advanced Stair function: Stair layouts for professional results - including dimensioned drawings of your Stringer, Stringer Installation, and Finished Staircase. And you can email a PDF of these drawings right from BuildCalc so you can print them or share them. • Fence Function: Give BuildCalc a fence row length and it will tell you how many posts, rails, pickets, and or panels you need. • Interactive Functions: The Stair, Baluster, Compound Miter, and Rafter functions are now fully interactive. Want to change input values? Change the Run? Switch between Regular and Irregular Hip Roof analysis? You can do this and your results will be updated automatically - without you needing to remember what key to press. MORE ANSWERS: • You are no longer tied down to: only one brick, block or tile size for the masonry function; a fixed number of drywall sheet sizes; only one footer cross sectional area; or one size of shingles and sheathing. If you don’t see the size you want, you can add as many as you need. And for area input, you can store your custom sizes in Length x Width format, so you won’t have to do mental gymnastics to figure out what was the dimensions for that last size you stored. • Want to cut your hip roof rafter using a miter saw ... or a circular saw using a hand-held protractor? With a tap of a button, BuildCalc will automatically switch between Miter Saw and Protractor results. BuildCalc can do this for Compound Miters, too. • Sheathing Angles, Purlin Angles, Gable Area, Backing Angles, Plan Angles, Rough vs. Finished Stair Layout Dimensions, Stringer Throat, Stringer installation dimensions ... and a lot more not found on other construction calculators. LESS COMPLEXITY AND LESS HASSLE: • Tired of having to press and press and press buttons to get the results of a calculation? BuildCalc puts an end to this. For all advanced functions, you get ALL of your results in list form with just one or two key taps. • And, rather than having to write down those results, all advanced functions allow you to save your results - as many times as you want with a label you choose - so you can recall the complete results at your convenience. Now you can do a calculation today and two days, two weeks or two years later, it is there for you. • Less “quirks”. Have you been annoyed by arcane key stroke sequences on other construction calculators? We are too. BuildCalc 2.1 streamlined the keystrokes to do a better job of giving you less “errors” and more results. Don’t remember what you have to enter before a Hip Rafter or Stair calculation? Well, now you don’t have to. BuildCalc will provide you with a check list of inputs and on-the-spot help to get it right. • Drywall and Masonry “Room Mode”: If you have stored a Length, Width and Height for a room, BuildCalc will give you the Drywall or Masonry required for the walls and the ceiling / floor - with only a tap of the Drywall or Masonry button. No more pondering over complex key sequences ... it just works. NOW WITH ADVANCED STAIRS, BALUSTER, AND HIP/VALLEY FUNCTIONS Get more results than you ever could before - including dimensioned Stringer, Stringer Installation and Finished Staircase Drawings. Drawings can then be emailed to others or printed at your convenience. Email us and we'll send you an example!

About

Knot Guide HD

Learn to tie over 100 different knots with clear, step-by-step instructions and photographs. This app categorizes knots for easy browsing and provides detailed descriptions for each one, making it a practical tool for various activities.

Highlights
  • 107 unique knots
  • Clear, colorful photographs
  • Browse by category or knot name
  • Detailed knot descriptions
  • Categorized knot library
Features
Read full description

#1 Knot App on iTunes!!! Now with 107 knots and continuous new additions! An App Store Essentials "Weekend Warriors DIY" PICK! "Wow your friends!" - APPLEIPHONEAPPS.com "...a highly recommended app with tons of utility value..." - IPHONEAPPREVIEWS.net "What's knot to love?" - "THIS OLD HOUSE" - The Hardware Isle "Knot Guide is like a patient teacher... showing you over and over how to tie it until you’ve committed it to memory." - APPCRAVER.com "One of the most practical apps for those not bound by four walls..." - SAN FRANCISCO EXAMINER Need to tie a knot? Knot Guide will teach you the ropes! Knot Guide NOW includes the following 107 knots, 95 of which are unique: Adjustable Bend, Adjustable Loop, Albright Knot, Alpine Butterfly on a Bight, Anchor Bend, Arbor Knot, Ashley Bend, Ashley's Stopper, Bachmann Hitch, Back Splice, Barrel Hitch, Blake's Hitch, Blood Knot, Bowline, Bowline on a Bight, Braid Knot, Buntline Hitch, Carrick Bend, Chain Sinnet (Daisy Chain), Cleat Hitch, Cleat Hitch With Round Turn, Clinch Knot, Clove Hitch, Clove Hitch on a Bight, Constrictor, Countryman's Knot, Cow Hitch, Diagonal Lashing, Double Figure Eight Loop, Double Fisherman's, Double Overhand Stopper, Double Sheet Bend, Double Surgeon's Loop, Eye Splice, Figure Eight Follow Through, Figure Eight Knot, Figure Eight Loop, Fisherman's Bend, Fisherman's Knot, Flemish Flake, Four-in-Hand Knot, Gasket Coil, Girth Hitch, Hammock Hitch, Highwayman's Hitch, Honda Knot, Hunter's Bend, Improved Clinch Knot, Johnson Hitch, Jug Sling, Klemheist Knot, Lariat, Lark's Head, Lumberman's Knot, Monkey Fist, Mooring Hitch, Munter Hitch, Nail Knot, Orvis Knot, Overhand Knot, Oysterman's Stopper, Palomar Knot, Perfection Loop, Pile, Hitch, Poacher's Knot, Pratt Knot, Prusik Knot, Rapala, Reef Knot, Rigger's Bend, Right Angle Knot, Rolling Hitch, Rosendahl Bend, Rosendahl Loop, Round Lashing, Running Bowline, Running Knot, Sailor's Gripping Hitch, Sailor's Whipping, San Diego Jam Knot, Shear Lashing, Sheepshank, Sheet Bend, Simple Simon Under, Sledge Knot, Slim Beauty, Slip, Square, Square Lashing, Stevedore, Surgeon's Knot, Tautline Hitch, Timber Hitch, Trucker's Hitch (1), Trucker's Hitch (2), True Lover's Knot, Tumble Hitch, Turk's Head 3L5B, Turle Knot, Two Half Hitches, Uni Knot, Water Bowline, Water Knot, West Country Whipping, Yosemite Bowline, Zeppelin Bend, Zeppelin Loop 19 CATEGORIES include: Bends, Binding Knots, Climbing Knots, Decorative Knots, Fishing Knots, Hitches (End), Hitches (Middle), Lashings, Loops (Fixed), Loops (Slip), Navy SEAL Knots, Necktie Knots, Rope Care, Sailing Knots, Scout Knots, Shortenings, Splices, Stopper Knots, Whippings FEATURES: * Clear, colorful photographs * Browse search by category or knot name * From the "Knot Categories" screen, select a knot category (description and photo included for each category) * Next, select a specific knot from your chosen category (description and photo included for each specific knot) * Swipe the images to move forward or backward through the visual steps. * Save your favorite knots for easy access * "Knot Lingo" screen covers basic terms for knot tying. Please also check out Knot Guide for the iPhone. People of all walks of life since ancient times have found knots both fascinating and essential. Knots are used in sailing, climbing, tree trimming, jewelry making, and everyday tasks such as hitching a load to your vehicle. Whether you are a novice or you have experience with tying knots, Knot Guide will assist you! NOTE: Knots that are also known as another name are now also listed by the other name (eg. Square Knot is also listed as Reef Knot).

Screenshots

BuildCalc4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Knot Guide HD at $4.99 against BuildCalc's $24.99. Knot Guide HD also leads on iOS requirement (11.0 vs 17.0). BuildCalc's advantage is rating (4.6 vs 4.1) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 12 months). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model 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

BuildCalc costs $24.99 and Knot Guide HD $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

BuildCalc holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 74 and 23 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 87% of BuildCalc's written reviews are positive against 77% of Knot Guide HD's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

BuildCalc ships an update every 3 weeks, Knot Guide HD every 12 months. The most recent releases landed on November 12, 2026 and November 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
BuildCalc versus Knot Guide HD: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBuildCalcKnot Guide HD
Price$24.99$4.99 — better
Rating4.6 (74 ratings) — better4.1 (23 ratings)
Positive reviews87.4% of reviews — better77.4% of reviews
Number of ratings74 — better23
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 12 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
Best chart rank#64 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPad
Requires iOS17.011.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size15 MB99 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer42nd ParallelWinkpass Creations, Inc.

Customer experience

BuildCalc

All ratings74 ratings
Positive90.5%
Neutral1.4%
Negative8.1%
Written reviews95 reviews
Positive87.4%
Neutral1.1%
Negative11.6%

Knot Guide HD

All ratings23 ratings
Positive78.3%
Neutral4.3%
Negative17.4%
Written reviews53 reviews
Positive77.4%
Neutral9.4%
Negative13.2%

In-app purchases

None

BuildCalc

No in-app purchases

None

Knot Guide HD

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is BuildCalc free?
BuildCalc costs $24.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Knot Guide HD free?
Knot Guide HD costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, BuildCalc or Knot Guide HD?
BuildCalc is rated higher. BuildCalc averages 4.6 out of 5 from 74 ratings, while Knot Guide HD averages 4.1 from 23 ratings.
Do BuildCalc or Knot Guide HD have ads?
Neither BuildCalc nor Knot Guide HD shows ads.
Which is updated more often, BuildCalc or Knot Guide HD?
BuildCalc ships an update every 3 weeks, and Knot Guide HD every 12 months. Most recently, BuildCalc was updated on November 12, 2026 and Knot Guide HD on November 1, 2026.

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