# BuildCalc vs Material Estimator Calculator

BuildCalc and Material Estimator Calculator both sit at 4.7 stars, but that hides the real split: 87% of BuildCalc's written reviews are positive against 41% of Material Estimator Calculator's. BuildCalc also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 9) and chart position (#59 vs unranked). Material Estimator Calculator's advantage is price (Free vs $24.99) and ratings volume (3.1K vs 71). On rating, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Material Estimator Calculator is free to download; BuildCalc costs $24.99 up front. Material Estimator Calculator sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. BuildCalc asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for BuildCalc against 4.8 for Material Estimator Calculator. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Material Estimator Calculator has 3.1K ratings behind it against 71, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 87% of BuildCalc's written reviews are positive against 41% of Material Estimator Calculator's.

BuildCalc ships an update every 3 weeks, Material Estimator Calculator every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | BuildCalc | Material Estimator Calculator |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $24.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.7 (71 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/buildcalc/id333369423/reviews) | **[4.8 (3.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/material-estimator-calculator/id376071081/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 71 | **3.1K** |
| Positive reviews | **87.4% of reviews** | 41.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | **#59** | — |
| Size | 15 MB | 57 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [42nd Parallel](https://appshunter.io/developer/333369426) | [Calculated Industries](https://appshunter.io/developer/370406449) |

## What reviewers say

### BuildCalc

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/buildcalc/id333369423)

**Currently charting:** #59 Top Paid · Utilities (US App Store)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Material Estimator Calculator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/material-estimator-calculator/id376071081)

This app helps contractors and DIYers accurately estimate material costs and quantities for construction projects. It features dimensional measurement tools, unit conversions, and a material database to optimize budgeting and ordering.

**Highlights:** Precise cost and percentage calculations, Integrated material size database, Advanced dimensional measurement tools, Comprehensive unit conversion, Efficient material requirement determination, Board feet and cost estimation, Digital record keeping

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 Month Full Access | $3.99 | per month |
| 3 Months Full Access | $7.99 | per 3 months |
| 1 Year Full Access | $29.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and easy to use
- 👍 Clean and intuitive interface
- 🚀 Extremely helpful for daily use
- 👍 Works as expected for over 12 years

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Subscription model instead of one-time purchase
- 💰 Expensive compared to physical calculator
- 🔒 Requires internet connection to function
- 🐛 Crashes and bugs after recent updates

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes repeatedly on launch
- Subscription screen keeps appearing even after purchase

**Requested features**

- Landscape mode support
- Metric unit support
- Offline functionality


## Frequently asked questions

### Is BuildCalc free?

BuildCalc costs $24.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Material Estimator Calculator free?

Material Estimator Calculator is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, BuildCalc or Material Estimator Calculator?

Material Estimator Calculator is rated higher. BuildCalc averages 4.7 out of 5 from 71 ratings, while Material Estimator Calculator averages 4.8 from 3.1K ratings.

### Do BuildCalc or Material Estimator Calculator have ads?

Neither BuildCalc nor Material Estimator Calculator shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, BuildCalc or Material Estimator Calculator?

BuildCalc ships an update every 3 weeks, and Material Estimator Calculator every 6 weeks. Most recently, BuildCalc was updated on September 23, 2026 and Material Estimator Calculator on September 25, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*