# Construction Master 5 Calc vs Span Calc

The clearest difference is rating: Construction Master 5 Calc at 4.8 against Span Calc's 2.9. Construction Master 5 Calc also leads on review sentiment (68% vs 30%) and ratings volume (13K vs 15). Span Calc's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 6) and update cadence (every 10 days vs every 3 months). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Construction Master 5 Calc sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Span Calc asks for nothing beyond the download.

Construction Master 5 Calc holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 2.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Construction Master 5 Calc has 13K ratings behind it against 15, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 68% of Construction Master 5 Calc's written reviews are positive against 30% of Span Calc's.

Construction Master 5 Calc ships an update every 3 months, Span Calc every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and August 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Construction Master 5 Calc | Span Calc |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (13K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/construction-master-5-calc/id370412148/reviews)** | [2.9 (15 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/span-calc/id380481343/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **13K** | 15 |
| Positive reviews | **67.7% of reviews** | 29.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 10 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#198** | — |
| Size | 73 MB | 168 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **14.2** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Calculated Industries](https://appshunter.io/developer/370406449) | [American Wood Council](https://appshunter.io/developer/380481346) |

## What reviewers say

### Construction Master 5 Calc

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/construction-master-5-calc/id370412148)

**Currently charting:** #198 Top Grossing · Utilities (US App Store)

This app is a powerful feet-inch-fraction calculator designed for construction professionals. It offers advanced calculation capabilities for layouts, bids, and estimates, simplifying complex measurements and conversions for enhanced project accuracy and efficiency.

**Highlights:** Feet-inch-fraction calculations, Right angle and rafter calculations, Area and volume solutions, Board feet and cost per unit, Dimensional math and conversions, Save or email calculations, Context-sensitive help

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 Month Full Access | $3.99 | per month |
| 1 Year Full Access | $34.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Convenient to have on phone
- 💡 Useful for construction work
- 🚀 Performs like physical calculator
- 👍 Helpful for calculations and estimates
- 👍 Great tool for framers and carpenters

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive subscription model
- 🤔 Prefer one-time purchase option
- 🤔 Subscription cost as much as physical calculator
- 🤔 Should allow trial before subscription
- 🐛 Issues with restoring purchases

**Reported bugs**

- App not working without internet connection
- Crashes or freezes on some devices
- Login/purchase issues when switching devices

**Requested features**

- Add Apple Watch support
- Offer one-time purchase option
- Improve compatibility with older devices
- Provide a free version with limited features


### Span Calc

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/span-calc/id380481343)

Calculate maximum horizontal spans for wood joists and rafters using various lumber species and grades. Compares multiple options for common loading conditions based on NDS® standards.

**Highlights:** Calculates joist and rafter spans, Supports all softwood and hardwood lumber, Uses 2021 NDS® for Wood Construction, Compares multiple species and grades, Handles common loading conditions

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Construction Master 5 Calc free?

Construction Master 5 Calc is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Span Calc free?

Span Calc is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Construction Master 5 Calc or Span Calc?

Construction Master 5 Calc is rated higher. Construction Master 5 Calc averages 4.8 out of 5 from 13K ratings, while Span Calc averages 2.9 from 15 ratings.

### Do Construction Master 5 Calc or Span Calc have ads?

Neither Construction Master 5 Calc nor Span Calc shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Construction Master 5 Calc or Span Calc?

Construction Master 5 Calc ships an update every 3 months, and Span Calc every 10 days. Most recently, Construction Master 5 Calc was updated on September 25, 2026 and Span Calc on August 13, 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.*