Comparison

Construction Master 5 Calc vs Builder's Helper MAX

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

Head to head
About

Construction Master 5 Calc

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
Read full description

FREE Try Before You Buy trial, your App Store account is not charged by Apple during the free trial. Introducing the Construction Master 5, an innovative feet-inch-fraction builder's calculator that revolutionizes project efficiency and accuracy. For over thirty years, this award-winning tool has been a vital asset in North America's construction industry, trusted by professionals for its precision and reliability. The Construction Master 5 was built for professionals, including Builders, Contractors, Designers, Fabricators, Framers, Carpenters, Tradesmen, and Advanced Do-It-Yourselfers. ----- VERSATILE FUNCTIONALITY FOR CONSTRUCTION PROFESSIONALS ----- • Tailored to meet the needs of Builders, Contractors, and Designers • Essential for Fabricators and Framers/Carpenters • Invaluable for Tradesmen across specialties • Perfect for Advanced Do-It-Yourselfers requiring precise measurements • Aim to enhance speed, accuracy, and productivity in dimension-focused projects ----- OPTIMIZED FOR MOBILE DEVICES ----- • Compatible with both iPhone and iPad • Replicates the trusted functions of our traditional handheld calculators • Enhanced with exclusive features for mobile users • User-friendly design with a comprehensive User’s Guide • Includes Searchable help and a 'press and hold' feature for instant help on functions, supported by tutorial videos ----- ADVANCED CALCULATION CAPABILITIES ----- • Equipped with a robust core engine from Calculated Industries • Assures unmatched reliability and precision • Perfect for construction or DIY projects requiring exact measurements • Offers powerful built-in solutions for layouts, plans, bids, and estimates • Works in and converts between various dimensional formats, including imperial and metric units ----- COMPREHENSIVE BUILT-IN SOLUTIONS ----- • Extensive dimensional math and conversion capabilities • Features complete right angle and rafter calculations • Includes area and volume solutions for square, cubic, and circular calculations • Special functions like Board Feet, Cost per Unit, and Advanced Paperless Tape • User-definable preferences and memory function for personalized use ----- ENHANCED APP FEATURES ----- • Entry-editing Backspace Key for easy corrections • Context-sensitive help is available for each function • Ability to save or email calculations and outputs like cut lists • Facilitates complex calculations with ease • Designed for efficient use in the field, office, or on the go With the Construction Master 5, take your construction and DIY projects to the next level of efficiency and precision. This tool not only simplifies complex calculations but also brings a new level of professionalism and accuracy to your work. Whether working on the job site, in the office or tackling a home project, the Construction Master 5 is your indispensable partner, ensuring that every measurement and calculation is on point. Upgrade your toolkit with the Construction Master 5 and experience the future of construction and project planning today. SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION Your Free Trial period is free of charge. Subscriptions offered will automatically renew at the end of the chosen period. Upon purchase confirmation and completion of a free trial, payment will be charged to your Apple account. The subscription will automatically renew unless auto-renew is turned off or the subscription is canceled in settings at least one day (24 hours) before the subscription period ends. You can manage your subscription and turn off auto-renewal in your Apple account Settings > Account (Apple ID) > Subscriptions. TRADEMARKS Construction Master® and Calculated Industries® are registered trademarks of Calculated Industries, Inc. Copyright 2024

About

Builder's Helper MAX

This comprehensive construction app offers advanced calculation tools for linear, square, and cubic measurements in both imperial and metric units. It includes features for roof pitch, stair lengths, and a memory bank for storing values. Manage projects with detailed lists, store documents and images, and utilize quick job calculators for various construction tasks.

Highlights
  • Advanced construction calculator (imperial/metric)
  • Roof pitch and rafter length calculations
  • Project management with data lists
  • Document and image storage for projects
  • Quick job calculators for various tasks
  • Notepad with PDF export
Features
Read full description

The most advanced, feature-rich, intuitive & user-friendly construction app available is BACK, Rebuilt from the ground up for modern devices, with universal support for both iPhone and iPad! With its easy-to-use layout & features, it is capable of handling even the most demanding construction projects, and blows expensive stand-alone construction calculators out of the water at a fraction of the cost! Whether an experienced tradesman or novice DIYer, you will find Carpenter’s Helper the perfect companion for every project, in the office and in the field. ---- Features: • Calculator: Includes all of the features you would expect to find on an advanced Construction Calculator, but redesigned and optimized for the touch screen. Easily calculate linear, square & cubic measurements in English (Yards, Feet, Inches, Inch Fractions [up to x/128”]) & Metric (Millimeters, Centimeters, Meters), and convert easily between the two unit modes with a convenient [E/M] toggle. Store & recall triangular measurements to calculate roof pitch, rafter lengths, stair lengths, and more with the convenient [Pitch], [Rise], [Run] and [Diagonal] buttons. When any 2 values are stored, the other 2 are generated automatically! The [Tape] feature keeps an easy-to-read list of your calculations for error-checking, while the Memory Bank feature allows you to Add, Subtract, and recall stored values with a running ticker displayed in the LCD area. Plus we just added a NEW Quick-List feature, which allows you to label and store often-used values for quicker entry into your equation! • Notepad: Keep important notes within one tap of your calculator, supporting multiple pages and exporting to PDF. • Projects: Create lists of data in Text-Only, Simplified, or Detailed lists, and store in organized Projects. Useful for take-offs, estimating, budgets, material lists, etc. Lists can even be tabulated to include running totals on the bottom! Not only does it keep track of important project info & create powerful lists, but you can also store project documents (like budgets, contracts, plans, etc.) & images (either by attaching images from you photo library or taking new ones). And of course you can Print or export your Project data via email as a PDF! • Quick-Jobs: Graphical interface to easily calculate all kinds of construction projects, large or small. With just a few known parameters, Quick-Jobs will automatically fill-in and calculate the rest of the project for you. These Quick-Jobs are included: -Rafters -Stairs -Arc/Circle -Column/Cone -Crown/Miter -Concrete -Conc. Block -Drywall -Flooring -Painting -Roof -Convert -Fencing (Imperial-Mode Only) -Decking (Imperial-Mode Only) -Wall Framing (Imperial-Mode Only) -Board Feet Calc. (Imperial-Mode Only) You can also export all of your QJ data to be included with a Project, or export separately. ---- With Builder’s Helper, you’ll always have the calculating power you need on you, every time you need it. And with all of the additional features, you’ll be able to take estimating, take-offs, & on-site job performance to a whole new level!

Screenshots

Construction Master 5 Calc4 screens
Builder's Helper MAX4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Builder's Helper MAX at monthly against Construction Master 5 Calc's every 3 months. Builder's Helper MAX also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). Construction Master 5 Calc's advantage is chart position (#196 vs unranked) and ratings volume (13K vs 1.6K). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads 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. Construction Master 5 Calc sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and Builder's Helper MAX sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Construction Master 5 Calc against 4.7 for Builder's Helper MAX. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Construction Master 5 Calc has 13K ratings behind it against 1.6K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 68% of Construction Master 5 Calc's written reviews are positive against 73% of Builder's Helper MAX's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Construction Master 5 Calc ships an update every 3 months, Builder's Helper MAX monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
Construction Master 5 Calc versus Builder's Helper MAX: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterConstruction Master 5 CalcBuilder's Helper MAX
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (13K ratings) — better4.7 (1.6K ratings)
Positive reviews67.9% of reviews72.5% of reviews — better
Number of ratings13K — better1.6K
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#196 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.012.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size73 MB71 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperCalculated IndustriesMy Pie Interactive

Customer experience

Construction Master 5 Calc

All ratings13,064 ratings
Positive96.3%
Neutral1.2%
Negative2.4%
Written reviews165 reviews
Positive67.9%
Neutral4.2%
Negative27.9%

Builder's Helper MAX

All ratings1,617 ratings
Positive94.1%
Neutral2.4%
Negative3.6%
Written reviews40 reviews
Positive72.5%
Neutral5.0%
Negative22.5%

User reviews

Construction Master 5 Calc

From 13K App Store ratings

What we love

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

Room to improve

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

Builder's Helper MAX

From 1.6K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🔥 Best construction calculator
  • 👍 Very easy to use
  • 💻 Convenient to have on all devices
  • ⏱️ Saves time and reduces errors
  • 🧮 Excellent fractional calculator

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Crashes and display issues
  • 🚫 No updates or support from developer
  • 💰 One-time purchase not working as expected
  • 📱 Works better on phones than tablets

Bugs and requests

Construction Master 5 Calc

Reported bugs

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

Requested features

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

Builder's Helper MAX

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Fractions not displaying properly
  • App crashing when using certain features
  • Compatibility issues with newer macOS versions

Requested features

3 requests
  • Getting started guide or help section
  • Ability to group related tasks under one project
  • Expand note-taking capabilities

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Construction Master 5 Calc

Subscriptions2
  • 1 Month Full Access14 Days trial3 variants$3.991 Month
  • 1 Year Full Access14 Days trial3 variants$34.991 Year
10 purchases

Builder's Helper MAX

One-time10
  • Quick-Job: Drywall$0.99
  • Quick-Job: Fencing$0.99
  • Quick-Job: Roofing$0.99
Show 7 more
  • Quick-Job: Decking$0.99
  • Quick-Job: Wall Framing$0.99
  • Construction Pack$4.99
  • Estimating Pack$4.99
  • Project Management$4.99
  • Pro Calculator$4.99
  • Pro Pack$12.99

Questions

Is Construction Master 5 Calc free?
Construction Master 5 Calc is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Builder's Helper MAX free?
Builder's Helper MAX is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Construction Master 5 Calc or Builder's Helper MAX?
Construction Master 5 Calc is rated higher. Construction Master 5 Calc averages 4.8 out of 5 from 13K ratings, while Builder's Helper MAX averages 4.7 from 1.6K ratings.
Do Construction Master 5 Calc or Builder's Helper MAX have ads?
Neither Construction Master 5 Calc nor Builder's Helper MAX shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Construction Master 5 Calc or Builder's Helper MAX?
Construction Master 5 Calc ships an update every 3 months, and Builder's Helper MAX monthly. Most recently, Construction Master 5 Calc was updated on October 17, 2026 and Builder's Helper MAX on October 15, 2026.

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