# Construction Master 5 Calc vs Builder's Helper MAX

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 (#200 vs unranked) and ratings volume (13K vs 1.6K). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads 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 and Builder's Helper MAX sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

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.

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 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Construction Master 5 Calc | Builder's Helper MAX |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (13K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/construction-master-5-calc/id370412148/reviews)** | [4.7 (1.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/builders-helper-max/id835030206/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **13K** | 1.6K |
| Positive reviews | 67.9% of reviews | **72.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#200** | — |
| Size | 73 MB | 71 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Calculated Industries](https://appshunter.io/developer/370406449) | [My Pie Interactive](https://appshunter.io/developer/312734327) |

## What reviewers say

### Construction Master 5 Calc

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

**Currently charting:** #200 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


### Builder's Helper MAX

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/builders-helper-max/id835030206)

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:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Quick-Job: Drywall | $0.99 | one-time |
| Quick-Job: Fencing | $0.99 | one-time |
| Quick-Job: Roofing | $0.99 | one-time |
| Quick-Job: Decking | $0.99 | one-time |
| Quick-Job: Wall Framing | $0.99 | one-time |
| Construction Pack | $4.99 | one-time |
| Estimating Pack | $4.99 | one-time |
| Project Management | $4.99 | one-time |
| Pro Calculator | $4.99 | one-time |
| Pro Pack | $12.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

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


## Frequently asked 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 18, 2026.

---

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