# Material Estimator Calculator vs Span Calc

The clearest difference is rating: Material Estimator Calculator at 4.8 against Span Calc's 2.9. Material Estimator Calculator also leads on ratings volume (3.1K vs 15) and review sentiment (41% vs 30%). Span Calc's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 9) and update cadence (every 10 days vs every 6 weeks). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Material Estimator Calculator sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Span Calc asks for nothing beyond the download.

Material Estimator Calculator holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 2.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Material Estimator Calculator has 3.1K ratings behind it against 15, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 41% of Material Estimator Calculator's written reviews are positive against 30% of Span Calc's.

Material Estimator Calculator ships an update every 6 weeks, Span Calc every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and August 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Material Estimator Calculator | Span Calc |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (3.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/material-estimator-calculator/id376071081/reviews)** | [2.9 (15 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/span-calc/id380481343/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **3.1K** | 15 |
| Positive reviews | **41.4% of reviews** | 29.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Every 10 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 57 MB | 168 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **14.2** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Calculated Industries](https://appshunter.io/developer/370406449) | [American Wood Council](https://appshunter.io/developer/380481346) |

## What reviewers say

### 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


### 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 Material Estimator Calculator free?

Material Estimator Calculator 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, Material Estimator Calculator or Span Calc?

Material Estimator Calculator is rated higher. Material Estimator Calculator averages 4.8 out of 5 from 3.1K ratings, while Span Calc averages 2.9 from 15 ratings.

### Do Material Estimator Calculator or Span Calc have ads?

Neither Material Estimator Calculator nor Span Calc shows ads.

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

Material Estimator Calculator ships an update every 6 weeks, and Span Calc every 10 days. Most recently, Material Estimator Calculator 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.*