Comparison

Material Estimator Calculator vs CutList Optimizer

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

Head to head
About

Material Estimator Calculator

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
Read full description

FREE Try Before You Buy trial, your App Store account is not charged by Apple during the free trial. Revolutionize Your Building Projects with the Ultimate Material Estimator App by Calculated Industries Designed for Handyman Contractors and Serious DIY enthusiasts, this app is your essential tool for precise material and cost estimation. Say goodbye to costly errors and time-consuming calculations! ---- PRECISE COST AND PERCENTAGE CALCULATIONS ---- • Quickly compute material expenses • Effortlessly integrates percentages for allowances • Optimizes your budgeting and material acquisition process ---- INTEGRATED MATERIAL SIZE DATABASE ---- • Contains built-in size specifications for widespread materials • Delivers spot-on estimations for various supplies like tiles and paint • Makes choosing and measuring materials straightforward ---- ADVANCED DIMENSIONAL MEASUREMENT TOOLS ---- • Offers accurate length, area, and volume calculations • Suitable for projects of all scopes • Increases the accuracy of your measurements ---- COMPREHENSIVE UNIT CONVERSION ---- • Compatible with multiple units, including metric and imperial • Facilitates easy conversion between area and volume measurements • Removes the hassle of manual unit conversion ---- EFFICIENT MATERIAL REQUIREMENT DETERMINATION ---- • Instantly identifies requirements for common construction elements • Perfect for projects involving fencing, decking, and flooring • Guarantees precise material ordering ---- BOARD FEET AND COST ESTIMATION ---- • Provides immediate cost estimates for materials • Aids in budget management and expenditure analysis • Improves the financial oversight of your projects ---- TIME-SAVING UTILITIES ---- • Multi-Format Compatibility: Works seamlessly across various measurement formats • Material Quick Find: Easily solve material requirements for several common building materials • Instant Cost Estimation: Get on-the-spot material cost assessments ---- SPECIAL FUNCTIONS FOR ENHANCED USABILITY ---- • Entry Editing: Swipe-backspace for easy correction • Cost Efficiency: Solve unit costs for smarter budgeting • Digital Record Keeping: Paperless tape for tracking calculations Transform your building material estimation with this advanced, user-friendly app by Calculated Industries, creators of the acclaimed Construction Master(R) calculators. Say hello to accuracy and efficiency in every project! SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION Your Free Trial period is free of charge. Subscriptions offered will automatically renew at the end of the chosen period. Payment will be charged to your Apple account upon purchase confirmation. 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 > Subscriptions. TRADEMARKS Material Estimator(R) and Construction Master(R) are registered trademarks of Calculated Industries, Inc. Copyright 2025.

About

CutList Optimizer

This app optimizes material usage and plans cutting layouts for various materials like wood, metal, glass, and fabric. It uses AI to generate efficient cutting plans, minimizing waste and simplifying workflows. Export your plans in multiple formats.

Highlights
  • Unlimited projects, calculations, and parts
  • Supports part grain and edge banding
  • Handles panel trimming and saw kerf
  • Multiple material type support
  • Guillotine cutting method
  • Export to PDF, Excel, and DXF
Features
Read full description

CutList Optimizer combines AI with advanced optimization algorithms to turn your cut list into efficient cutting layouts—helping you make better use of sheet materials, reduce waste, and spend less time planning. Plan rectangular cuts for woodworking, cabinetry, metal sheets, glass, and other sheet materials. Enter your part sizes and available stock, adjust the cutting settings to suit your workflow, and generate an optimized layout. FEATURES • Unlimited projects • Unlimited optimization calculations • Adjustable saw kerf to account for material lost during cutting • Guillotine cutting layouts • First-cut orientation settings to suit your cutting process • Options to reduce panel rotations for easier handling • Sheet edge trimming allowances • Grain direction control • Export cutting layouts to PDF • Export cutting layouts to DXF (AutoCAD R12) • Keep your projects in sync across devices with iCloud • Available on iPhone, iPad, and Mac Plan your next cutting project at your desk or in the workshop. Terms of Service: https://www.cutlistoptimal.com/termservice Privacy Policy: https://www.cutlistoptimal.com/privacypolicy

Screenshots

Material Estimator Calculator4 screens
CutList Optimizer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Material Estimator Calculator at 4.8 against CutList Optimizer's 4.2. Material Estimator Calculator also leads on ratings volume (3.2K vs 121). CutList Optimizer's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs every 6 weeks). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases 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. Material Estimator Calculator sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and CutList Optimizer sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Material Estimator Calculator holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Material Estimator Calculator has 3.2K ratings behind it against 121, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 41% of Material Estimator Calculator's written reviews are positive against 46% of CutList Optimizer's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Material Estimator Calculator ships an update every 6 weeks, CutList Optimizer every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Material Estimator Calculator versus CutList Optimizer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMaterial Estimator CalculatorCutList Optimizer
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (3.2K ratings) — better4.2 (121 ratings)
Positive reviews41.4% of reviews46.2% of reviews — better
Number of ratings3.2K — better121
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size57 MB26 MB
Age rating9+4+
DeveloperCalculated IndustriesCutList Optimal

Customer experience

Material Estimator Calculator

All ratings3,148 ratings
Positive95.0%
Neutral1.3%
Negative3.7%
Written reviews70 reviews
Positive41.4%
Neutral2.9%
Negative55.7%

CutList Optimizer

All ratings120 ratings
Positive78.3%
Neutral3.3%
Negative18.3%
Written reviews26 reviews
Positive46.2%
Neutral11.5%
Negative42.3%

Bugs and requests

Material Estimator Calculator

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • App crashes repeatedly on launch
  • Subscription screen keeps appearing even after purchase

Requested features

3 requests
  • Landscape mode support
  • Metric unit support
  • Offline functionality

CutList Optimizer

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Material Estimator Calculator

Subscriptions3
  • 1 Month Full Access14 Days trial3 variants$3.991 Month
  • 3 Months Full Access14 Days trial3 variants$7.993 Months
  • 1 Year Full Access14 Days trial3 variants$29.991 Year
2 purchases

CutList Optimizer

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly$4.991 Month
  • Annual1 Year trial$39.991 Year

Questions

Is Material Estimator Calculator free?
Material Estimator Calculator is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is CutList Optimizer free?
CutList Optimizer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Material Estimator Calculator or CutList Optimizer?
Material Estimator Calculator is rated higher. Material Estimator Calculator averages 4.8 out of 5 from 3.2K ratings, while CutList Optimizer averages 4.2 from 121 ratings.
Do Material Estimator Calculator or CutList Optimizer have ads?
Neither Material Estimator Calculator nor CutList Optimizer shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Material Estimator Calculator or CutList Optimizer?
Material Estimator Calculator ships an update every 6 weeks, and CutList Optimizer every 4 days. Most recently, Material Estimator Calculator was updated on November 1, 2026 and CutList Optimizer on October 30, 2026.

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