# Material Estimator Calculator vs Backyard

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Backyard at 100% against Material Estimator Calculator's 41%. Backyard also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 9) and rating (5.0 vs 4.8). Material Estimator Calculator's advantage is ratings volume (3.1K vs 4). 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. Backyard asks for nothing beyond the download.

Backyard holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Material Estimator Calculator has 3.1K ratings behind it against 4, 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 100% of Backyard's.

Material Estimator Calculator ships an update every 6 weeks, Backyard fortnightly. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Material Estimator Calculator | Backyard |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (3.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/material-estimator-calculator/id376071081/reviews) | **[5.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backyard-blueprints/id6765966988/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **3.1K** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 41.4% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 57 MB | 5 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Calculated Industries](https://appshunter.io/developer/370406449) | [Joe Bienkowski](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896144401) |

## 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


### Backyard

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backyard-blueprints/id6765966988)

Design and visualize your ideal shed with this tool. It offers 3D previews, instant templates, and detailed framing views. Generate accurate material lists and customize every aspect of your shed design.

**Highlights:** 3D Real-Time Preview, Instant Shed Templates, Smart Framing View, Layer Controls, Accurate Materials List, Customizable Design Elements, Works Offline

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**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 Backyard free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Material Estimator Calculator or Backyard?

Backyard is rated higher. Material Estimator Calculator averages 4.8 out of 5 from 3.1K ratings, while Backyard averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.

### Do Material Estimator Calculator or Backyard have ads?

Neither Material Estimator Calculator nor Backyard shows ads.

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

Material Estimator Calculator ships an update every 6 weeks, and Backyard fortnightly. Most recently, Material Estimator Calculator was updated on October 24, 2026 and Backyard on October 24, 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.*