Comparison

iCircuit vs Calctronics

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

Head to head
About

iCircuit

Design and simulate analog and digital electronic circuits in real-time. This app offers a comprehensive component library, built-in test equipment, and the ability to create custom elements. It's ideal for learning, prototyping, and validating designs without physical components.

Highlights
  • Real-time circuit simulation
  • Extensive component library (300+)
  • Built-in test equipment (multimeter, oscilloscope)
  • Programmable Arduino and PIC microcontroller support
  • Custom element creation and sharing
  • Audio simulation
Features
Read full description

iCircuit is the premier iPhone and iPad app for designing, simulating, and learning analog and digital electronics. Its advanced simulation engine provides real-time, always-on analysis so your circuits stay powered and live, just like working with real components. Use it like a CAD tool: add components, wire them up, and set their properties. But iCircuit is unlike typical CAD apps because it is always simulating. You do not stop to take a measurement or spend time configuring reports. Instead, you just play with the circuit as you normally would, with the power on. Build circuits with over 300 components, from simple resistors and LEDs to programmable Arduinos (Uno, Nano, Mega, ESP8266, ESP32), PIC microcontrollers, and 60 4000/7400-series digital ICs (more available with Pro). Connect elements, adjust values, and instantly see the results. BUILT-IN TEST EQUIPMENT • Multimeter: Probe any point to read voltage, current, and power • Oscilloscope: Track multiple signals with touch-controlled time scale, stacked/unstacked views, FFT analysis, and Bode plots • Gauges: Visualize voltages, currents, and frequencies directly in your circuit • Signal generators and configurable sources EXTENSIVE COMPONENT LIBRARY • Programmable Arduinos (Uno, Nano, Mega, ESP8266, ESP32) • Programmable PIC microcontrollers (assembly and HEX files, more available with Pro) • Power: Voltage regulators (78xx, LM317), sources, dependent sources, power jacks, and simulated antennas • Analog: Resistors, capacitors, inductors, diodes, BJTs, MOSFETs, thermistors, triodes, and tetrodes • Digital: Logic gates (AND, OR, NAND, NOR, XOR), JK and D flip-flops, and 60 4000/7400-series ICs (180+ available with Pro) • ADCs and DACs • Sensors and displays: LEDs, 7-segment, NeoPixels, matrix displays, thermistors • Electromechanical: Motors, servos, SPST/SPDT and DPST/DPDT switches, push buttons, relays, and speakers CREATE CUSTOM ELEMENTS Build sub-circuits and custom elements to componentize your designs and create reusable modules. Share your custom elements with others via the iCircuit Gallery. AUDIO SIMULATION Hear your circuits. Speakers, buzzers, and microphones produce real audio output. Perfect for students learning electronics, hobbyists prototyping projects, and engineers validating designs, all without burning out a single component. ABOUT ICIRCUIT PRO (OPTIONAL) iCircuit is a complete app with a one-time purchase. iCircuit Pro is optional and adds extra components (including more PICs and a larger 4000/7400 IC library) and helps fund ongoing development. Pro is not required for core simulation or everyday circuit design. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Calctronics

This app provides a comprehensive suite of calculators and design tools for electronic engineering. It assists with circuit design, filter analysis, and component calculations for resistors, capacitors, and inductors. Ideal for both professionals and students, it simplifies complex electronic projects.

Highlights
  • Comprehensive calculator collection
  • Filter design with graph plotting
  • Resistor, transistor, capacitor design tools
  • Amplifier and inductor design
  • Circuit analysis and design
  • Offline functionality
Features
Read full description

Introducing the ultimate electronic engineering app! With its comprehensive collection of calculators and design tools, you'll be able to tackle any electronic project with ease. Our app features a filter design calculator that allows you to plot graphs, making it easier to visualize your calculations. Additionally, we've included resistor, transistor, capacitor, amplifier, and inductor design tools to help you tackle any electronic design problem. Whether you're a professional electronic engineer or just starting out, this app is the perfect tool to have in your arsenal. Download now and experience the power of electronic engineering in the palm of your hand! Here are some stuffs you can do with the app:- Circuit design Electrical calculations Filter design Resistor calculations Transistor design Capacitor design Amplifier design Inductor design Electrical engineering tools Electronic engineering calculator Circuit analysis --- The app contains the following calculators --- • Resistor Colour Code • Resistors in series and parallel • Capacitors in series and parallel • Capacitor charge • Resistor's Y to delta and delta to Y Converter • Resistor's Pi, Tee and bridge Tee attenuator • SMD Resistor Code • Capacitor Code includes polyester and ceramic capacitors • Ohm's Law • Transistor amplifier calculator • Filters Sallen-Key active filter, Butterworth, Chebyshev and Bessel filters • Voltage divider • Resistor Ratio • Skin depth • Decibel to Watt and Watt to decibel converter • Coaxial cable and 2 parallel wires impedance and capacitance calculator • Operational Amplifier eg inverting amplifier, Difference amplifier and Non inverting amplifier • LED series Resistor Calculator • Adjustable voltage regulator • 555 timer Calculator including Astable and monostable timer • Power dissipation • Micro strip trace width and impedance calculator • Inductor Design Tool • Cylinderical wave guide Calculator • Rectangular wave guide Calculator • PCB Trace Width Calculator • Series capacitor, inductor and resistor Resonance • Capacitive Reactance • Inductive Reactance • Power Calculator • Decibel Converter • Crossover calculator • Band pass and Band reject filter design Whether you're a professional engineer or a student learning about electronics, Electronics Calculator Pro is the perfect tool for your circuit design needs. With its comprehensive set of calculator tools and offline functionality, you'll have everything you need to design and analyze your circuits with confidence. Try it out today!

Screenshots

iCircuit4 screens
Calctronics4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: iCircuit at 61% against Calctronics's 14%. iCircuit also leads on ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (134 vs 5). Calctronics's advantage is price (Free vs $12.99) and rating (4.0 vs 3.8). On in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement 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

Calctronics is free to download; iCircuit costs $12.99 up front. iCircuit sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Calctronics sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Calctronics holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: iCircuit has 134 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 61% of iCircuit's written reviews are positive against 14% of Calctronics's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

iCircuit ships an update every 3 weeks, Calctronics every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 3 level
iCircuit versus Calctronics: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameteriCircuitCalctronics
Price$12.99Free — better
Rating3.8 (134 ratings)4.0 (5 ratings) — better
Positive reviews61.1% of reviews — better14.3% of reviews
Number of ratings134 — better5
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationPaidFree — better
Best chart rank#172 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.2 — better13.0
Further details — not scored
Size126 MB35 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperKrueger Systems, Inc.Anas Abubakar

Customer experience

iCircuit

All ratings134 ratings
Positive67.9%
Neutral4.5%
Negative27.6%
Written reviews682 reviews
Positive61.1%
Neutral12.6%
Negative26.2%

Calctronics

All ratings5 ratings
Positive80.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative20.0%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive14.3%
Neutral14.3%
Negative71.4%

Bugs and requests

iCircuit

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Oscilloscope and meter functions not working properly
  • Saving and loading circuits can be unreliable
  • Inconsistent behavior when rotating/flipping components
  • Crashes when working with larger or more complex circuits

Requested features

5 requests
  • More components (e.g. transformers, triodes, MOSFETs)
  • Ability to create custom components
  • Frequency domain analysis (Bode plots, FFT)
  • Improved wiring and component placement controls
  • Better support for AC circuits and motors

Calctronics

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

2 purchases

iCircuit

Subscriptions2
  • iCircuit Pro (Monthly)$1.991 Month
  • iCircuit Pro (Yearly)$14.991 Year
1 purchases

Calctronics

One-time1
  • Upgrade to the Pro version$2.99

Questions

Is iCircuit free?
iCircuit costs $12.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Calctronics free?
Calctronics is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, iCircuit or Calctronics?
Calctronics is rated higher. iCircuit averages 3.8 out of 5 from 134 ratings, while Calctronics averages 4.0 from 5 ratings.
Do iCircuit or Calctronics have ads?
Calctronics shows ads; iCircuit does not.
Which is updated more often, iCircuit or Calctronics?
iCircuit ships an update every 3 weeks, and Calctronics every 2 months. Most recently, iCircuit was updated on September 24, 2026 and Calctronics on September 9, 2026.

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