Comparison

iBeams vs A

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

Head to head
About

iBeams

This tool helps structural engineers visualize and analyze beam behavior. It displays reaction, shear, moment, and deflection diagrams for various configurations. Users can edit load and geometric values for custom analysis.

Highlights
  • Beam and load configuration display
  • Reaction, shear, moment, deflection diagrams
  • Editable load values
  • Editable geometric values
  • Structural engineering analysis
Read full description

iBeams is a tool for structural engineers. The app displays various beam and load configurations along with the corresponding reaction, shear, moment, and deflection diagrams. Load and geometric values can be edited.

About

A

Analyze 2D truss problems quickly on your mobile device. Create standard or custom truss structures, manage material properties, and generate PDF reports with flexible unit options.

Highlights
  • Standard truss templates (18 types)
  • Custom truss creation
  • Flexible unit system
  • Built-in material library
  • PDF reporting and email export
Read full description

The easy and fastest way to analyze the 2D-Truss problem right on your iPhone & iPod Touch. Featuring: • Standard Truss Templates: with the standard truss template (18 types of truss for initial version) , you can easily create and config your truss as required. • "Custom Truss"; If the built-in standard truss template doesn't match your requirement, "Custom" your own Truss is also easy to create due to the Node & Element generating features. • Unit Flexibility: very flexible in Units system, you can choose any units at your convenience without the requirement to restart the application and the unit system is saved per your truss's project. For example you use m. as node coordinations while you choose mm. for the deflection of the nodes or you can even choose in. or ft. for nodes's deflection (if you really need). • Buit-in material sections library where you can adjust any material's properties with no effect to other truss project. The options to create your own material library will be available for the next update. • PDF Reporting: All result information of your truss are shown in PDF and also you can email this result.

Screenshots

iBeams4 screens
A4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: iBeams at Free against A's $4.99. iBeams also leads on rating (3.5 vs 2.3) and review sentiment (53% vs 15%). A's advantage is update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 17 months) and chart position (#191 vs unranked). On ratings volume, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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

iBeams is free to download; A costs $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

iBeams holds the better App Store score, 3.5 against 2.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 3 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 53% of iBeams's written reviews are positive against 15% of A's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

iBeams ships an update every 17 months, A every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 18, 2026 and September 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
iBeams versus A: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameteriBeamsA
PriceFree — better$4.99
Rating3.5 (2 ratings) — better2.3 (3 ratings)
Positive reviews53.3% of reviews — better15.0% of reviews
Number of ratings23 — better
Update frequencyEvery 17 monthsEvery 6 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterPaid
Best chart rank—#191 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.0 — better18.6
Further details — not scored
Size5 MB47 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNorm SchusterJutarus Ratanasethakul

Customer experience

iBeams

All ratings2 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews15 reviews
Positive53.3%
Neutral33.3%
Negative13.3%

A

All ratings3 ratings
Positive33.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative66.7%
Written reviews20 reviews
Positive15.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative85.0%

In-app purchases

None

iBeams

No in-app purchases

None

A

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is iBeams free?
iBeams is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is A free?
A costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, iBeams or A?
iBeams is rated higher. iBeams averages 3.5 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while A averages 2.3 from 3 ratings.
Do iBeams or A have ads?
Neither iBeams nor A shows ads.
Which is updated more often, iBeams or A?
iBeams ships an update every 17 months, and A every 6 weeks. Most recently, iBeams was updated on September 18, 2026 and A on September 10, 2026.

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