# iBeams vs Deflection Lite

The clearest difference is rating: Deflection Lite at 4.5 against iBeams's 3.5. Deflection Lite also leads on update cadence (every 3 months vs every 17 months) and ratings volume (46 vs 2). iBeams's advantage is monetization model (free vs paid) and review sentiment (53% vs 44%). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Deflection Lite holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Deflection Lite has 46 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 53% of iBeams's written reviews are positive against 44% of Deflection Lite's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

iBeams ships an update every 17 months, Deflection Lite every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 18, 2026 and September 17, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | iBeams | Deflection Lite |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.5 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ibeams/id398882202/reviews) | **[4.5 (46 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/deflection-lite/id974474071/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **46** |
| Positive reviews | **53.3% of reviews** | 44.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 17 months | **Every 3 months** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Paid |
| Size | 5 MB | 108 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Norm Schuster](https://appshunter.io/developer/398882205) | [Blue Ketchep](https://appshunter.io/developer/1131834248) |

## What reviewers say

### iBeams

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ibeams/id398882202)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Deflection Lite

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/deflection-lite/id974474071)

This app provides interactive and precise structural beam analysis. Easily visualize beam bending by dragging loads and supports, and calculate key engineering results like reactions, shear force, and bending moment.

**Highlights:** Interactive beam bending visualization, Calculate reactions, shear force, and bending moment, Built-in cross-section databases, Unlimited loads and supports, Export design to shareable permalink, Metric and standard units

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is iBeams free?

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

### Is Deflection Lite free?

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

### Which has better reviews, iBeams or Deflection Lite?

Deflection Lite is rated higher. iBeams averages 3.5 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Deflection Lite averages 4.5 from 46 ratings.

### Do iBeams or Deflection Lite have ads?

Neither iBeams nor Deflection Lite shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, iBeams or Deflection Lite?

iBeams ships an update every 17 months, and Deflection Lite every 3 months. Most recently, iBeams was updated on September 18, 2026 and Deflection Lite on September 17, 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.*