Comparison

Piping Abacus vs PipeFabAR

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

Head to head
About

Piping Abacus

This app serves as a comprehensive mobile reference for piping information, acting as a digital "Blue Book" for pipe fitters and related professionals. It includes a built-in calculator for on-the-fly computations and offers multiple interfaces for accessing detailed data, quick references, and browsing pipe schedules.

Highlights
  • Comprehensive piping reference database
  • Integrated calculator for on-the-fly computations
  • Catalog, Chart, and Wheels interfaces
  • Detailed fitting and valve information
  • Support for various units (Imperial/Metric, Decimal/Fraction)
  • Educational information on fitting types and standards
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

PipingAbacus is the most advanced and powerful mobile app for piping information; it is the modern Pipe Fitter's "Blue Book". It is designed to be used by draftsman, designer, pipefitter (s), engineer, and construction personnel. Piping Abacus now supports iPhone 5. Piping Abacus is the modern Pipe Fitter's "Blue Book". Piping Abacus is a powerful piping reference database utility. Piping Abacus is unique; it is the only piping reference resource that incorporates a built in calculator to the reference data. The basic idea is: if you are referring to the data ( datum ), than you probably need to add it or subtract it. But it can also be used just as easily for a reference tool. PipingAbacus now has three interfaces (windows) to access the piping information - Catalog, Chart, and Wheels. It works the way you want it to work. For example, use the catalog if you want very detailed and specific information about a valve or fitting. If you are checking or adding takeouts, then use the easy and fast chart. Like to quickly browse pipe schedules, then use the wheel view. Use the right view to match your task. Accurate - All data was carefully entered upon entry. It was re-checked after the program was written. The program has been regularly used for over two years in the field by piping designers and construction personnel ( fitter fabrication ). Complete - All common Buttweld, SocketWeld, Threaded, welding, and Flanged Fittings and Valve (s) are presented in the "catalog" section of the app ANSI, ASME, etc. The user can easily add o'all lengths, weights, 1/2 OD's etc. Sizes include 1/8" through 60" (DIN and Imperial). Flange ratings 150 through 2500. Schedules: 10 - XXS. The menu system was designed to provide the user with graphical pipe fitting images that are large enough to provide details that are commonly found in manufacturer catalogs. All fitting properties are displayed in a scrolling table below the image with a clear description, value and a add/sub button. Versatile - Use the catalog section for detailed information. Use the chart or wheels for quick and easy reference. Output and input - imperial metric, fraction, decimals - you decide. Educational - What is the difference between a gate and a globe? What ASTM or ANSI does a particular fitting conform to? This information is now at your fingertips. Easy and intuitive - Uses common symbology. Useful - Other apps or programs simply present partial fitting dimensions to the user. PipingAbacus presents all catalog information. If a computation is required (how common it is to have add multiple fittings together)? The abacus part of the catalog adds fitting dimensions on the fly. But there's more versatility: units include: decimal, inch, ft-in input. You owe it to yourself: check out the you-tube videos through the web site. Compare our app against others. Their app may be good, but our app is BETTER! Go to our website www.jplanaux.com to learn more or search "PipingAbacus" at you-tube before you buy any other piping info app. PipingAbacus is easier to use, is regularly updated, has tons of information, is more versatile, and loads fast. Piping Abacus is a work in progress, and it keeps getting more xtreme through your comments and email contact. We are the best most advanced and powerful Piping Mobile iPhone App!" The best piping iPhone app keeps adding more information - for free. Most recent additional information includes: Orifice Flanges, Bolt Torque, Series A and Series B Flanges, wrench sizes for bolting, pipe spacing, malleable iron, and butt-weld valves and a "fitting chart" which includes built in calc buttons. Added tutorial links and email support link. Not quite sure that this is the right app for you? Visit our web site by clicking on the support link to find out more info about our app.

About

PipeFabAR

Design and generate pipe isometric drawings for fabrication or material quotations. Organize your work into projects, work packages, and spools with a few simple clicks.

Highlights
  • Create pipe isometrics
  • Organize into projects
  • Manage work packages
  • Generate spools for fabrication
  • Issue for material quotations
Features
Read full description

Easily create pipe isometrics in just a few clicks. Create projects, work packages, and package spools to issue for fabrication or send to vendors for material quotations. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Piping Abacus4 screens
PipeFabAR4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: PipeFabAR at Free against Piping Abacus's $9.99. PipeFabAR also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.9). Piping Abacus's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and update cadence (every 4 weeks vs every 3 months). On ads 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

PipeFabAR is free to download; Piping Abacus costs $9.99 up front. PipeFabAR sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $7.99 per month. Piping Abacus asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

PipeFabAR holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Piping Abacus has 9 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Piping Abacus ships an update every 4 weeks, PipeFabAR every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on November 10, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 3 level
Piping Abacus versus PipeFabAR: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPiping AbacusPipeFabAR
Price$9.99Free — better
Rating3.9 (9 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews92.3% of reviews—
Number of ratings9 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 4 weeks — betterEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
Best chart rank#137 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS12.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size5 MB6 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJean-Paul LanauxMission Integrated Systmes

Customer experience

Piping Abacus

All ratings9 ratings
Positive77.8%
Neutral0.0%
Negative22.2%
Written reviews78 reviews
Positive92.3%
Neutral1.3%
Negative6.4%

PipeFabAR

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Piping Abacus

Reported bugs

7 issues
  • Calculator store and recall functions not working
  • Clear button clears everything instead of last input
  • Notes display truncated data ('...')
  • Background grid lines too visible after update
  • Calculator can be glitchy
Show 2 more
  • Application bugged/not working on iPhone
  • Issues with finding different size fittings and changing thickness

Requested features

19 requests
  • Remove background grid lines
  • Update app to remove background grid lines
  • Add rolling offset chart
  • Add saddle layout
  • Add U-BOLT DIMENSIONS
Show 14 more
  • Add offset calculations
  • Add double 45, 45 off 90, 45 off tee and other 45 offset measurements
  • Add bolt size and wrench info for flanges
  • Add weights for various pipe metals
  • Add plug valve data
  • Add 150lb TH fittings data
  • Add more detail like saddle layout for big pipe
  • Add more formula related stuff like rolling offsets
  • Improve calculator functions (store, recall, clear)
  • Clear button should only clear last input mistake
  • Add dark mode option
  • Add advanced analytics dashboard
  • Add relief valves
  • Add inside/outside measurements for cutting elbows to any angle

PipeFabAR

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Piping Abacus

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

PipeFabAR

Subscriptions1
  • PipeFabAR Pro$7.991 Month

Questions

Is Piping Abacus free?
Piping Abacus costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is PipeFabAR free?
PipeFabAR is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Piping Abacus or PipeFabAR?
PipeFabAR is rated higher. Piping Abacus averages 3.9 out of 5 from 9 ratings, while PipeFabAR averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Piping Abacus or PipeFabAR have ads?
Neither Piping Abacus nor PipeFabAR shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Piping Abacus or PipeFabAR?
Piping Abacus ships an update every 4 weeks, and PipeFabAR every 3 months. Most recently, Piping Abacus was updated on November 10, 2026 and PipeFabAR on October 31, 2026.

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