A vs IES ShapeDB
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
A
This application simplifies the design of RC beams, offering detailed calculation steps for confidence in results. It initially supports ACI 318 building codes in US and Metric units, with plans to add more design codes.
- Simplified RC beam design
- Detailed calculation steps
- ACI 318 Building Code support
- US and Metric units
- Future design code additions
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The A-Beam+ is the extension of the previous A-Beam app that make the design of the RC beam easy and as simple as using the normal calculator. But behind the simplicity the app also provide the very details of the calculation in every step to make you confident with the calculation result. The initial version support for the "ACI 318" Building Code both US & Metric (SI-Metric and MKS-Metric) units with more other design codes will be added.
IES ShapeDB
Access a comprehensive database of over 18,000 structural shapes and their engineering properties. Perform simple beam and column stress analysis for various materials like steel, wood, aluminum, rebar, and cables. Ideal for field use by engineers.
- 18,000+ structural shapes
- Engineering properties database
- Simple beam stress analysis
- Column stress analysis
- Supports steel, wood, aluminum, rebar, cables
- Calculates bending and combined stresses
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The Database contains over 18,000 structural shapes and their engineering properties. The tool can perform simple beam and column stress analysis. It is ideal for use in the field. Database shapes for the following materials • Steel: Hot Rolled and Cold Formed • Wood: Dimensional & Engineered • Aluminum • Rebar • Cables Engineering Properties • Area • Section Moduli • Inertias • Graphical dimensions Simple Beam Stress Analysis • Uniform and concentrated loading • Calculated bending stresses • AISC Steel plastic moment and brace lengths (steel sections) Column Stress Analysis • Axial loading with eccentricity • Calculated combined stresses & slenderness ratios
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: IES ShapeDB at Free against A's $4.99. IES ShapeDB also leads on rating (5.0 vs 1.0) and iOS requirement (9.3 vs 18.6). On ratings volume, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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
IES ShapeDB is free to download; A costs $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
IES ShapeDB holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 1.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 1 respectively.
A ships an update every 9 months, IES ShapeDB every 7 months. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 3, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | A | IES ShapeDB |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 1.0 (2 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 60.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 2 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 9 months | Every 7 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 18.6 | 9.3 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 53 MB | 81 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Jutarus Ratanasethakul | INTEGRATED ENGINEERING SOFTWARE INC |
Customer experience
A
IES ShapeDB
In-app purchases
A
No in-app purchases
IES ShapeDB
No in-app purchases
