Comparison

International Steam Tables vs Mechanical Engineering Toolkit

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

Head to head
About

International Steam Tables

This application calculates thermodynamic properties of water and steam based on the IAPWS-IF97 formulation. It allows users to input various combinations of variables and automatically computes a wide range of properties, including transport properties and derivatives. Designed for students and engineers, it offers a comprehensive tool for thermodynamic calculations.

Highlights
  • Calculates thermodynamic properties of water and steam
  • Based on IAPWS-IF97 formulation
  • Supports various input variable combinations
  • Automatically computes results
  • Includes transport properties and derivatives
  • Designed for students and engineers
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

The "International Steam Tables - IAPWS-IF97" app has been developed by active members of the International Association for the Properties of Water and Steam (IAPWS) at the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences. The research group at the Department of Technical Thermodynamics in Zittau participated in the development of the "Industrial Formulation IAPWS-IF97 for the Properties of Water and Steam" and developed four supplementary standards for backward equations. This universal app can be used on iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch, and is designed for comfortable use. The calculations of the thermodynamic properties are based on the Industrial Formulation IAPWS-IF97 and cover its full range of validity. In addition, transport properties, thermodynamic derivatives, and backward functions can be calculated. This app is intended to be used by students and engineers in their daily work. To learn more about the "International Steam Tables - IAPWS-IF97" app visit our website www.thermodynamics-zittau.de for a detailed User's Guide. --------------------------------------- Features of the "International Steam Tables - IAPWS-IF97" app: The following combinations of input variables can be chosen: Pressure p and temperature t Pressure p and vapor fraction x in wet steam region Temperature t and vapor fraction x in wet steam region Pressure p and specific enthalpy h Pressure p and specific entropy s Specific enthalpy h and specific entropy s Specific internal energy u and specific volume v Specific enthalpy h and specific volume v The user just edits the values of the input variables and all results are calculated automatically. See the screenshots below this text for details. Depending on the given pair of input variables the following properties will be calculated: Pressure p or saturation pressure ps Temperature t or saturation temperature ts Vapor fraction x Specific volume v Density rho Specific internal energy u Specific enthalpy h Specific entropy s Specific isobaric heat capacity cp Specific isochoric heat capacity cv Isentropic exponent kappa Speed of sound w Isobaric cubic expansion coefficient alpha_v Isothermal compressibility kappa_t Thermal conductivity lambda Dynamic viscosity eta Kinematic viscosity ny Prandtl number Pr Thermal diffusivity a The calculated properties are displayed in a scrollable view. The user just needs to scroll down to see all the results. See the screenshots below for details. If the user switches from one input variable combination to another the previously given or calculated values will be assigned to the new input values and the output is being calculated automatically. For example, if the user calculates a certain state point from pressure p and temperature t and switches to a calculation from pressure p and specific entropy s afterwards, the previously calculated value for s (from p and t) will be assigned as input value for s. This eases the calculation of thermodynamic processes in which one property is kept constant, e. g. of an isentropic expansion. The user can choose SI or I-P unit systems. In addition a variety of other units are available, e.g. K, °C, °F, °R for Temperature, MPa, bar, psi, atm for pressure, kg, lb for mass, kJ, Btu, ft lbf, kcal for energy. All units can be selected independently but the user might also switch between SI and IP unit system for all properties with just one tap. See the screenshots below this text for details. Unit conversions will be effective immediately. A detailed User's Guide explains the features and capabilities of this App. View the User's guide online on www.thermodynamics-zittau.de.

About

Mechanical Engineering Toolkit

This professional engineering calculator provides instant results for students, researchers, and practicing engineers. It offers detailed calculation steps, formulas, diagrams, and unit conversions. Save inputs as projects and export results in various formats.

Highlights
  • Engineering equations and formulas
  • Step-by-step calculation breakdowns
  • SI and Imperial unit conversions
  • Save and export results (text, image, CSV, PDF)
  • Offline functionality
  • Extensive library of engineering tools
Features
Read full description

Mechanical Engineering Toolkit is a professional engineering calculator for students, researchers, and practicing engineers. Choose a formula, enter your variables, and get instant results — with calculation steps, formulas, diagrams, and unit conversions shown along the way. Switch between SI and Imperial units anytime, save favorites, and find the right tool fast with recommendations by major. Save your inputs as named projects, and export any result as text, image, CSV or PDF. Categories and tools: Mechanics of Material • Moments of inertia of plane areas • Force-displacement relation of a bar • Torsion formula and angle of twist • Flexure formula of a beam • Transverse shear stress • Deflections and slopes of cantilever and simple beams • Plane stress transformation and Mohr's circle • Principal stresses and planes • Spherical shell and thin-walled pressure vessel stresses • Buckling load of a column • Thermal deformation and stress • Combined loading • Bolted / riveted joints • Fatigue safety factor • Shaft power and torque Statics • Centroid of an area • Resultant of a force system • Beam reactions • 2D truss analysis Machine Design • Helical compression springs • Spur gear geometry and stresses • Shaft fatigue design (DE-Goodman) • Bearing L10 life • Belt and chain drives • Bolt preload / torque-tension • Fillet weld strength • Press / shrink-fit interference • Shaft critical speed (Dunkerley) • Beam natural frequency (five end conditions) • Torsional natural frequency (one or two rotors) Fluids & Thermal • Reynolds number and flow regime • Pipe pressure drop (Darcy-Weisbach with Colebrook) • Pump and fan power • Composite wall conduction • Fin efficiency • Heat exchanger sizing by LMTD Theory of Elasticity • Constitutive relation of linear elastic material • Stress/strain of linear elastic material Composite Material • Lamina and laminate stress/strain • Lamina engineering constants • Laminate plane and 3D properties • Rule of mixtures • Failure criteria (Tsai-Hill, Tsai-Wu) Reference Tables • Drill & tap chart (metric and imperial thread series) • ISO 286 fits & tolerances • Standard sections (AISC W, IPE, HEB) • Unit converter No account required. Works offline. Available in English, Chinese, German, French, and Japanese.

Screenshots

International Steam Tables4 screens
Mechanical Engineering Toolkit4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Mechanical Engineering Toolkit at Free against International Steam Tables's $2.99. Mechanical Engineering Toolkit also leads on rating (4.8 vs 3.9) and update cadence (every 5 days vs every 68 months). International Steam Tables's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ads (none vs shown). On 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

Mechanical Engineering Toolkit is free to download; International Steam Tables costs $2.99 up front. Mechanical Engineering Toolkit sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. International Steam Tables asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Mechanical Engineering Toolkit holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Mechanical Engineering Toolkit has 64 ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 71% of International Steam Tables's written reviews are positive against 57% of Mechanical Engineering Toolkit's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

International Steam Tables ships an update every 68 months, Mechanical Engineering Toolkit every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard10 real differences · 1 level
International Steam Tables versus Mechanical Engineering Toolkit: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterInternational Steam TablesMechanical Engineering Toolkit
Price$2.99Free — better
Rating3.9 (8 ratings)4.8 (64 ratings) — better
Positive reviews71.4% of reviews — better57.1% of reviews
Number of ratings864 — better
Update frequencyEvery 68 monthsEvery 5 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
Best chart rank#193 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better
Requires iOS8.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size10 MB48 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperHans-Joachim KretzschmarAPPS BAY LIMITED

Customer experience

International Steam Tables

All ratings8 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive71.4%
Neutral0.0%
Negative28.6%

Mechanical Engineering Toolkit

All ratings64 ratings
Positive95.3%
Neutral1.6%
Negative3.1%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive57.1%
Neutral14.3%
Negative28.6%

In-app purchases

None

International Steam Tables

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Mechanical Engineering Toolkit

One-time1
  • Remove Ads$2.99

Questions

Is International Steam Tables free?
International Steam Tables costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Mechanical Engineering Toolkit free?
Mechanical Engineering Toolkit is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, International Steam Tables or Mechanical Engineering Toolkit?
Mechanical Engineering Toolkit is rated higher. International Steam Tables averages 3.9 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while Mechanical Engineering Toolkit averages 4.8 from 64 ratings.
Do International Steam Tables or Mechanical Engineering Toolkit have ads?
Mechanical Engineering Toolkit shows ads; International Steam Tables does not.
Which is updated more often, International Steam Tables or Mechanical Engineering Toolkit?
International Steam Tables ships an update every 68 months, and Mechanical Engineering Toolkit every 5 days. Most recently, International Steam Tables was updated on November 6, 2026 and Mechanical Engineering Toolkit on November 7, 2026.

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