Structural Engineering lite vs CSiStress
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Structural Engineering lite
This app provides engineers with essential structural formulas and calculations for civil construction projects. It offers instant results, demand/capacity checks, and a built-in database of materials and sections, all accessible on mobile devices.
- 59 structural formulas (AISC/ACI)
- Instant demand/capacity checks
- Built-in AISC section database
- Material and code references
- USCS & SI unit support
- Pass/Fail visual indicator
Read full descriptionHide full description
Structural Engineering Calculator delivers 59 AISC and ACI structural formulas with instant results, demand/capacity checks, a built-in AISC section database, and material references — all in one app. Whether you’re on site, in the office, or reviewing drawings, every calculation you need is in your pocket. 59 STRUCTURAL FORMULAS COLUMNS Critical Ratio (Cc), Effective Length Factor (K), Slenderness Ratio (KL/r), Allowable Compressive Stress (Sr less than Cc), Allowable Compressive Stress (Sr greater than Cc), Safety Factor, Maximum Axial Load. BEAMS Shear Capacity of Flexural Members, Allowable Bending Stress (Compact and Noncompact), Moment Gradient Factor (Cb), Allowable Flange Bending Stress, Plastic Moment (Mp), Lateral Unbraced Lengths (Lp and Lr), Limiting Buckling Moment (Mr), Nominal Moment (Mn), Critical Elastic Moment (Mcr), Allowable Shear Stress, Beam Deflection for UDL and Point Load. BASE PLATES Base Plate Area, Plate Thickness, Bearing Pressure, Flange and Web Thickness, Plate Dimensions N and B. COMPOSITE BEAMS Horizontal Shear for Concrete and Steel, Number of Shear Connectors, Transformed Section Properties, Modular Ratio, Elastic Neutral Axis. CONNECTIONS Allowable Shear with Tension Field Action, Allowable Bearing Stress for Rollers and Rockers, Axial Stress for Concentrated Loads, Allowable Bearing Stress on Fasteners, Number of Shear Connectors, Total Horizontal Shear. AISC CODE REFERENCES Every formula links directly to AISC/ACI clauses — AISC 360-16, AISC ASD 9th Edition, ACI 318-19, and AISC Design Guide 3. PASS / FAIL CHECK Instant visual adequacy check with demand/capacity ratio — green for PASS, red for FAIL. AISC SECTION PICKER Browse W-shapes (AISC 15th Edition) and auto-fill section properties instantly. REFERENCE TAB Built-in library with W-sections (W4–W44), ASTM materials (A36, A992, A572, A500, A325, A490, F1554), weld electrodes, concrete grades, and codes. USCS & SI UNITS Switch anytime between inches/ksi and mm/MPa with automatic conversion. All section and material data included. Supports both USCS and SI units. Compatible with iPhone and iPad. Pay once — no subscriptions. References: AISC Steel Construction Manual 15th Edition, AISC 360-16, AISC ASD 9th Edition, ACI 318-19, AISC Design Guide 3.
CSiStress
This utility app helps engineers, students, and teachers visualize and understand cross-sectional stress behavior caused by various loads. It computes elastic stresses from axial loads, bending moments, and shear forces for over 25 shapes, displaying detailed stress plots and profiles.
- Stress plot visualization
- Cross-sectional behavior analysis
- Elastic stress computation
- Support for 25+ shapes
- Biaxial bending and shear calculations
Read full descriptionHide full description
CSiStress is an app that conveniently shows the stress plots and profiles in order to understand cross-sectional behavior caused by axial loads, bending moments, shear forces and torsional moments of more than 25 shapes. This app is tailor made for engineers and consultants who need to quickly check the stress properties for specific loading conditions, as well as for students and teachers who want to study the cross-sectional behavior caused by various loads. Application/Usage: • Compute elastic stresses caused by axial load, bending moment and shear forces in cross-sections • View stress plots and stress profiles to understand cross-section behavior Target Users: • Engineers and consultants who need to quickly check stress properties for specific loading conditions • Students and teachers to understand cross-section behavior caused by various loads Key Features: • Visualization of stress plots for many cross-sections • Calculation of stresses for biaxial bending and shear Key Input: • Section type, dimensions • Axial loads, bending moments • Shear loads Key Ouput: • Flexural stress due to P, M2, M3 • Shear stress due to V2, V3
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Structural Engineering lite at 4.2 against CSiStress's 2.5. Structural Engineering lite also leads on ratings volume (19 vs 2). CSiStress's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ads (none vs shown). On price 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
Both are free to download. Structural Engineering lite sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. CSiStress asks for nothing beyond the download.
Structural Engineering lite holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 2.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Structural Engineering lite has 19 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.
| Parameter | Structural Engineering lite | CSiStress |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.2 (19 ratings) — better | 2.5 (2 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 60.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 19 — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | — |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | 9.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 6 MB | 15 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | V PUGAZHENTHI | Computers and Structures, Inc. |
Customer experience
Structural Engineering lite
CSiStress
In-app purchases
Structural Engineering lite
- Structural Engineering Calc.$5.99
CSiStress
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Structural Engineering lite free?
Is CSiStress free?
Which has better reviews, Structural Engineering lite or CSiStress?
Do Structural Engineering lite or CSiStress have ads?
Other comparisons















