Structural Engineering lite vs CSiSteel
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
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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.
CSiSteel
This app provides a comprehensive library of steel sections and their structural properties. It helps users find optimum sections for design, search for equivalents, and sort by various parameters. Ideal for engineers, suppliers, teachers, and students involved in steel design projects.
- Comprehensive steel section library
- Find equivalent steel sections
- Search and sort by section properties
- Supports ASD and LRFD methods
- Includes AISC, CISC, and Arcelormittal sections
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CSiSteel features a comprehensive library of steel sections and their structural properties. From site engineers and suppliers looking for alternative sections based on regional availability, or construction constraints, and structural engineers looking for optimum sections in structural designs to teachers and students for steel design projects. Application/Usage: • Search and select optimum steel sections for steel design procedures, including ASD and LRFD methods • View equivalent sections based on user selection criteria Target Users: • Site engineers, contractors, and steel suppliers looking for alternative sections based on regional availability, or construction constraints • Structural and civil engineers looking for optimum sections for structural modelling and analysis • Teachers and students searching for steel sections in steel design projects Key Features: • Comprehensive library of steel sections including AISC, CISC, and Arcelormittal • Get equivalent sections for user selected sections • Search and sort for sections based on many parameters, including section properties Key Input: • Steel library • Section type, dimensions, or properties • Steel section Key Output: • Steel section • Section dimensions • Section properties • Equivalent steel sections
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: CSiSteel at 5.0 against Structural Engineering lite's 4.2. CSiSteel also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 60%) and in-app purchases (none vs 1). On price, ratings volume 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. CSiSteel asks for nothing beyond the download.
CSiSteel holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 19 and 7 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 60% of Structural Engineering lite's written reviews are positive against 100% of CSiSteel's.
Structural Engineering lite ships an update every 6 months, CSiSteel every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and September 29, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Structural Engineering lite | CSiSteel |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.2 (19 ratings) | 5.0 (7 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 60.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 19 — better | 7 |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| 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 | 19 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | V PUGAZHENTHI | Computers and Structures, Inc. |
Customer experience
Structural Engineering lite
CSiSteel
In-app purchases
Structural Engineering lite
- Structural Engineering Calc.$5.99
CSiSteel
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Structural Engineering lite free?
Is CSiSteel free?
Which has better reviews, Structural Engineering lite or CSiSteel?
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