Comparison

Lineman Guide vs Lineman's Reference

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

Head to head
About

Lineman Guide

This app provides essential reference material for lineworkers, including detailed information, charts, and how-to guides on transformers, rigging, knots, and rope capacities. It features practical calculators and covers various electrical formulas and safety standards.

Highlights
  • Transformer information and connection diagrams
  • Rigging calculations and definitions
  • Extensive knot library with capacities
  • Electrical formulas and charts
  • Utility pole weights
  • Minimum approach distances
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

DETAILS A must-have for all lineworkers. Detailed information, charts, pictures and how-to’s for transformers, rigging, knots, rope capacities and many more. Created by a Journeyman lineman, this app is useful for lineman and apprentices. Calculators: Load angle factor, gin loading and guy formulas. HOME SCREEN Knots & Rope Capacities Rigging Transformers Useful Information Linemantrainer.com Danger Men, Half Million Volt Workers video KNOTS Blood knot, bowline on a bight, bowline, clove, double sheet bend, Farrimond friction hitch, figure 8, grapevine, lanyard, Lineman’s loop, monkey fist, Prusik, running bowline, sheet bend, snubbing knot, square knot, taut-line hitch. KNOT TABLES Knot Break Strength MBS and SWL of Nylon Rope RIGGING Sling Load Calculation; Sling Angles, Sling Tension and Gin Loading definition and formulas; Block Load Angle Factor UTILITY POLE WEIGHTS Cedar, fir and pine WIRE ROPE AND CABLE Line Angle Change Multiplication Factor Efficiencies of Tucked or Hand-Spliced Eyes Rope Reduction Replacement WLL of Wire Slings Wire Sling Capacities in Tons MBS and SWL of Bright wire Sling Load Angle Factors Chart 5,000lbsNylon Web Sling Ratings 6,000lbs Nylon Web Sling Ratings 8,000lbs Nylon Web Sling Ratings TRANSFORMERS Paralleling Coils Line to Neutral, Line to Line Voltage Chart Electrical Distribution Systems Chart Insulation Class and Temperature Rise Single Phase Transformers FLC Three Phase Transformers FLC TRANSFORMER CONNECTIONS Delta-Delta 0 Degree Displacement Delta-Delta 180 Degree Displacement Delta-Wye 210 Degree Displacement Delta-Wye 30 Degree Displacement Open-Delta, Open-Delta Lighter Open-Wye, Open-Delta Lighter Option1 Open-Wye, Open-Delta Lighter Option2 Paralleling Transformers Wye-Delta 210 Degree Displacement Wye-Delta 30 Degree Displacement Wye-Wye 0 Degree Displacement Wye-Wye 180 Degree Displacement USEFUL INFORMATION Voltage Regulation Standards Wire Size and Amp Rating Ampacities of Insulated Conductors Ampacity Correction for Temperatures Three Wire Residential Allowable Ampacities Conductor Formulas General Formulas Guy formulas MINIMUM APPROACH DISTANCES AC Live-line MAD Altitude correction factor ELECTRICAL FORMULAS Ohm’s Law AC/DC Formulas AC Efficiency and Power Factor Electrical Measurement Electrical Quantities & Symbols Voltage Drop Chart NOTES: This app is for reference purposes only. No responsibility is accepted for incidents arising from the use of this material.

About

Lineman's Reference

This interactive simulator allows users to study and learn transformer connections. Test your wiring with various meters, and experience consequences of improper connections. Includes reference diagrams, informational material, and a quiz mode to test knowledge.

Highlights
  • Transformer connection simulation
  • Volt, ohm, and rotation meters
  • Abnormal voltage and fuse explosion simulation
  • Transformer nameplate and coil inspection
  • Quick reference diagrams
  • Informational reading material
  • Quiz and advanced quiz modes
Features
Read full description

Learn it. Wire it. Energize it. Check your work. Built by a working journeyman lineman for linemen and their apprentices. The XFMR Lab simulates distribution transformer banks driven by your own wiring — the metering, fusing, and faulting all behave the way you'd expect in the field. NEW IN 2.0 — BUILT-IN TRANSFORMER TRAINING (Replacing XFMR INFO) Six guided lessons take you from "what's a transformer?" to wiring a 3-pot bank: • Start Here — What is a Transformer? • Dual H Bushings — The Two Wirings & the Nameplate • The Tap Changer — One Pot, Multiple System Voltages • Three-Phase — The Three Phases and How They're Related • Bank Identification — Delta or Wye, Open or Closed • Your First Bank: Delta-Wye Closed (120/208) • More lessons on the way! Work the lessons in order, or jump straight to the labs. ALSO NEW IN 2.0 • The Sandbox (Beta) — wire anything from scratch in a COMPLETELY-customizable lab, with live, vector-based voltage and fault logic baked in. • Death Traps — scenario-based transformer traps linemen run into — and how to navigate them safely. • A brand-new look across every lab — new graphics, sharper, faster, & easier to read in the field. • Voltmeter you can now drag with two fingers; readings update as the leads move. • Parallel the secondary coils by hand in wye secondary labs • Stats that track lab completions, quiz scoring and for-fun stuff like the number of fuses you've blown. • User Customizations - the user can now alter the spec of their labs; from grounding to parallel coil cutover-direction, requiring the 4th cutout, tap changer implementation and more. • 2.0 is FREE for everyone who already owns XFMR Lab — thank you for years of feedback and encouragement. WHAT YOU GET Single Phase — Single Bushing · Dual Bushing Three Phase (closed) — Delta-Delta · Delta-Wye · Wye-Delta · Wye-Wye Three Phase (open) — Open Delta-Delta · Open Wye-Delta Misc — Paralleling · 4th Cutout · Death Traps (6 Scenarios) Advanced — Straight 480 · 240/480 · 277/480 · Corner-Grounded 240/480 · Wye-Wye 5-Wire (120/240 + 120/208) - all now able to be wired up Wye AND Delta on the topside The Sandbox (Beta) EVERY FUTURE UPDATE IS FREE - THE APP IS A ONE-TIME PURCHASE. I'm always working on new updates. TOOLS & REFERENCE • Volt, ohm and rotation meters with real behavior • Nameplate, secondary coil and tap changer animations • Reference diagrams for every standard bank Learning Mode walks apprentices through every wrong-connection check. Journeymen and experienced users can keep this turned off if they'd like. QUIZZES • Classic Quiz — Select each lab you want in your quiz - with graded scoring across each lab. • Advanced Quiz — You're provided with the job-site info and need to pick the right nameplate and coil setup, then wire it. • Bank ID - A beginner's quiz tied into the new XFMR Training lesson plan. The user is provided with different primary and secondary wirings and must correctly identify them. Used by 30,000+ linemen since 2021. Questions? Suggestions? Reach me at info@digitalapprentice.net

Screenshots

Lineman Guide3 screens
Lineman's Reference4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Lineman Guide at $4.99 against Lineman's Reference's $19.99. Lineman Guide also leads on iOS requirement (12.4 vs 16.0). Lineman's Reference's advantage is rating (4.6 vs 2.9) and update cadence (every 4 weeks vs every 52 months). On ads, in-app purchases 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

Lineman Guide costs $4.99 and Lineman's Reference $19.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Lineman's Reference holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 2.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Lineman's Reference has 307 ratings behind it against 22, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 40% of Lineman Guide's written reviews are positive against 62% of Lineman's Reference's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Lineman Guide ships an update every 52 months, Lineman's Reference every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 3 level
Lineman Guide versus Lineman's Reference: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLineman GuideLineman's Reference
Price$4.99 — better$19.99
Rating2.9 (22 ratings)4.6 (307 ratings) — better
Positive reviews40.0% of reviews62.2% of reviews — better
Number of ratings22307 — better
Update frequencyEvery 52 monthsEvery 4 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidFree — better
Best chart rank#99#8 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS12.4 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size20 MB65 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperStephanie BuchananDigital Apprentice LLC

Customer experience

Lineman Guide

All ratings22 ratings
Positive40.9%
Neutral18.2%
Negative40.9%
Written reviews15 reviews
Positive40.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative40.0%

Lineman's Reference

All ratings307 ratings
Positive89.9%
Neutral4.2%
Negative5.9%
Written reviews45 reviews
Positive62.2%
Neutral22.2%
Negative15.6%

Bugs and requests

Lineman Guide

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Lineman's Reference

Reported bugs

33 issues
  • Tutorial loop
  • Lines not connecting
  • Cannot wire up all banks
  • WYE Delta is wrong
  • Cannot bus secondary x2 to x2 bushing for delta secondaries
Show 28 more
  • Cannot select subtractive transformers
  • Wiring on X bushings not to exact phase
  • H2 to neutral connection issues
  • WYE Delta bank gives wrong voltage read
  • Fuse blows when attaching case grounds in delta secondary
  • Wrong wiring in diagram for 277/480 Wye/Wye bank
  • HV on transformer name plate is wrong
  • Shows wrong connection with right hook up
  • Paralleling cans connection issue
  • Voltmeter does not work
  • Cannot drop leads to voltmeter on bottom two phases
  • No option to select transformers
  • No option for primary voltage
  • No 277/480 option
  • No additive/subtractive options
  • Cannot pick secondary and primary side voltages
  • App tells user bank is wrong when it's correct
  • App incorrectly identifies bank type
  • Cannot put voltmeter on C phase secondary leads in horizontal screen
  • Cannot create 277/480 and straight 480 banks
  • Cannot manually parallel secondary windings
  • Lines too close to bottom of screen
  • Cannot look back at bank during quiz
  • High side H2 tied to ground in WYE delta
  • Only allows 120/240 or 120/208 hookups
  • Voltmeter not reading correctly when paralleling
  • App says something is wrong but doesn't specify correction
  • App keeps blowing doors on a correct connection

Requested features

23 requests
  • Ability to build own banks
  • Add tap changer settings
  • Add vector charts
  • Add more labs with different scenarios
  • Create your own bank option
Show 18 more
  • Add a WYE bank that stays in series
  • Add hints button
  • Add power banks
  • Add single bushing pots
  • Add 480 banks
  • Include transformers of different polarities
  • Add 4th cutout to WYE delta banks
  • Add additive and subtractive transformers
  • Select transformers from a list
  • Tie three phase secondary legs on open secondary lines
  • Add lighter bank category
  • Expand into metering
  • Add open delta WYE bank
  • Practice drawing vectors
  • See vectors for transformers
  • Ability to cut over pots
  • Add 240/480/277 and 277/480 options
  • More in-depth internals

In-app purchases

None

Lineman Guide

No in-app purchases

None

Lineman's Reference

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Lineman Guide free?
Lineman Guide costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Lineman's Reference free?
Lineman's Reference costs $19.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Lineman Guide or Lineman's Reference?
Lineman's Reference is rated higher. Lineman Guide averages 2.9 out of 5 from 22 ratings, while Lineman's Reference averages 4.6 from 307 ratings.
Do Lineman Guide or Lineman's Reference have ads?
Neither Lineman Guide nor Lineman's Reference shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Lineman Guide or Lineman's Reference?
Lineman Guide ships an update every 52 months, and Lineman's Reference every 4 weeks. Most recently, Lineman Guide was updated on October 11, 2026 and Lineman's Reference on October 21, 2026.
Which is more popular, Lineman Guide or Lineman's Reference?
Lineman Guide currently peaks at #99 in the App Store charts, and Lineman's Reference at #8. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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