# Lineman Guide vs Lineman's Reference

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.

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.

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Lineman Guide | Lineman's Reference |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$4.99** | $19.99 |
| Rating | [2.9 (22 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lineman-guide/id639491734/reviews) | **[4.6 (307 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/linemans-reference-xfmr-lab/id1583878194/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 22 | **307** |
| Positive reviews | 40.0% of reviews | **62.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 52 months | **Every 4 weeks** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | #165 | **#11** |
| Size | 20 MB | 65 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.4** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Stephanie Buchanan](https://appshunter.io/developer/639491737) | [Digital Apprentice LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1565687382) |

## What reviewers say

### Lineman Guide

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lineman-guide/id639491734)

**Currently charting:** #165 Top Paid · Education (US App Store)

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:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Lineman's Reference

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/linemans-reference-xfmr-lab/id1583878194)

**Currently charting:** #11 Top Paid · Education, #109 Top Paid (US App Store)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great for learning
- 👍 Helpful for apprentices
- 👍 Useful practice tool
- 👍 Good concept
- 👍 Excellent labs and sandbox

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Too many bugs
- 🐛 App is clunky
- 🐛 Wiring issues
- 🐛 Incorrect diagrams
- 🐛 Incorrect quiz answers

**Reported bugs**

- Tutorial loop
- Lines not connecting
- Cannot wire up all banks
- WYE Delta is wrong
- Cannot bus secondary x2 to x2 bushing for delta secondaries

**Requested features**

- Ability to build own banks
- Add tap changer settings
- Add vector charts
- Add more labs with different scenarios
- Create your own bank option


## Frequently asked 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 #165 in the App Store charts, and Lineman's Reference at #11. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*