# Lineman's Reference vs NEC Mastery

The clearest difference is price: NEC Mastery at Free against Lineman's Reference's $9.99. NEC Mastery also leads on update cadence (every 10 days vs every 3 months) and rating (4.8 vs 4.5). Lineman's Reference's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and chart position (#80 vs unranked). On ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

NEC Mastery is free to download; Lineman's Reference costs $9.99 up front. NEC Mastery sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Lineman's Reference asks for nothing beyond the download.

NEC Mastery holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 62 and 164 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 65% of Lineman's Reference's written reviews are positive against 80% of NEC Mastery's.

Lineman's Reference ships an update every 3 months, NEC Mastery every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on September 28, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Lineman's Reference | NEC Mastery |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $9.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.5 (62 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/linemans-reference-urd/id6478995455/reviews) | **[4.8 (164 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nec-mastery/id6720711044/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 62 | **164** |
| Positive reviews | 64.7% of reviews | **80.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 10 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#80** | — |
| Size | 193 MB | 127 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.1** | 16 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Digital Apprentice LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1565687382) | [Webrich Software Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/290203591) |

## What reviewers say

### Lineman's Reference

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/linemans-reference-urd/id6478995455)

**Currently charting:** #80 Top Paid · Education (US App Store)

This app provides comprehensive training for linemen and apprentices on underground distribution systems. It covers essential skills like cable isolation, transformer replacement, and troubleshooting. Interactive labs and quizzes reinforce learning for various skill levels.

**Highlights:** Learn cable isolation, Hipot cable sections, Transformer isolation and replacement, Troubleshoot underground outages, Switch underground distribution loops, Interactive training labs, Troubleshooting quizzes

**In-app purchases:** none


### NEC Mastery

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nec-mastery/id6720711044)

Prepare for electrician certification exams with over 8,000 practice questions and detailed explanations. Access a comprehensive quick reference guide and 20 professional NEC calculators for on-the-job use. Track work hours with a built-in log for state board submissions.

**Highlights:** 8000+ exam-style questions, 20 NEC calculators, Quick reference guide, Electrician hour log, 2023/2024 NEC Code updates, Customizable study syllabus, Mock tests and performance tracking

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Full Question Bank | $9.99 | per month |
| Full Question Bank | $24.99 | per 3 months |
| Full Question Bank | $39.99 | per 6 months |
| Full Question Bank | $59.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Lineman's Reference free?

Lineman's Reference costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is NEC Mastery free?

NEC Mastery is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Lineman's Reference or NEC Mastery?

NEC Mastery is rated higher. Lineman's Reference averages 4.5 out of 5 from 62 ratings, while NEC Mastery averages 4.8 from 164 ratings.

### Do Lineman's Reference or NEC Mastery have ads?

Neither Lineman's Reference nor NEC Mastery shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Lineman's Reference or NEC Mastery?

Lineman's Reference ships an update every 3 months, and NEC Mastery every 10 days. Most recently, Lineman's Reference was updated on September 28, 2026 and NEC Mastery on September 21, 2026.

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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.*