Comparison

555 Timer & Oscillators Guide vs Bench Reference

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

Head to head
About

555 Timer & Oscillators Guide

Features
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Master the design of oscillators and waveform generators using 555 timer integrated circuits, digital logic integrated circuits, operational amplifiers, and transistors. The application provides a comprehensive collection of over 130 tutorials and circuit diagrams, covering 555 timer circuits and practical applications, CMOS 4000 series logic oscillators, TTL 74LS and 74HC series oscillators, operational amplifier–based waveform generators, and transistor multivibrators. Designed for electronics beginners, students, hobbyists, and professional engineers, the app serves as a complete reference and learning tool for designing, understanding, and building oscillators, multivibrators, pulse generators, and waveform circuits commonly used in both analog and digital electronics. In addition to tutorials and schematics, the app includes built-in calculators for frequency, timing, duty cycle, and component value estimation, helping users quickly calculate and adjust circuit parameters. All topics are presented with clear circuit diagrams and detailed explanations. Available in 14 Languages: • English, French, German, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Turkish, Ukrainian, and Vietnamese — study in your native language! Covered Topics: • 555 Timer IC Series • Astable, monostable, and bistable modes • Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) • Voltage conversion circuits • Sensor and external module interfacing • CMOS Logic Oscillators • CMOS 4000 series circuits • Astable, monostable, and bistable modes • Gated CMOS oscillators • TTL / HC Logic Oscillators • TTL 74LS series circuits • 74HC series logic oscillators • Astable and monostable modes • Operational Amplifier Oscillators • Sine wave generators • Square-wave pulse generators • Triangle wave generators • Transistor-Based Oscillators • Transistor-Based Astable multivibrators • Transistor-Based Monostable multivibrators The content is regularly updated and expanded with each new release, ensuring the latest tutorials and circuit examples are always available.

About

Bench Reference

This professional jeweler's reference guide provides comprehensive information on gemstones, metals, and bench techniques. It includes calculators for pricing, measurements, and 3D printing, along with a personal library and learning tools. Essential for jewelers needing quick access to data and procedures without an internet connection.

Highlights
  • Gemstone and material reference
  • Bench technique guides
  • Metal properties and working notes
  • Repair procedures
  • Measurement and data conversions
  • Professional calculators
  • Personal library system
Features
Currently charting
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Bench Reference — The Professional Jeweler's Pocket Guide Everything a bench jeweler needs, right on your phone. Bench Reference puts 30+ reference sections, professional calculators, and a personal library system in your pocket — no internet required. GEMSTONES & MATERIALS Browse 100+ gemstones with Mohs hardness, specific gravity, refractive index, care instructions, setting tips, steam safety, and cleaning methods. Filter by hardness or steam safety to make quick decisions at the bench. Plus dedicated sections for pearls, birthstones, gemstone origins, and stone shapes. BENCH TECHNIQUES Step-by-step reference guides for stone setting (prong, bezel, pavé, channel, flush, tension), soldering, casting, polishing, engraving, wax carving, repairs, annealing, torch & gas, laser welding, rhodium plating, patina & oxidation, and chemical safety. Each section built from real bench experience. 23 METALS Melting points, annealing temps, hardness, specific gravity, and working notes for every metal you'll encounter — from 24K gold and platinum to palladium, steel, and titanium. REPAIRS HUB Sizing up, sizing down, shank replacement, prong rebuilding, chain repair, clasp replacement, soldering guides, porosity troubleshooting, and more. A complete repair reference when you're at the bench. MEASUREMENTS & DATA Ring sizes (US/UK/EU with conversions), wire gauge reference, MM-to-carat weight charts by stone shape, chain styles, necklace and bracelet lengths, finding sizes, and formulas for weight, pricing, and alloy calculations. IDENTIFICATION & TESTING Gemstone testing methods, acid testing procedures for gold, silver, and platinum, hallmark identification, metal allergy reference, and a Stone ID table with SG and RI values for quick identification. PROFESSIONAL TOOLS Ring Blank Calculator — stock length for any ring size Metal Weight Calculator — weight by dimensions and alloy Job Pricing Calculator — materials, labor, and markup Temperature Converter — Fahrenheit and Celsius Weight Converter — grams, dwt, troy oz, carats Bench Timer — burnout and casting countdowns 3D PRINT & CAD Castable resin profiles, resin comparison charts, shrinkage calculator, burnout schedules, support placement guide, troubleshooting, post-processing, printer settings, and stone-in-place casting. Plus MatrixGold CAD shortcuts and workflows. MY LIBRARY Your personal database. Store product specs, component details, alloy recipes, consumable inventory, and supplier contacts. Add photos, SKUs, links, and notes. Organized by category, searchable, and always with you. LEARN & PRACTICE Flashcards and quizzes covering gemstones, metals, setting techniques, and bench skills. Study at your own pace. Perfect for apprentices and seasoned jewelers brushing up. GLOSSARY 200+ jewelry industry terms defined clearly — from bail to burnisher, firescale to findings. NEW IN v8.1 Redesigned splash screen and home page Expanded and fact-checked reference data across metals, solders, gemstones, and casting Added Wire Gauge reference, Patina & Oxidation section, and new gemstones to Stone ID Fixed display issues and icons throughout the app General polish and performance improvements BUILT FOR THE BENCH No ads. No subscriptions. No internet required. Bench Reference is built by jewelers for jewelers — a single purchase that works offline, everywhere you need it.

Screenshots

555 Timer & Oscillators Guide4 screens
Bench Reference4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: 555 Timer & Oscillators Guide at Free against Bench Reference's $4.99. 555 Timer & Oscillators Guide also leads on iOS requirement (16.0 vs 26.2). Bench Reference's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (weekly vs every 5 months). On 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

555 Timer & Oscillators Guide is free to download; Bench Reference costs $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

555 Timer & Oscillators Guide ships an update every 5 months, Bench Reference weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
555 Timer & Oscillators Guide versus Bench Reference: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
Parameter555 Timer & Oscillators GuideBench Reference
PriceFree — better$4.99
Rating—5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—2 — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsWeekly — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNoNo
Monetization—Paid
Best chart rank—#188 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS16.0 — better26.2
Further details — not scored
Size24 MB3 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperALG Software LabAaron brown

In-app purchases

None

555 Timer & Oscillators Guide

No in-app purchases

None

Bench Reference

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is 555 Timer & Oscillators Guide free?
555 Timer & Oscillators Guide is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Bench Reference free?
Bench Reference costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do 555 Timer & Oscillators Guide or Bench Reference have ads?
555 Timer & Oscillators Guide shows ads; Bench Reference does not.
Which is updated more often, 555 Timer & Oscillators Guide or Bench Reference?
555 Timer & Oscillators Guide ships an update every 5 months, and Bench Reference weekly. Most recently, 555 Timer & Oscillators Guide was updated on October 19, 2026 and Bench Reference on October 25, 2026.

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