CutList Optimizer vs StairSmith
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
CutList Optimizer
This app helps optimize linear material cutting to reduce waste and improve efficiency. It uses AI to generate cutting plans for materials like bars, pipes, and rods, suitable for various professional trades.
- Unlimited projects, calculations, and parts
- Supports saw kerf width and stock trimming
- Multiple stock lengths and material types
- Layout minimization
- Fractional and imperial unit support
- Export cutting layouts to PDF and Excel
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CutList Optimizer – Linear Cutting is a mobile app designed for optimizing linear material cutting. It helps users generate efficient 1D cutting plans that reduce material waste, improve utilization, and streamline cutting operations. Powered by our proprietary AI solver, enhanced with machine learning and deep learning technologies, the app delivers fast and accurate solutions for cutting bars, pipes, rods, profiles, and other standard-length linear materials. Perfect for woodworkers, metal fabricators, construction professionals, and anyone who works with linear materials on a regular basis. Features: • Unlimited Projects. • Unlimited Calculations. • Unlimited Parts and Stocks. • Supports Saw Kerf Width. • Supports Stock Trimming. • Supports Multiple Stock Lengths. • Supports Multiple Material Types. • Supports Layout Minimization. • Supports Standard Fractional and Imperial Units. • Export Cutting Layout as PDF and Excel. • Available on Mac, iPhone, and iPad. Terms of Service: https://www.cutlistoptimal.com/termservice Privacy Policy: https://www.cutlistoptimal.com/privacypolicy
StairSmith
This app calculates stair dimensions, checks building codes, and generates cut lists for builders and DIYers. It provides live diagrams, lumber information, and framing square layouts, all without requiring an account or subscription. The tool is designed for efficiency at the workbench and offers print-ready PDFs.
- Live elevation diagram
- Print-ready PDF reports
- Building code compliance checks
- Framing square layout diagrams
- Lumber and cut sheet generation
- Supports multiple building codes
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The stair calculator built for builders and DIYers. Type your total rise. StairSmith equalizes the risers, draws the elevation diagram live, runs the building-code checks, and tells you what to cut instantly. No account, no cloud, no subscription. HERO FEATURES • Live elevation diagram — pinch, pan, tap any dimension to learn what it means. • Cut Sheet hero — riser height, code going, riser count, stringer length. Take it to the saw. • Lumber cheat sheet — number of stringers, treads, and risers, with stringer length rounded to the next standard 2×12. • Framing-square layout — "set tongue at 7", blade at 10"" with a beautiful, printable diagram on page 2 of every PDF. • Code compliance built in — IRC 2021, IBC 2021, NBC 2020, UK Part K, and Australia NCC. Pass/fail on riser, going, 2R+T, and headroom. Free handrail and guard reminders. • Print-ready PDF — elevation diagram, cut list, lumber list, framing-square layout, and disclaimer. AirDrop, email, or print directly. DESIGNED FOR THE SHOP StairSmith is built around the moment you're at the workbench, sawdust on your glasses, trying to remember what number to mark. Open the "Show at Saw" sheet — the diagram fills your screen, with the two numbers you need in giant monospace type. Slide the framing square down the board, mark, repeat. WHY ONE-TIME PURCHASE Every other stair calculator on the App Store is either subscription-hostile or ad-ridden. StairSmith is a one-time purchase. Yours forever. No upsells, no nag screens, no "Pro" tier locked behind a paywall. FOR DIY HOMEOWNERS First time building a flight of stairs? Tap the (i) on Total Rise and you'll get a 3-sentence explanation of how to measure it correctly so your stairs don't end up an inch off. Tap any "Cut Number" on the Cut Sheet hero to learn what it means. The app teaches you while you use it. FOR PROS Switch between IRC, IBC, NBC, Part K, and NCC with a tap. Switch between imperial (with fractional input) and metric (mm) instantly. Save unlimited projects locally. The PDF cut sheet is dense, professional, and ready to hand a permit reviewer or a trade partner. PRIVACY StairSmith collects nothing. No account, no cloud, no analytics, no tracking, no ads. Your projects live only on your device. NOT INCLUDED IN v1.0 (coming): multi-flight stairs, winders, landings, and isometric view. Today it's straight single-flight stairs only, done extremely well. Built in California, by a builder who got tired of subscription tools that disrespect their users. Questions: support@cascinobuilders.com
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: CutList Optimizer at Free against StairSmith's $6.99. CutList Optimizer also leads on device support (4 vs 2) and iOS requirement (14.0 vs 17.0). StairSmith's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and update cadence (every 3 days vs weekly). On rating, ratings volume and ads 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
CutList Optimizer is free to download; StairSmith costs $6.99 up front. CutList Optimizer sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. StairSmith asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for CutList Optimizer against 5.0 for StairSmith. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 1 respectively.
CutList Optimizer ships an update weekly, StairSmith every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on September 14, 2026 and September 16, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | CutList Optimizer | StairSmith |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $6.99 |
| Rating | 5.0 (2 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) |
| Number of ratings | 2 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Weekly | Every 3 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases — better | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 23 MB | 5 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | CutList Optimal | Taylor Cascino |
Customer experience
CutList Optimizer
StairSmith
In-app purchases
CutList Optimizer
- Monthly$1.991 Month
- Annual$9.991 Year
StairSmith
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is CutList Optimizer free?
Is StairSmith free?
Which has better reviews, CutList Optimizer or StairSmith?
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Which is updated more often, CutList Optimizer or StairSmith?
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