PACData vs Electrician's Sidekick
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
PACData
This app provides real-time remote monitoring for industrial control systems. It allows users to view discrete and integer values, access alarm history, and capture screen data. Secure logon and network configuration are essential for its operation.
- Real-time remote monitoring
- Monitor discrete and integer values
- Access alarm and event history
- Save screen captures
- Secure logon protection
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PACData is an application for real time remote monitoring for the Productivity Series Programmable Control product line offered by Automationdirect.com. For this app to function as designed, a Productivity CPU that supports remote connectivity is required. Main Features. - Monitor designated discrete and integer values within the PLC - Access Alarm and Event History - The iOS Zoom feature allows the user to zoom in on specific values on the screen and then save a screen capture if needed - Separate Security Logon requirements offers additional protection for your data. • All current Productivity CPUs support the PACData app. • The Productivity CPU must be using firmware Version 1.1.13.x or later. • Productivity Suite Programming Software Version 1.0.8.x or later is required to program and configure a Productivity CPU to support the PACData App. • The Productivity CPU must have compatible network settings with the device running the PACData App, or the CPU must be accessible from the Internet. • Although the PACData can be configured for password protection, connecting the Productivity Series CPU on an Enterprise network or the Internet exposes security risks. A secure and encrypted VPN connection is highly recommended if the CPU will be accessible from the Internet. A VPN (Virtual Private Network) uses encryption and other security mechanisms to ensure that only authorized users are allowed to connect and that data cannot be intercepted. A VPN greatly reduces the chances of malicious behavior and un-authorized connections.
Electrician's Sidekick
This free tool consolidates essential electrical calculations and reference guides into a single app. It offers precise tools for conduit bending, wire sizing, voltage drop, and conduit fill, designed to enhance fieldwork efficiency and accuracy for professionals. The app functions offline, ensuring constant access to critical information.
- Conduit bending calculator
- Wire sizing and voltage drop calculator
- Conduit fill calculator
- Construction calculator (feet/inches)
- Electrical wiring color charts
- Digital clinometer (level)
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Tired of juggling multiple calculators and reference guides on the job? The Electrician's Sidekick app from IDEAL Electrical is a free tool that combines the functions of many electrical calculators into one convenient app. Instantly calculate rolling offsets and bends with the precise conduit bending calculator and integrated level. Determine accurate wire sizing, voltage drop, and conduit fill to meet compliance standards. Designed by pros for pros, this app maximizes your fieldwork efficiency and accuracy from layout to final connection. The calculators continue to function even without internet connectivity, ensuring you always have access to the information you need. Key features include: Connector Selector – input the wire combination and connector style to receive recommendations for the right connector for the job. Smart Meter Connectivity - Connect compatible IDEAL smart test instruments to automatically capture measurements, monitor readings in real time, and document results directly from your mobile device. Wire Sizing & Voltage Drop Calculator – input wire size, voltage, amperage, and length to determine volts and drop percentage. Conduit Bending Calculator – select the type of conduit and desired bend (offset, saddle bend, or rolling offset), then input the angle, offset distance, and clearance. The dynamic display quickly shows the bend required, shrink, and other important information. Conduit Fill Calculator – input the conduit type and the number/size of conductors to calculate the minimum conduit size required for a certain percentage of fill. Construction Calculator – this specialized calculator permits electricians to add and multiply feet and inches and get the answer back in feet and inches. Electrical Wiring Color Charts – provides the wiring code for the various phases in a panel for both 120/280V and 277/480V systems. Clinometer – transform your phone into a digital level with zero/reset options. When placed on a flat surface, it automatically becomes a bubble level. Simplify every job with this all-in-one electrician's companion. Join the thousands of other electricians using the free Electrician’s Sidekick app from IDEAL Electrical. DATA COMM - T568A/T568B Wiring Reference and conduit fill calculator for data cables. Box Fill Calculator - Calculate NEC® box fill requirements in seconds. Account for conductors, devices, grounding conductors, cable clamps, fixture studs, and plaster rings while instantly verifying box capacity and available volume.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Electrician's Sidekick at 3.6 against PACData's 2.0. Electrician's Sidekick also leads on ratings volume (18 vs 2). PACData's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 16.0). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Electrician's Sidekick holds the better App Store score, 3.6 against 2.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Electrician's Sidekick has 18 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.
PACData ships an update every 2 months, Electrician's Sidekick every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | PACData | Electrician's Sidekick |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 2.0 (2 ratings) | 3.6 (18 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | — | 0.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 2 | 18 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months — better | Every 4 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 148 MB | 52 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Automationdirect.com | IDEAL INDUSTRIES, INC |
Customer experience
PACData
Electrician's Sidekick
In-app purchases
PACData
No in-app purchases
Electrician's Sidekick
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is PACData free?
Is Electrician's Sidekick free?
Which has better reviews, PACData or Electrician's Sidekick?
Do PACData or Electrician's Sidekick have ads?
Which is updated more often, PACData or Electrician's Sidekick?
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