Comparison

Knots Tying Guide vs Climbing Essentials

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

Head to head
About

Knots Tying Guide

Master over 100 essential knots with a 3D animated visual guide. Features step-by-step tutorials for climbing, sailing, fishing, and more. Works offline, providing clear, real-photo demonstrations for perfect knot tying.

Highlights
  • 3D visual learning with animated-style progression
  • Real, professional hand-tied knot photography
  • Extensive knot library for climbing, sailing, fishing, and more
  • Offline functionality
  • Step-by-step tutorials
  • Specialized knot guides for various professions
Features
Read full description

Learn rope knots with KnotSmith on iPhone and iPad. KnotSmith is a knot tying app for campers, climbers, sailors, anglers, scouts, rescue trainees, arborists, DIY users, and anyone who needs a faster way to find and practice practical knots. Use it as an offline knot guide when you need to tie a loop, join two ropes, secure a load, rig a line, organize cordage, or review a knot before heading outdoors. If someone asks, "What app can teach me how to tie knots?" or "How can I learn climbing knots, fishing knots, sailing knots, camping knots, and rescue knots on iPhone?" KnotSmith is built for that real search. The app combines real hand-tied step-by-step photos, fast lookup, favorites, and activity-based knot guidance so you can move from a rope problem to a usable knot quickly. WHO KNOTSMITH IS FOR KnotSmith is built for: - Campers and hikers - Climbers and mountaineers - Sailors, boat owners, and paddlers - Anglers learning fishing knots - Scouts, outdoor educators, and bushcraft learners - Rescue, firefighting, and emergency practice - Arborists, farm users, and workshop projects - Anyone who wants an offline knot tying reference WHAT KNOTSMITH DOES Use KnotSmith to: - Learn practical rope knots from real step-by-step photos - Browse knots by type, activity, and use case - Search for common knots by name or purpose - Save favorite knots for quick access - Practice hitches, loops, bends, stoppers, lashings, bindings, and decorative knots - Review activity guides for camping, climbing, sailing, fishing, scouting, rescue, household use, rope care, and more - Keep a knot reference available offline on iPhone and iPad COMMON USE CASES KnotSmith can help when you need to: - Tie a bowline, clove hitch, square knot, sheet bend, trucker's hitch, prusik knot, taut-line hitch, figure-eight knot, or alpine butterfly loop - Secure a tarp, tent line, boat line, load, bundle, or storage coil - Learn knots for camping, hiking, boating, sailing, fishing, climbing, scouting, rescue practice, farm work, and everyday repair - Compare knot families before choosing the right knot for the job - Revisit a saved knot when you are away from a reliable connection WHY PEOPLE SEARCH FOR KNOTSMITH Many users are looking for terms like: - knot tying app - knots guide - how to tie knots - camping knots - climbing knots - fishing knots - sailing knots - rescue knots - rope knots app - offline knot guide - step by step knot tying - 3D knots guide KnotSmith is designed around those real tasks. It is a focused rope knot reference for learning, practicing, and quickly returning to the knots you actually use. KEY FEATURES - Real hand-tied knot photos - Step-by-step visual lessons - Offline access - Fast knot search - Favorites for repeated use - Knot categories by type and activity - Practical guidance for outdoor, marine, fishing, climbing, rescue, household, farm, and craft use - iPhone and iPad support IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTE KnotSmith is an educational reference. Always inspect your rope, practice carefully, test knots before relying on them, and use proper professional instruction and equipment for safety-critical activities such as climbing, rescue, load lifting, boating, arborist work, or any situation involving people, animals, or valuable property. Terms of Use: https://knotsmith.app/terms_of_use Privacy Policy: https://knotsmith.app/privacy_policy

About

Climbing Essentials

This app provides clear, step-by-step visual instructions and explanations for essential climbing knots. It serves as a distraction-free, offline reference for climbers of all levels to learn and review knot tying techniques for various climbing situations.

Highlights
  • Step-by-step visual knot guides
  • Explanations of common knot uses
  • Offline access to all knot guides
  • Distraction-free design
  • Covers essential climbing knots
  • Fast loading and easy navigation
Features
Read full description

No ads. No subscriptions. Just the climbing knots you need. Climbing Essentials is a simple, focused reference app designed to help climbers learn, review, and understand the most important climbing knots used in real climbing situations. Whether you’re preparing for your first climb, practicing skills at home, or double-checking a system at the crag, this app provides a clear, reliable guide to the knots climbers use every day. Instead of searching through videos or scattered tutorials, Climbing Essentials gives you clean, step-by-step visual instructions that make it easy to see exactly how each knot is tied. Each knot is paired with a simple explanation of when and why it’s commonly used so you can understand the purpose behind the technique—not just the steps. This app is designed to be fast, simple, and distraction-free, making it an ideal pocket reference for climbers of all levels. Learn the Essential Climbing Knots Climbing Essentials covers many of the most widely used knots in climbing and rope systems, including: • Figure Eight • Bowline • Clove Hitch • Double Fisherman’s • Alpine Butterfly • Prusik • Autoblock • Munter Hitch • Overhand Knot • Water Knot • Girth Hitch • Klemheist • European Death Knot (EDK) • Stopper Knots • and more These knots are commonly used in rock climbing, trad climbing, sport climbing, mountaineering, rappelling, and anchor systems. Step-by-Step Visual Guides Each knot is broken down into clear step-by-step images so you can follow the process easily and see how the rope moves through each stage of tying the knot. This visual approach makes it easier to learn, review, and remember knots compared to text descriptions alone. Common Uses Explained Understanding when to use a knot is just as important as knowing how to tie it. Each knot includes a brief explanation of where it is commonly used in climbing systems, such as: • tying into a harness • building anchors • joining ropes • attaching to carabiners • friction hitches for rappelling or ascending Designed for Climbers Climbing Essentials is built to be a quick reference tool that works when and where you need it. • Clean, distraction-free design • Easy navigation between knots • Fast loading step guides • No unnecessary features Works Offline All knot guides are stored directly in the app so they are available anywhere, even when you don’t have cell service. This makes the app useful at the crag, in the mountains, at the gym, or while practicing at home. Climbing Essentials is designed for climbers who want a simple, reliable guide to the knots that matter most. Learn the knots. Review the fundamentals. Climb with confidence.

Screenshots

Knots Tying Guide4 screens
Climbing Essentials4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Knots Tying Guide at Free against Climbing Essentials's $4.99. Knots Tying Guide also leads on rating (4.4 vs 3.5) and ratings volume (124 vs 2). Climbing Essentials's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4). On ads, device support and iOS requirement 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

Knots Tying Guide is free to download; Climbing Essentials costs $4.99 up front. Knots Tying Guide sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. Climbing Essentials asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Knots Tying Guide holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Knots Tying Guide has 124 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Knots Tying Guide versus Climbing Essentials: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterKnots Tying GuideClimbing Essentials
PriceFree — better$4.99
Rating4.4 (124 ratings) — better3.5 (2 ratings)
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings124 — better2
Update frequencyMonthly—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS16.015.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size63 MB67 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperKnotSmith Ltd.Austin Michie

Customer experience

Knots Tying Guide

All ratings123 ratings
Positive83.7%
Neutral5.7%
Negative10.6%
Written reviews16 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral6.3%
Negative43.8%

Climbing Essentials

All ratings2 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Knots Tying Guide

Subscriptions3
  • 1 Week Pro$1.997 Days
  • 1 Month Pro$4.991 Month
  • Knots Tying Guide for 1 Year$5.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Pro$8.99
None

Climbing Essentials

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Knots Tying Guide free?
Knots Tying Guide is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Climbing Essentials free?
Climbing Essentials costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Knots Tying Guide or Climbing Essentials?
Knots Tying Guide is rated higher. Knots Tying Guide averages 4.4 out of 5 from 124 ratings, while Climbing Essentials averages 3.5 from 2 ratings.
Do Knots Tying Guide or Climbing Essentials have ads?
Neither Knots Tying Guide nor Climbing Essentials shows ads.

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