Comparison

Tradesman Pro vs Welding Reference Pro

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

Head to head
About

Tradesman Pro

Features
Read full description

Tradesman Pro is a completely free precision layout calculator built specifically for plumbers and pipefitters. Designed for job site efficiency, it handles standard and rolling offsets, triangle layout, and everyday feet-and-inch math — with full support for fractional inches and fitting take-offs. Whether you're running a 22°, 45°, or 60° offset, rolling a bend around an obstruction, or just adding up a run off the tape, Tradesman Pro lets you work in feet, inches, or mixed fractions and see results instantly — with the full formula behind every answer. THREE CALCULATORS IN ONE OFFSET CALCULATOR • Travel and Advance for 22°, 45°, and 60° bends • Rolling offset calculations using rise and run • Enter take-offs as one combined total, or separately for each fitting • Live "converted to inches" and "offset minus take-off" readouts as you type • Toggle results between inches and feet/inches TRIANGLE CALCULATOR • Right triangles and general triangles (SSS, SAS, ASA, AAS) • Solve unknown sides and angles for custom angles and compound bends • Interactive pinch-to-zoom diagram that redraws as you enter values • Perimeter, area, and triangle type, plus heights, medians, angle bisectors, inradius and circumradius FEET-INCH CALCULATOR • Add, subtract, multiply and divide measurements directly — no converting to decimals first • Dedicated Feet, Inch, and fraction keys, so you never need the text keyboard • Running tape of every calculation, saved between sessions — tap any line to bring that answer back down • Multiply two lengths for square footage, or three for cubic feet and cubic yards • Divide a run into equal parts, or find how many times one length fits into another BUILT FOR THE JOB SITE • Fractional or decimal display, with rounding to 1/8", 1/16", or 1/32" • Live updates as you type • Tappable formula explanations for training and clarity — copy the full step-by-step breakdown into notes or a text • Clean, high-contrast interface optimized for job site readability • Full Dynamic Type support for larger text • Works on iPhone and iPad • Completely free — no ads, no subscriptions, no accounts, no paywalls Whether you're laying out a job, double-checking your math, or teaching apprentices, Tradesman Pro makes it faster and easier to get the job right the first time. Privacy Policy: https://rattle-saffron-2e3.notion.site/Privacy-Policy-22ade7377307805c9fb8dfe3b61e998f EULA: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Welding Reference Pro

This app provides welders with essential tools, including calculators for settings and costs, comprehensive reference guides, and exam preparation modules. It offers offline access to all features, with a one-time purchase unlocking advanced calculators and exam practice.

Highlights
  • Weld setting calculators
  • Filler metal estimation
  • Unit conversion
  • Reference guides
  • Training modules
  • Exam preparation
  • Qualification tracking
Features
Read full description

Welding Reference Pro puts every tool a welder needs in one app — calculators, reference guides, training, and QA checklists. No internet required. No subscription. One price, everything unlocked. CALCULATORS (8) Weld Settings — enter your process, material, and thickness to get amperage, voltage, wire speed, and electrode recommendations for MIG, TIG, Stick, and Flux-Core. Wire Feed Speed — convert between wire feed speed and deposition rate across 6 wire diameters. Gas Flow — get shielding gas type and flow rate recommendations by process, material, joint type, and position. Filler Weight Estimator — calculate pounds of filler metal needed for 5 joint types with waste factors. Unit Converter — 7 categories including length, temperature, pressure, flow rate, weight, heat input, and area. Weld Cost Estimator — estimate labor, filler, and gas costs with your own custom rates. Edit every rate in the app. Heat Input (Pro) — calculate joules per inch with process efficiency factors for SMAW, GMAW, GTAW, FCAW, and SAW. Preheat Calculator (Pro) — input your carbon equivalent elements and thickness to get preheat temperature and crack sensitivity assessment. REFERENCE GUIDES (9) 27 electrodes and filler metals — E6010 through Inconel, searchable by classification, type, or application. Electrode Guide, Welding Symbol Decoder (18 AWS A2.4 symbols), Joint Preparation Guide (13 joints), Weld Defect ID (10 defects with causes and fixes), Gas Reference Chart, Material Properties (18 materials including duplex and nickel alloys), NDE Methods, Heat Treatment Reference, and Pipe Welding schedules. TRAINING ACADEMY 6 study modules with spaced repetition: Welding Fundamentals, Electrode Mastery, Blueprint Reading, Metallurgy, Weld Quality, and Code Awareness. Questions you get wrong come back sooner. Track your streak and progress. EXAM PREP (Pro) Practice for CWI (56 questions), AWS D1.1 (85 questions), ASME Section IX (88 questions), OSHA Welding Safety (56 questions), and Welding Math (45 questions). Timed mode, score history, and category filtering. ENTERPRISE FEATURES Qualification Tracker — track your welding certifications, positions, and expiration dates. Get warned when a cert is expiring. QA Checklists — pre-weld, during-weld, and post-weld inspection checklists with standard templates. Tag by project. Weld Log — attach a photo from your library, tag welding parameters, and save locally. Export to CSV or PDF for QA documentation. Global Search — type "7018" and find the electrode, compatible settings, and defect fixes all at once. Tap any result to copy it to clipboard. Save and name any calculation. Export results as PDF. FREE FEATURES: 6 calculators (Weld Settings, Wire Feed Speed, Gas Flow, Filler Weight, Unit Converter, Weld Cost), all 9 reference guides, Training Academy study modules, qualification tracker, checklists, weld log (up to 15 entries). PRO UNLOCK ($9.99 one-time): Heat Input Calculator, Preheat Calculator, CWI Exam Prep, AWS D1.1 Exam Prep, ASME IX Exam Prep, OSHA Safety Exam Prep, Welding Math practice, WPS Reference templates, Distortion Guide, unlimited weld log entries. No subscription. No ads. No account required. No personal data collected — just anonymous usage diagnostics.

Screenshots

Tradesman Pro4 screens
Welding Reference Pro4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Welding Reference Pro at every 4 days against Tradesman Pro's monthly. On price, ads, 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

Both are free to download. Tradesman Pro sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $0.99 per month and Welding Reference Pro sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Tradesman Pro ships an update monthly, Welding Reference Pro every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 3, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 8 level
Tradesman Pro versus Welding Reference Pro: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTradesman ProWelding Reference Pro
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
Monetization—Free with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS18.018.0
Further details — not scored
Size11 MB6 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNichole HolmstedtZIma Logistics LLC

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Tradesman Pro

Subscriptions1
  • Tradesman Pro7 Days trial$0.991 Month
1 purchases

Welding Reference Pro

One-time1
  • Pro Tools$9.99

Questions

Is Tradesman Pro free?
Tradesman Pro is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Welding Reference Pro free?
Welding Reference Pro is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Tradesman Pro or Welding Reference Pro have ads?
Neither Tradesman Pro nor Welding Reference Pro shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Tradesman Pro or Welding Reference Pro?
Tradesman Pro ships an update monthly, and Welding Reference Pro every 4 days. Most recently, Tradesman Pro was updated on October 3, 2026 and Welding Reference Pro on September 26, 2026.

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