Comparison

iBuild vs Stairs 3D

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

Head to head
About

iBuild

Features
Read full description

iBuild is the construction material calculator designed for builders, contractors, and DIY enthusiasts. Estimate exactly what you need to buy for your next project in seconds. Calculate quantities for 16 material types across 6 categories: Drywall and panels (sheets, screws, tape, compound, studs and tracks), Masonry (hollow brick, solid brick, and concrete block with mortar), Flooring (ceramic, porcelain, vinyl, and laminate with adhesive and grout), Interior and exterior paint with coverage per coat, Roofing (ceramic tiles and corrugated metal sheets) and Insulation. Enter dimensions or total area, add door and window openings, adjust waste percentage, and get a full shopping list with exact quantities, bags, cans, and linear meters. Use your iPhone camera to measure walls and surfaces with augmented reality. Point, tap, and get real-time dimensions with precision. Measurements feed directly into the calculator. Draw floor plans with walls, doors, windows, and text labels. Pinch to zoom, pan to navigate, and see live stats. Export professional PDF plans with dimensions and grid overlay, ready to share. Save every calculation with a custom title. Review past estimates anytime with full material breakdowns. Available in Spanish, English, French, Portuguese, Arabic, Hindi, Russian, and Simplified Chinese. Built for the job site. Fast, offline, and precise.

About

Stairs 3D

Features
Read full description

Build field-ready stair plans, inspect them in 3D, and export clean shop sheets โ€” entirely offline, entirely on your device. Stairs 3D is a professional stair framing calculator for carpenters, contractors, deck builders, and serious DIY builders. Enter your total rise and target step count, and the app instantly solves the geometry: rise per step, tread depth, stair angle, stringer length, stringer cut patterns, and a complete materials list. All in millimeters or imperial, whichever you prefer. STAIR TYPES โ€ข Straight Stair โ€” Single-flight layout with live rise, run, and angle. Free. โ€ข Stringer Layout โ€” Board dimensions, cut geometry, and stringer count. Free. โ€ข Landing Stair โ€” Two-flight layout around a framed platform. Pro. โ€ข L-Shaped & U-Shaped โ€” Quarter-turn and return stairs with winder or landing options. Pro. โ€ข Spiral Stair โ€” Helical stair with radial treads, center column, and rotation direction. Pro. WHAT YOU GET FOR EVERY STAIR โ€ข Live calculation โ€” every input updates the result instantly โ€ข 3D visualization โ€” orbit, inspect, and rotate a RealityKit model of your stair โ€ข 2D blueprint โ€” annotated plan and elevation views with dimensions โ€ข Component inspector โ€” tap any piece to see exact cut dimensions โ€ข Material cut list โ€” auto-generated quantities ready for take-off โ€ข PDF export โ€” printable blueprint for field, client, or shop use โ€ข CSV export โ€” machine-readable material list for spreadsheets or procurement DESIGNED FOR THE JOB SITE No account. No network. No subscriptions that lock your own files away. Projects and exports stay on this device unless you explicitly share them. If you cancel a plan, your projects remain yours โ€” viewable, editable, and exportable. Supports imperial (feet, inches, fractions) and metric (millimeters, centimeters). Configurable precision from whole numbers to four decimal places. PRIVACY Stairs 3D does not request camera, microphone, location, photo library, or tracking permissions. There are no analytics SDKs, no third-party data collection, and no advertising. The only external connection is the App Store for optional plan management. FREE VS. PRO Free includes straight stair calculation, stringer layout, 3D inspection, 2D blueprint, and project saving. Pro unlocks the landing, L-shaped, U-shaped, and spiral builders, plus PDF and CSV export. Pro is available as a monthly plan or annual plan. Terms of Service: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

iBuild4 screens
Stairs 3D4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: iBuild at none against Stairs 3D's 2. Stairs 3D's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price ยท Rating ยท Positive reviews ยท Number of ratings ยท Update frequency ยท Ads ยท In-app purchases ยท Monetization ยท Best chart rank ยท Devices ยท Requires iOS

CostPrice ยท In-app purchases ยท Ads ยท Monetization

Both are free to download. Stairs 3D sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. iBuild asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard2 real differences ยท 4 level
iBuild versus Stairs 3D: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameteriBuildStairs 3D
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsโ€”
AdsYesNo โ€” better
In-app purchasesNo โ€” betterYes
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod โ€” betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17 โ€” better17.6
Further details โ€” not scored
Size12 MB5 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRodrigo ProkopowiczSebastin Michael

In-app purchases

None

iBuild

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Stairs 3D

Subscriptions2
  • Pro Monthly$5.991 Month
  • Pro Annual$49.991 Year

Questions

Is iBuild free?
iBuild is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Stairs 3D free?
Stairs 3D is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do iBuild or Stairs 3D have ads?
iBuild shows ads; Stairs 3D does not.

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