Comparison

Decks 3D vs BuilderCalc

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

Head to head
About

Decks 3D

Design and plan custom decks with detailed framing, 3D visualization, and exportable build documents. Supports various deck shapes and measurements for professional use.

Highlights
  • Design various deck shapes
  • Detailed framing and material lists
  • 3D visualization
  • Exportable blueprints and cut lists
  • Imperial and metric measurements
  • Offline project packages
Features
Read full description

Decks 3D is a framing-first deck builder for contractors, deck builders, remodelers, designers, and serious DIY users. Create a deck, generate the framing plan, review it in 3D, and export the build documents you need from iPhone or iPad. Build deck projects faster - Design straight, L-shaped, U-shaped, freestanding, wraparound, custom, gazebo, multi-level, and octagonal decks - Tune joist spacing, beam spacing, posts, footings, decking direction, stairs, railing, roof-over-deck concepts, and terrain notes - Work in imperial or metric measurements for field-friendly input See the structure clearly - Review live 2D deck plans with joists, beams, posts, footings, stairs, labels, and project metrics - Inspect the deck in 3D before you build - Check warnings, presentation notes, material quantities, and cut lists in one workspace Export and share locally - Save blueprint PDFs, material lists, cut lists, and offline project packages - Add white-label branding to exports with Decks 3D Pro - Keep projects, drafts, exports, and packages on device unless you choose to share them - No account required Built for real deck workflows Decks 3D focuses on framing clarity and deck-specific planning instead of generic home design tools. It is made for deck jobs, client walkthroughs, and faster field decisions on iPhone and iPad. Free and Pro Start free with straight deck projects. Decks 3D Pro unlocks all 9 deck shapes, blueprint PDF export, white-label exports, and advanced planning tools. Concept plans only. Verify spans, footings, and local code before construction or permit submission. Terms of Service: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

BuilderCalc

Features
Read full description

The construction calculator a contractor actually uses on the job site — tile, drywall, concrete, paint, framing — every material estimate, with waste built in. Tap a project. Answer 2–3 questions. BuilderCalc tells you exactly how much to buy — humanized ("Buy 3 gallons, about $90–$140"), the shopping list to bring, and the mistakes that cost real money every year. FIVE GUIDED PROJECT FLOWS • Paint a room — wall area minus openings, primer + coats, gallon estimate • Tile a bathroom — square footage, box count, waste factor, grout volume • Build a deck (Pro) — joist spacing, beams, posts, footings, decking, fasteners • Install drywall (Pro) — sheets by room, screws, mud, tape • Pour a concrete slab (Pro) — slab, footers, columns, bags or yards EVERY FLOW INCLUDES • The humanized result, not just decimals • The shopping list to bring to the hardware store • The mistakes to dodge — sourced from JLC, Fine Homebuilding, This Old House, and the IRC PLUS 14 PRO CALCULATORS UNDERNEATH Tile · Drywall · Concrete · Paint · Flooring (LVP, hardwood, laminate, carpet) · Framing (studs, plates, headers) · Roofing (squares, underlayment, ridge cap) · Layout (diagonal squareness, stair stringer, rake/run/rise) · Materials waste · Square footage · Conversions · Volume · Coverage · Cost-per-unit WHO IT'S FOR Contractors, remodelers, handymen, framers, finish carpenters. Homeowners running a real project. Anyone who'd rather take an extra coffee break than re-measure for the third time. FREE vs PRO Free forever: paint and tile flows + all 14 calculators. Pro unlocks deck, drywall, and concrete flows; saved-job worksheets; cost-per-square-foot tracking. One-time or subscription. Subscriptions auto-renew until cancelled. Manage in your Apple ID Subscription Settings. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://doublevision.company/privacy OFFLINE. NO ACCOUNT. NO ADS. The job site doesn't always have signal. Neither does this app, by design.

Screenshots

Decks 3D4 screens
BuilderCalc4 screens

Verdict

The call

Decks 3D and BuilderCalc are too close to call on the numbers: across 6 compared parameters — price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

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. Decks 3D sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month and BuilderCalc sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Decks 3D ships an update every 6 days, BuilderCalc every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
Decks 3D versus BuilderCalc: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDecks 3DBuilderCalc
PriceFreeFree
Rating1.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 6 daysEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.616.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size6 MB1 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSebastin MichaelDouble Vision USA LLC

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Decks 3D

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

BuilderCalc

Subscriptions2
  • Pro Monthly7 Days trial$3.991 Month
  • Pro Yearly7 Days trial$29.991 Year
One-time1
  • Pro Unlock$74.99

Questions

Is Decks 3D free?
Decks 3D is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is BuilderCalc free?
BuilderCalc is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Decks 3D or BuilderCalc have ads?
Neither Decks 3D nor BuilderCalc shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Decks 3D or BuilderCalc?
Decks 3D ships an update every 6 days, and BuilderCalc every 4 days. Most recently, Decks 3D was updated on October 7, 2026 and BuilderCalc on October 5, 2026.

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