Comparison

BuildTab vs VLT

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

Head to head
About

BuildTab

Features
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BuildTab helps makers track the true cost of their projects โ€” not just what they bought, but what they actually used. Used 200g of a 1kg spool? BuildTab calculates the $5 it cost your project, not the $25 you paid at the store. That's partial usage tracking, and it's what makes BuildTab different from every spreadsheet, notes app, and generic budgeting tool. TRACK WHAT MATTERS Add expenses with the full purchase details, then enter how much you actually used. BuildTab does the maths instantly and shows you the real project cost. TIME TRACKING Log hours spent on each project and set your hourly rate to calculate labour costs. See your total investment โ€” materials plus time โ€” so you know what your work is really worth. Perfect for makers who sell their creations or just want the complete picture. KNOW WHAT TO CHARGE New in this version: if you sell your work, BuildTab suggests a sale price. Set your overhead and a target profit margin, and it builds a price from your true cost โ€” materials, labour, and overhead. Record what a piece actually sold for and see your real profit. It does margin properly, too: profit as a share of the sale price, not a markup on cost. SHARE YOUR WORK Generate beautiful social media images to show off your completed projects. Export detailed PDF reports with cover photos, notes, spending breakdowns, expenses, and time entries โ€” perfect for client invoices or personal records. MATERIALS LIBRARY Save the materials you use regularly with their default prices and units. Next time you add an expense, pick from your library instead of typing everything again. BUDGET TRACKING Set a budget for each project and watch your spending in real time. The progress bar shows exactly where you stand โ€” green when you're on track, amber when you're getting close. BUILT FOR MAKERS BuildTab is designed for people who build things with their hands โ€” woodworkers, 3D printers, leatherworkers, knitters, miniature painters, electronics tinkerers, resin artists, and every kind of maker. Organise your projects by hobby category and see your spending across all of them. YOUR DATA, YOUR DEVICE No account needed. No sign-up. Open the app and start tracking immediately. Your data is stored on your device and never leaves it unless you choose to sync. FREE TO TRY Create up to three projects for free to see if BuildTab works for you. Upgrade to Pro with a one-time purchase to unlock: - Unlimited projects - Unlimited materials library - Pricing calculator with suggested sale prices - Labour cost calculation - PDF export with full project reports - iCloud sync across iPhone and iPad - CSV export for projects, expenses, and time entries - Spending charts and insights - Multiple photos per project No subscription. No recurring charges. Pay once, use forever. Questions or feedback? Reach out at support@buildtab.app โ€” BuildTab is built and maintained by one person, and I read every message.

About

VLT

Features
Read full description

Vault keeps your receipts, warranties, and proof of purchase in one place. Scan or upload a receipt, review the purchase details, and save the item to your Vault. Vault helps you track what you bought, where you bought it, how much it cost, and when the warranty may expire. It is built for everyday purchases, tech gear, appliances, tools, home products, and anything else you want to keep a record of. Key features: โ€ข Save receipts and proof of purchase โ€ข Track product warranty dates โ€ข Store product names, retailers, prices, dates, and notes โ€ข Search your saved items โ€ข Organise items with folders โ€ข View warranty countdowns โ€ข Access your Vault from mobile and web โ€ข Use AI to help read receipt details before you confirm them Vault is useful when you need to make a warranty claim, check when you bought something, find a receipt, or keep better records of the products you own. Warranty dates are estimates until confirmed. Local Consumer Law rights may apply beyond manufacturer warranties. Vault is not legal advice. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://vault.techmanpat.com/privacy Support: https://vault.techmanpat.com/contact

Screenshots

BuildTab4 screens
VLT4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: VLT at 15.0 against BuildTab's 17.0. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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. BuildTab sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and VLT sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

BuildTab ships an update every 3 weeks, VLT fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 30, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference ยท 5 level
BuildTab versus VLT: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBuildTabVLT
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksFortnightly โ€” better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS17.015.0 โ€” better
Further details โ€” not scored
Size2 MB17 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRod Xavier BondocPatryk Lazarz

In-app purchases

1 purchases

BuildTab

One-time1
  • BuildTab$4.99
2 purchases

VLT

Subscriptions2
  • Vault Pro Monthly$2.991 Month
  • Vault Pro Annual$24.991 Year

Questions

Is BuildTab free?
BuildTab is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is VLT free?
VLT is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do BuildTab or VLT have ads?
Neither BuildTab nor VLT shows ads.
Which is updated more often, BuildTab or VLT?
BuildTab ships an update every 3 weeks, and VLT fortnightly. Most recently, BuildTab was updated on September 30, 2026 and VLT on October 15, 2026.

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