Comparison

Deck Sketch 3D vs Baluster Studio

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

Head to head
About

Deck Sketch 3D

Design, plan, and estimate the cost of your outdoor deck projects in 2D and 3D. Generate professional plans, material lists, and cut lists with building code compliance. Compare prices from local hardware stores.

Highlights
  • 2D deck drawing with complex shapes and multiple levels
  • Realistic 3D visualization with material and framing views
  • Customizable surface materials, railings, and foundations
  • Smart stair calculator with cut diagrams and code compliance
  • Complete materials and optimized cut lists
  • Price estimates from major hardware stores
  • Professional PDF plan generation
Features
Read full description

DeckSketch 3D is the most complete tool to design, plan and estimate the cost of your balcony, patio or wood deck. Whether you're a passionate DIYer or a contractor, this app guides you from the first sketch to the job site. DRAW YOUR DECK IN 2D Trace the outline of your deck directly on your screen. Create complex shapes, add multiple levels at different heights and attach the structure to your house. Add elements like a hot tub, round or rectangular pool, stairs, pergolas and guardrails with gates. View the framing in real time with joists, beams and posts. VISUALIZE IN REALISTIC 3D Instantly switch from your 2D drawing to an interactive 3D view. Explore your project from three angles: the finished rendering with colors and materials, the framing structure with posts, beams and joists, and the underside view to check structural integrity. Rotate, zoom and pan the view with smooth touch gestures. CUSTOMIZE EVERY DETAIL Choose from multiple surface materials: pressure-treated wood, natural cedar or composite in 10 trending shades (charcoal grey, walnut, driftwood, mahogany and more). Select the railing style (aluminum, tempered glass, treated wood or composite) and foundation type (sonotubes, pad footings or helical piles). Add a pergola with 5 roofing options: open rafters, polycarbonate, retractable shade, solid roof or metal roofing. SMART STAIR CALCULATOR Simply enter the total height and desired width. The app automatically calculates the number of steps, the rise and run of each step, the stringer length and the number of stringers required. A detailed cut diagram guides you to cut your stringers with precision. Automatic building code compliance check (IRC R311.7). COMPLETE MATERIALS AND CUT LIST Get a detailed list of everything you need: foundations, posts, beams, joists, decking boards, stringers, treads, railings, hardware, bolts and screws. The optimized cut list shows each piece with its exact dimensions and purpose. Minimize waste with the cut plan that organizes your cuts on standard-length boards. PRICE ESTIMATES BY STORE Compare estimated prices at hardware stores near you: Home Depot, Lowe's, Rona and other retailers. Use the built-in GPS to find the nearest store or sort by price to save money. Available in Canada, the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Germany and Belgium. Prices are adjusted monthly based on the materials inflation index. PROFESSIONAL PDF PLANS Generate a complete multi-page PDF package ready for the job site or permit application: floor plan with dimensions, framing plan, foundation plan, side elevation, stair detail, railing detail, pergola detail, materials list, cut list, optimized cut plan, step-by-step assembly guide and code compliance tips. Print or share directly from the app. BUILDING CODE COMPLIANT All calculations follow IRC R507 (beam sizing, post spacing) and IRC R311.7 (stairs) standards. Compatible with North American and European standards. Choose between North American lumber sizes (2x6, 2x8, 2x10) or European sizes (45x95 mm, 45x145 mm). Imperial or metric system based on your preference. FREE TO START Full 2D drawing, 3D view and stair calculator are free. Upgrade to Pro to unlock precise measurements, the complete cut list, price comparison, PDF plans and unlimited saves. Conditions d'utilisation / Terms of Use: https://www.atikdesign.ca/terms-decksketch Politique de confidentialité / Privacy Policy: https://www.atikdesign.ca/privacy-decksketch Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://www.atikdesign.ca/privacy-decksketch

About

Baluster Studio

Read full description

Baluster Studio is a field-ready layout aid for railing fabricators, deck builders, and finish carpenters. Enter the inside run, post width, baluster width, and code rule. Baluster Studio calculates the baluster count, clear spacing, on-center layout, and pass/fail status before you cut. Built for real railing work: - Flat railing and stair-rake layout support - IRC 2021 R312.1.3 and R311.7.8.1 code citations - 25 standard baluster styles plus custom dimensions - Quick Calc for one-off field checks - Local project job book for clients, addresses, and sections - Tape reads and material counts for site work - PDF export with drawings, notes, bill of materials, and disclaimers - Contractor branding for PDF packets - Worksite Mode for bright, always-awake field use Baluster Studio works fully offline. There is no account, no cloud sync, and no analytics. Projects stay on your iPhone or iPad unless you export them. Baluster Studio is a layout aid, not stamped construction drawings. Always verify measurements on site and against the code edition adopted in your jurisdiction.

Screenshots

Deck Sketch 3D4 screens
Baluster Studio4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Baluster Studio at daily against Deck Sketch 3D's every 9 days. Deck Sketch 3D's advantage is iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.0). 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. Deck Sketch 3D sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $9.99 per month and Baluster Studio sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Deck Sketch 3D ships an update every 9 days, Baluster Studio daily. The most recent releases landed on October 5, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
Deck Sketch 3D versus Baluster Studio: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDeck Sketch 3DBaluster Studio
PriceFreeFree
Rating1.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 9 daysDaily — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.1 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size42 MB27 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAtik Design S.E.N.C威臻 闫

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Deck Sketch 3D

Subscriptions1
  • DeckSketch Pro3 Days trial$9.991 Month
1 purchases

Baluster Studio

One-time1
  • Baluster Studio Lifetime$5.99

Questions

Is Deck Sketch 3D free?
Deck Sketch 3D is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Baluster Studio free?
Baluster Studio is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Deck Sketch 3D or Baluster Studio have ads?
Neither Deck Sketch 3D nor Baluster Studio shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Deck Sketch 3D or Baluster Studio?
Deck Sketch 3D ships an update every 9 days, and Baluster Studio daily. Most recently, Deck Sketch 3D was updated on October 5, 2026 and Baluster Studio on October 7, 2026.

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