Comparison

PM Sim vs General Contractor LicenseExam

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

Head to head
About

PM Sim

Features
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How do you know you'll make the right call when it matters? Every project manager faces moments where the right decision isn't obvious. A sponsor pushing to cut corners. A risk nobody wants to acknowledge. A stakeholder who goes quiet at exactly the wrong time. How you respond in those moments defines your reputation as a PM. PM Sim gives you a safe place to practise โ€” realistic scenarios drawn from real project situations, with honest feedback on every decision you make. PM Sim asks you: - What would you do if your sponsor cut the budget mid-project? - How would you handle a team member undermining the plan? - What's the right call when scope creep starts before the project even launches? - How do you hold the line on change control when everyone is pushing back? There are no trick questions. Just honest decisions โ€” and honest feedback. Each scenario reflects the kind of dilemma that experienced PMs face daily. The feedback doesn't just tell you if you were right โ€” it explains why, and what the consequences of each choice would be in the real world. What you get: - 15 free Foundation scenarios covering the core principles every PM needs - Scenario packs covering planning, delivery, risk, stakeholders and change control - Multiple learning paths โ€” follow the full journey or focus on your weak spots - Earn badges to mark your progress and prove your PM instincts are sharp - PM Wisdom โ€” a daily insight from 30 years of real project experience - Works offline โ€” learn anywhere, anytime Built by a PM who has lived every one of these situations PM Sim was created by a practising contractor project manager with over 30 years of experience across complex programmes. Every scenario is grounded in reality โ€” because real PM decisions rarely have an obvious right answer. Free to download. Foundation arc free forever.

About

General Contractor LicenseExam

Features
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This app is the working contractor's pocket reference โ€” twelve construction calculators, a searchable glossary, and full mock exams in one app. Whether you're sizing a rebar order at the supply yard or grinding through your last week of license prep, the toolbox is built around the math and lookups you actually do every day. WHAT'S INSIDE 12 jobsite calculators - Concrete volume โ€” slabs, footings, columns, with a waste factor - Rebar weight & length โ€” by ASTM bar size - Lumber board-feet โ€” from nominal dimensions - Roof pitch & rafter โ€” span, slope, ridge height, rafter length - Stair layout โ€” riser/tread/stringer with IRC code check - Drywall & paint โ€” sheets and gallons by coverage - Excavation โ€” bank vs loose volume and truck loads - Markup โ†” margin converter - Bid pricing โ€” direct cost + GCs + overhead + profit stack - Earned value โ€” CPI, SPI, and EAC from PV / EV / AC - Labor hours โ€” quantity ร— productivity factor - Anchor bolts โ€” sill-plate count from wall length Plan & Practice - Personalized exam-day countdown - Daily drill that builds a study streak - Practice by domain across 15 knowledge areas - Filter by section (Business & Law / Trade), scope (Residential / Commercial), or experience tier (Fundamentals / Advanced) - Per-domain accuracy analytics highlight your weakest areas Searchable Glossary A hand-curated reference of 75+ construction and contracting terms. Plain-language definitions, source references (NASCLA, IBC, OSHA, NEC, ACI, AISC, NFPA, AIA), and an alphabet rail for instant jump. Flashcard Mode A separate UX from the quiz runner โ€” tap to flip, self-grade Got it / Need work. Useful for high-frequency facts you need to recall in the testing center. Mock Exam Simulator Full-length timed simulations matching the two scored sections most state boards and the NASCLA Accredited Commercial General Building exam administer: - Business & Law: 50 questions, 2 h 45 m, โ‰ฅ 70% to pass - Trade / Building: 115 questions, 5 h 30 m, โ‰ฅ 72% to pass Bookmark items, jump freely with the navigator, and review a per-domain breakdown after submit. WHO IT'S FOR - Working general contractors who need quick math and lookups in the field - Candidates preparing for the NASCLA Accredited Commercial General Building exam - State GC license applicants (most boards mirror NASCLA + local amendments) - Project managers and superintendents brushing up on codes and contracts - Estimators who'd rather not pull out a notebook for every takeoff - Construction-management students QUIET, OFFLINE, AD-FREE - 100% offline after install - No account required, no trackers, no advertising - Practice history stays only on your device - Universal app โ€” iPhone and iPad, portrait and landscape REFERENCES Content is original to this app and aligns with widely-used construction industry sources: NASCLA Contractors Guide, OSHA 29 CFR 1926, the ICC family (IBC, IRC), NFPA 70 (NEC), NFPA 13, ACI 318, AISC Steel Construction Manual, AIA A201 general conditions, and ConsensusDocs 200. A NOTE BEFORE YOU TEST Licensing rules, adopted code editions, approved references, and passing scores vary by jurisdiction. Confirm current requirements with your state or local licensing board. GC Toolbox is a study aid and field reference โ€” not legal, financial, engineering, or licensing advice. Build smart. Pull the right number on the first try.

Screenshots

PM Sim4 screens
General Contractor LicenseExam4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: PM Sim at Free against General Contractor LicenseExam's $2.99. PM Sim also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs every 3 weeks). General Contractor LicenseExam's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3). On ads, 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

PM Sim is free to download; General Contractor LicenseExam costs $2.99 up front. PM Sim sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. General Contractor LicenseExam asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PM Sim ships an update every 4 days, General Contractor LicenseExam every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences ยท 3 level
PM Sim versus General Contractor LicenseExam: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPM SimGeneral Contractor LicenseExam
PriceFree โ€” better$2.99
Update frequencyEvery 4 days โ€” betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo โ€” better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.617.0 โ€” better
Further details โ€” not scored
Size2 MB5 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMark BrownYuhsiu Lai

In-app purchases

3 purchases

PM Sim

One-time3
  • Blue Print Pack$4.99
  • Deliver Pack$4.99
  • Complete Pack$7.99
None

General Contractor LicenseExam

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is PM Sim free?
PM Sim is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is General Contractor LicenseExam free?
General Contractor LicenseExam costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do PM Sim or General Contractor LicenseExam have ads?
Neither PM Sim nor General Contractor LicenseExam shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PM Sim or General Contractor LicenseExam?
PM Sim ships an update every 4 days, and General Contractor LicenseExam every 3 weeks. Most recently, PM Sim was updated on October 24, 2026 and General Contractor LicenseExam on October 24, 2026.

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