LayIt vs BuildCalc
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
LayIt
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Plan tile layouts, reduce awkward cuts, and estimate material quantities before installation. LayIt is built for tile installers and DIY renovators who want a clear visual plan before cutting or buying material. PLAN THE LAYOUT • Draw a rectangular or custom wall or floor perimeter • Choose from built-in tile presets or enter dimensions manually • See full tiles, cut tiles, waste, and placement in real time • Drag the pattern or use Optimize to test a more efficient starting position • Add windows, niches, outlets, and other cutouts • Work in inches or centimeters IDENTIFY TILE • Photograph a tile or tile-box label for optional AI-assisted pattern and specification recognition • Scan barcodes and labels with the iPhone camera • Enter all tile information manually when preferred • Core layout planning works without an AI scan ESTIMATE AND SAVE • Estimate tile and box quantities • Build a material shopping list and job-cost estimate • Save projects locally on your device • Export or share project files • Generate client reports with LayIt Pro LAYIT PRO An optional auto-renewing subscription unlocks unlimited AI scans, cut tracking, client reports, price-search shortcuts, and company branding. Monthly and annual plans are available. Your App Store price is shown before purchase. Subscriptions can be restored and managed through your Apple Account. Tile counts, cut dimensions, and AI-extracted specifications are estimates. Always verify measurements and product information before purchasing or cutting material. Terms of Use (EULA): https://layit.pages.dev/terms Privacy Policy: https://layit.pages.dev/privacy
BuildCalc
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Type the sizes. Get the shopping list. BuildCalc turns measurements into exact material quantities — concrete, tile, lumber, paint, gravel, drywall and more — with waste, price and “already have” built in. 200 CALCULATORS, ONE SEARCH • Concrete: slabs, footings, piers, stairs, block walls, rebar • Framing: studs, joists, sheathing, board feet, deck boards • Roofing & exterior: shingles, underlayment, siding, roof pitch, rafters • Interior: paint, drywall, tile, thinset, wallpaper, baseboard, insulation • Landscaping: mulch, gravel, topsoil, sod, pavers, raised beds • Electrical & plumbing: Ohm’s law, voltage drop, conduit fill, pipe volume, BTU, CFM • Converters: metric ↔ imperial, fractions, board feet and more SEE IT BEFORE YOU BUILD • Live 3D previews drawn from your numbers: stairs, decks, fences, roofs, tile layouts • AR tape measure: point the camera, tap, and the length drops into the field • AR at real size: place your finished deck, stairs, fence, patio or garden bed in your yard at 1:1 scale and walk around it LIVE PROJECT TEMPLATES • Deck, fence, raised bed, paver patio, deck stairs, garden shed • Move the sliders — the full bill of materials recounts live, down to the screws • Build sequence included, add everything to the shopping list in one tap PLAN LIKE A PRO • Waste percentage, price per unit and “already have” on every calculator • Feet-inches-1/16 tape-measure keypad for imperial sizes • Shopping list with check-off and running totals • Projects with budget tracking and PDF estimates • History, Spotlight search, Siri shortcuts and a Home Screen widget WORKS WHERE YOU WORK • 100% offline, no sign-up • Optional iCloud sync across your iPhone and iPad • Light and dark themes • 40 languages, metric and imperial • iPhone and iPad Estimates only — always verify quantities before ordering materials. — BuildCalc Pro (optional in-app purchase) Unlock all 200+ calculators and every pro tool — Cut Optimizer, Canvas, AR, PDF estimates, saved projects and unlimited history. • Monthly — $4.99 per month • Yearly — $29.99 per year, including a 3-day free trial • Lifetime — $59.99, a one-time purchase Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase. A subscription renews automatically unless it is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. You can manage or cancel auto-renewal anytime in your Apple Account settings. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://sites.google.com/view/buildcalc-material-calculator/privacy-policy
Screenshots
Verdict
LayIt and BuildCalc are too close to call on the numbers: across 5 compared parameters — price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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
Both are free to download. LayIt sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and BuildCalc sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
| Parameter | LayIt | BuildCalc |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | — | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPad — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 6 MB | 11 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Robbie sims | Serhii Tykhonenko |
In-app purchases
LayIt
- LayIt Pro Monthly$4.991 Month
- LayIt Pro Annual$39.991 Year
BuildCalc
- Pro Monthly$4.991 Month
- Pro Yearly3 Days trial$29.991 Year
- Pro Lifetime$59.99









