# StairSmith vs Baluster Studio

The clearest difference is price: Baluster Studio at Free against StairSmith's $6.99. Baluster Studio also leads on update cadence (daily vs every 3 days). StairSmith's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and chart position (#194 vs unranked). On ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Baluster Studio is free to download; StairSmith costs $6.99 up front. Baluster Studio sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. StairSmith asks for nothing beyond the download.

StairSmith ships an update every 3 days, Baluster Studio daily. The most recent releases landed on October 3, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | StairSmith | Baluster Studio |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $6.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stairsmith/id6767048001/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **1** | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 days | **Daily** |
| Monetization | Paid | — |
| Best chart rank | **#194** | — |
| Size | 5 MB | 27 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Taylor Cascino](https://appshunter.io/developer/1882107919) | [威臻 闫](https://appshunter.io/developer/1861990693) |

## What reviewers say

### StairSmith

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stairsmith/id6767048001)

**Currently charting:** #194 Top Paid · Utilities (US App Store)

This app calculates stair dimensions, checks building codes, and generates cut lists for builders and DIYers. It provides live diagrams, lumber information, and framing square layouts, all without requiring an account or subscription. The tool is designed for efficiency at the workbench and offers print-ready PDFs.

**Highlights:** Live elevation diagram, Print-ready PDF reports, Building code compliance checks, Framing square layout diagrams, Lumber and cut sheet generation, Supports multiple building codes

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Baluster Studio

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/baluster-studio/id6774924612)

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Baluster Studio Lifetime | $5.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is StairSmith free?

StairSmith costs $6.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Baluster Studio free?

Baluster Studio is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do StairSmith or Baluster Studio have ads?

Neither StairSmith nor Baluster Studio shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, StairSmith or Baluster Studio?

StairSmith ships an update every 3 days, and Baluster Studio daily. Most recently, StairSmith was updated on October 3, 2026 and Baluster Studio on October 7, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*