PipeSizer vs PlantCalculator
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
PipeSizer
Read full descriptionHide full description
PipeSizer helps piping and process engineers screen pipe diameters quickly using flow rate, pipe material, schedule, liner, and traceable velocity ranges. Enter your design conditions and PipeSizer ranks candidate nominal pipe sizes by calculated velocity. The result highlights the best candidate, effective internal diameter, velocity status, and nearby alternatives so you can compare options without rebuilding a spreadsheet. KEY FEATURES • Rank candidate pipe diameters from your flow rate • Compare velocity against traceable recommended ranges • Support for clean water, process fluids, slurry, and utility lines • Carbon steel, stainless steel, HDPE, and common schedules or DR values • Optional liner allowance • SI and Imperial units • Save and reopen sizing results • Share results using the iOS share sheet • Send selected pipe data to Pump Mate • English, Spanish, French, and Portuguese • Fully functional offline PipeSizer is free and designed for fast engineering screening in the office or field. ENGINEERING NOTICE PipeSizer is a screening aid. Verify final selections against project criteria, applicable codes, manufacturer data, and a qualified engineering review.
PlantCalculator
Read full descriptionHide full description
The nameplate reads "52.7 kg/cm²G." Your reference is in psi. The formula wants MPa. You can stop doing that conversion in your head. Plant Calculator brings together the calculations used every day in refinery and chemical plant equipment inspection — one app, built for the field. ■ Type the number on the nameplate, as-is Every input field has a unit selector. Enter kg/cm²G, psi or bar exactly as written, and the app does the conversion. If you think in kg/cm², set it as your default in Settings and every screen opens that way. 15 categories, 65 units. ■ Works where there's no signal Inside a vessel, inside a tank — every calculation runs entirely on your device. ■ Enter only what you already know - Pick a nominal size and schedule, and OD and wall are filled in (ASME/JIS, 45 sizes) - Pick a material and temperature, and the allowable stress is interpolated and filled in (9 materials) No more flipping through dimension tables. ■ Main features - Quick Check: from pipe and inspection data, review original wall, required thickness, corrosion rate, remaining life and thickness margin together - Required thickness: minimum wall for piping and pressure vessels under internal pressure (JIS B 8265 / High Pressure Gas (KHK), ASME Sec.VIII Div.1, ASME B31.3; cylinders, heads, straight pipe and elbows) - Corrosion rate & remaining life from previous/current thickness and elapsed years - Metal loss check: average, minimum and variation from readings, with simplified general and local metal-loss checks - Vertical tower check: internal pressure, dead weight, wind and seismic (static seismic coefficient method); checks tension and compression for operating and shutdown cases and shows a reference thickness. Skirt included - External pressure: simplified allowable external pressure check for cylinders - Nozzle reinforcement: area replacement method - Relief valve sizing: required orifice area based on API 520 - Piping: support span, pressure drop and velocity - Vessel: flange, bolt torque, flat plate, cone and support loads - Surface area: outer area of pipe, elbow, head and reducer; add count and insulation thickness for painting/cladding area and a material estimate - Tank / line totals: connect elements to sum area, volume and weight - Thermal expansion from temperature difference - Calculator + equation solver: scientific calculator (trigonometry, logs, powers, roots, memory, EE input, DEG/RAD) that also solves simultaneous equations in x, y and z - Unit conversion: 15 categories, including multiplication and division with units (e.g. 200 mm × 200 mm = 0.04 m²) - Size quick reference: NPS to OD, wall, ID, volume and pipe weight - Pipe dimension lookup: pick a size to see OD and wall per schedule (ASME B36.10M/B36.19M / JIS, physical dimension reference values) - Flange rating check: enter the rated pressure from your standard and compare with design pressure (ASME B16.5, etc.; rating table not bundled) - Material list: temperature-dependent allowable stress reference values (based on High Pressure Gas example standards) - Glossary for inspection and design terms - Calculation history: save, delete and copy as CSV - 8 languages (Japanese, English, Español, Português, 한국어, Deutsch, العربية, Русский), dark mode ■ Important This app is a supporting tool for design and inspection. Formulas are representative, and allowable stresses, dimensions and ratings are approximate reference values. Always verify against the official formulas and latest values of the applicable codes (JIS B 8265 / High Pressure Gas example standards / ASME Sec.II Part D / B16.5 / B36.10M, etc.) before making any decision. Do not rely on this app's results alone.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: PipeSizer at none against PlantCalculator's shown. PlantCalculator's advantage is update cadence (every 9 days vs every 6 weeks) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.1). On price, 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
PipeSizer ships an update every 6 weeks, PlantCalculator every 9 days. Both last shipped on October 25, 2026.
| Parameter | PipeSizer | PlantCalculator |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | Every 9 days — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 46 MB | 25 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Mario Cerda | Ryo Iida |
In-app purchases
PipeSizer
No in-app purchases
PlantCalculator
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is PipeSizer free?
Is PlantCalculator free?
Do PipeSizer or PlantCalculator have ads?
Which is updated more often, PipeSizer or PlantCalculator?
Other comparisons















