Comparison

FabCalc vs SM Offset

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

Head to head
About

FabCalc

Features
Read full description

The flat pattern calculator your fab shop needs — cylinders, cone gores, duct wraps, and more. Fully offline. No account. No ads. Stop laying out cone gores by hand on the table. Stop guessing developed length on a duct wrap. FabCalc generates shop-ready flat pattern drawings and 1:1 DXF files for common fabricated shapes. WHAT'S INSIDE • Cylinder wrap — full shell and partial segments • Half-pipe sleeve — 180° cylinder segments • Cone / frustum gore — annular sector with slant length and arc development • Rectangular duct wrap — four-panel strip with bend lines and bend allowance • Live 2D preview — cut profile, bend lines, roll direction, dimensions • DXF export — AutoCAD R12 ASCII, layered (CUT, BEND, ROLL, TEXT), 1:1 scale • PDF job sheet — drawing, inputs, calculated values, notes • Saved jobs — reopen and edit patterns locally WHO IT'S FOR Fabricators, sheet metal workers, pipe fitters, boilermakers, plasma/laser operators, and shop owners who need accurate flat patterns without desktop CAD. FREE vs PRO Free forever: all shape inputs, live preview, calculated values, warnings, and DXF cut-file export. Pro unlocks PDF job sheets and unlimited saved jobs. One-time purchase or subscription. Subscriptions auto-renew until cancelled. Manage in your Apple ID Subscription Settings. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://doublevision.company/privacy NO ACCOUNT. NO ADS. NO DATA COLLECTION. FabCalc works on the layout table, at the plasma table, in the truck. Everything runs locally.

About

SM Offset

Features
Read full description

SM Offset is a field calculator built for sheet metal workers, HVAC fabricators, and pipefitters who need exact offset math without the guesswork. Punch in your numbers and get the cut length, arc lengths, elbow centerline, and total offset length, all in real tape-measure fractions. Built for the shop floor and the jobsite, it works 100% offline. No signal, no problem. ROUND • Two-elbow offset — cut joint, elbow takeout, and arc length for a flat offset • Rolling offset — rise and roll combined into one true offset, with cut length to match • Rolling ninety — turn 90° while offsetting, with field-validated math RECTANGULAR • Duct fitting offsets from width, throat radius, and fitting angle • Standard angles (11.25°, 22.5°, 30°, 45°, 60°, 90°) or your own custom angle • Live results: cut joint, elbow centerline length, and exact offset length WHY TRADES TRUST IT • Every formula is cross-checked two ways • Results in real fractions, not ugly decimals • Fast, dark, glove-friendly interface Whether you're laying out ductwork in the shop or solving an offset on the roof, SM Offset gives you numbers you can cut to.

Screenshots

FabCalc4 screens
SM Offset4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: SM Offset at none against FabCalc's 4. FabCalc's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (weekly vs fortnightly). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price Ā· Rating Ā· Positive reviews Ā· Number of ratings Ā· Update frequency Ā· Ads Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Monetization Ā· Best chart rank Ā· Devices Ā· Requires iOS

CostPrice Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Ads Ā· Monetization

Both are free to download. FabCalc sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. SM Offset asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

FabCalc ships an update weekly, SM Offset fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 4, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences Ā· 3 level
FabCalc versus SM Offset: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFabCalcSM Offset
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyWeekly — betterFortnightly
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS16.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size3 MB7 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDouble Vision USA LLCBradley Evans

In-app purchases

4 purchases

FabCalc

Subscriptions2
  • FabCalc Pro Monthly$4.991 Month
  • FabCalc Pro Yearly$29.991 Year
One-time2
  • Fab Shop Bundle$119.99
  • ShopCalc Pro Lifetime$129.99
None

SM Offset

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is FabCalc free?
FabCalc is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is SM Offset free?
SM Offset is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do FabCalc or SM Offset have ads?
SM Offset shows ads; FabCalc does not.
Which is updated more often, FabCalc or SM Offset?
FabCalc ships an update weekly, and SM Offset fortnightly. Most recently, FabCalc was updated on September 4, 2026 and SM Offset on September 18, 2026.

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