Stringer vs Boardcut
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Stringer
This app calculates stair stringer dimensions for builders and DIYers. It provides clear options based on rise and going, with code compliance checks. All calculations and projects are saved on the device for offline use.
- Stair stringer calculations
- Imperial/metric unit support
- Building code references
- Offline functionality
- Project saving
- Visual results and cut sheets
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Stringer is a focused stair and stair-stringer calculator for builders, remodelers, deck crews, finish carpenters, makers, inspectors, and careful DIYers who want usable numbers before cutting timber. Enter the total rise and the going, choose imperial or metric units, pick the building-code reference you want to compare against, and Stringer turns the job into clear stair options you can read on site. Privacy is built into the workflow: Offline / No Login / Privacy First / On Device / No Cloud Upload. You can open the app in a basement, garage, workshop, rural jobsite, or anywhere without reliable service. Calculations, saved projects, settings, and exported cut sheets stay on the device. There is no account to create, no sync step to wait for, and no project data being uploaded to a cloud service. Use Stringer when you need to decide how many risers fit a stair, what each riser height should be, how many treads are needed, and what total run and pitch that choice creates. The results screen highlights a recommended option, then lists nearby alternatives so you can compare 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, or 19 risers at a glance. Each option shows the riser height, tread count, total run, pitch angle, and code status, making it easier to choose a layout that works for the space instead of guessing from a scrap of paper. The calculator is made for real construction details. Set total rise, going or tread run, maximum available run, stair width, nosing, tread thickness, stringer stock, stock price, standard or flush construction, and whether the bottom stringer should be dropped. Switch between inches and millimetres as needed. The app also estimates board length, cut count, throat depth, first cut, and the framing-square rise and run values you need when laying out a stringer by hand. Code references are available for quick checks against common stair rules, including IRC for US/CA work, NCC for Australia, and Doc K for the UK. Stringer can flag riser height, tread depth, pitch, stair width, and headroom notes in a readable compliance panel. These checks are intended as a field aid, not as a replacement for local code review, permits, or professional judgement. Always verify site conditions, headroom, landings, guards, handrails, and local amendments before final construction. The visual results are designed to reduce mistakes. View the stair elevation, the full stringer shape, or the cut sheet. Dimension callouts show rise, going, total rise, total run, pitch, board length, throat depth, plumb angle, and first cut. The stringer layout view helps you see how the stair will land on the stock before you mark the board. This is useful when checking whether a 2x12 has enough throat, whether the run fits the opening, or whether a different riser count gives a better balance. Projects help keep jobsite numbers organized. Save a project, create a new one, return to previous calculations, and keep your settings ready for the next stair. When the layout is ready, export a professional-looking Stair Cut Sheet PDF with a summary, diagram, code-compliance table, and stringer layout notes. Share it with a crew member, client, inspector, or your own future self before lumber is cut. Stringer is intentionally simple: no login wall, no cloud workspace, no noisy collaboration feed, and no hidden web requirement. It is a practical stair layout tool for people who need fast answers, readable drawings, and repeatable numbers while keeping project information private and local. Stringer now requires an active Stringer Pro subscription to use the app. The subscription unlocks stair layout calculations, code checks, saved projects, and PDF cut sheet export. Privacy Policy https://woodcuttool.com/legal/Stringer/privacy/ Terms of Use https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Boardcut
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Turn a parts list into an optimized cutting diagram — right at the lumber aisle. Unlock Boardcut Pro with a one-time purchase. The price is shown in the app before purchase. Boardcut takes the parts you need and the sheets and boards you have, and lays out where every cut goes — so you buy less material and waste less of what you buy. WHAT YOU CAN DO • Enter parts fast — a fraction keypad built for inches (24 3/8″ takes four taps), plus decimal and mm modes • Add stock from standard presets — 4×8 plywood, dimensional lumber — or enter your own sizes • Get an optimized cut diagram with engineering-style dimensions and grain arrows • Blade kerf is drawn at its real width on every cut — with edge trim and a minimum offcut size you control • Follow a numbered cut list: every rip and crosscut in order, linked to the diagram • See waste, yield, sheet count, cut count, and material cost at a glance • Reshuffle for an alternate layout when you want a second opinion • Lock grain direction on the parts that show • Switch units anytime — inch fractions, decimal inches, or millimeters — never paywalled • Two drawing-table themes: Workshop (birch and pencil) and Blueprint (cyanotype) FREE — THE FULL TOOL, ANY PROJECT SIZE Plan the whole build free: unlimited pieces, the optimizer, the full cut diagram, ordered cut steps, and sheet-image sharing. No account, no trial clock. Boardcut Pro Lifetime • Vector PDF plans — diagrams, cut steps, and a shopping list, sharp in print • Save this sheet’s offcut sizes as stock in this project. • CSV export of parts and placements Unlock Boardcut Pro with a one-time purchase. The price is shown in the app before purchase. PRIVATE BY DESIGN Your projects stay on your device. Boardcut has no account, no ads, and no third-party tracking. It sends limited anonymous product-interaction events for analytics; project names, notes, dimensions, and layouts are not sent. Boardcut is a planning calculator. Always verify every dimension against your actual material before cutting — sheet sizes, blade kerf, and lumber dimensions vary. Boardcut does not provide instruction on tool use or workshop safety; follow your tool manufacturer's instructions and use proper safety equipment. Terms of Use (EULA): https://softgrove.github.io/boardcut-legal/terms.html Privacy Policy: https://softgrove.github.io/boardcut-legal/privacy.html Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Stringer at none against Boardcut's 2. On price, update cadence, ads 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. Boardcut sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. Stringer asks for nothing beyond the download.
Stringer ships an update weekly, Boardcut every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Stringer | Boardcut |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (3 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 3 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Weekly | Every 4 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | 17.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 1 MB | 6 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | 家宝 戴 | Ryosuke Igarashi |
In-app purchases
Stringer
No in-app purchases
Boardcut
- Boardcut Pro Weekly3 Days trial$1.997 Days
- Boardcut Pro$12.99








