Comparison

BenchKit vs PLC Ninja

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

Head to head
About

BenchKit

Features
Read full description

BenchKit puts four everyday electronics calculations in one focused, offline iPhone app. RESISTOR CODES Decode 3, 4, 5, and 6-band axial resistors by tapping the bands on a drawn resistor, or SMD codes (3-digit, 4-digit, EIA-96, R notation). See the tolerance range, IEC marking code, and standard E-series match, with a warning when a reading is probably reversed. PCB TRACE WIDTH Estimate minimum internal or external copper trace width from current, copper weight, and allowed temperature rise, in millimeters and mils, or the current a given width can carry. Results outside the IPC-2221 chart range are flagged as extrapolations. VOLTAGE DROP Voltage drop, voltage at the load, power lost in the wiring, and the share of supply that reaches the load. Enter the round-trip resistance, or wire gauge (AWG or mm²), length, and conductor temperature. VOLTAGE DIVIDER Ideal unloaded output voltage, divider current, per-resistor dissipation, output resistance, and what an optional load does to the output. Or enter a target voltage and get the closest E24/E96 resistor pairs with their worst-case output. Type values the way engineers write them: 4k7, 2R2, 100m, 3V3; the keyboard has keys for the letters. No account. No ads. No analytics. No network connection. English, Simplified Chinese, and Japanese. BenchKit is a quick estimation tool. Always verify production designs against component datasheets, applicable standards, simulation, and physical validation.

About

PLC Ninja

Access live PLC data directly from your mobile device. Connect via Ethernet, Wi-Fi, or serial adapter to monitor inputs, outputs, timers, counters, and analog values in real-time while in the field.

Highlights
  • Real-time PLC data monitoring
  • Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and serial connection support
  • View inputs and outputs
  • Monitor timers and counters
  • Access analog values
Features
Read full description

PLC Ninja puts live PLC data on your phone. Connect over Ethernet, Wi-Fi, or a serial adapter, and see every input, output, timer, counter and analog value updating in real time — standing at the panel, not walking back to the office. PLC Ninja is an independent product and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Rockwell Automation, Siemens AG, AutomationDirect, or Mitsubishi Electric. Allen-Bradley, ControlLogix, CompactLogix, GuardLogix, MicroLogix, SLC 500, RSLogix and Studio 5000 are trademarks of Rockwell Automation. SIMATIC, S7 and LOGO! are trademarks of Siemens AG. DirectLOGIC is a trademark of AutomationDirect. MELSEC and FX are trademarks of Mitsubishi Electric. All product names are used only to identify the equipment this app can connect to. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://plcninja-support.github.io/support/privacy.html

Screenshots

BenchKit4 screens
PLC Ninja4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: BenchKit at none against PLC Ninja's 6. PLC Ninja's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. PLC Ninja sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. BenchKit asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

BenchKit ships an update every 2 months, PLC Ninja every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
BenchKit versus PLC Ninja: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBenchKitPLC Ninja
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—3 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
Monetization—Free with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS18.017.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size3 MB10 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer明 齐SHAOHUA YI

In-app purchases

None

BenchKit

No in-app purchases

6 purchases

PLC Ninja

Subscriptions6
  • Standard$3.991 Month
  • Professional$8.991 Month
  • Ultimate$14.991 Month
Show 3 more
  • Standard$39.991 Year
  • Professional$89.991 Year
  • Ultimate$149.991 Year

Questions

Is BenchKit free?
BenchKit is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is PLC Ninja free?
PLC Ninja is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do BenchKit or PLC Ninja have ads?
Neither BenchKit nor PLC Ninja shows ads.
Which is updated more often, BenchKit or PLC Ninja?
BenchKit ships an update every 2 months, and PLC Ninja every 3 weeks. Most recently, BenchKit was updated on November 6, 2026 and PLC Ninja on October 31, 2026.

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