# Beam vs HandyBeam

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Beam at none against HandyBeam's 1. Beam also leads on iOS requirement (10.0 vs 15.6). HandyBeam's advantage is update cadence (every 20 months vs every 41 months). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. HandyBeam sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Beam asks for nothing beyond the download.

Beam ships an update every 41 months, HandyBeam every 20 months. The most recent releases landed on October 3, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Beam | HandyBeam |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/handybeam/id1153334150/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **1** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | — |
| Update frequency | Every 41 months | **Every 20 months** |
| Monetization | — | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 6 MB | 3 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Tsutomu Murata](https://appshunter.io/developer/674892164) | [Ahmed AlYami](https://appshunter.io/developer/1153334149) |

## What reviewers say

### Beam

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/beam-i/id680017839)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### HandyBeam

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/handybeam/id1153334150)

This app helps students and professionals solve statics problems related to beams. It offers interactive diagrams for deflection, shear, and moment, allowing for real-time adjustments and inspection of critical values. A variety of load and support tools are available for structural analysis on the go.

**Highlights:** Interactive deflection, shear, and moment diagrams, Real-time feedback with touch gestures, Monitor maximum values and specific locations, Wide range of load and support tools, Pinned, fixed, and spring supports, Point, concentrated, and distributed loads

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| HandyBeam Pro+ | $2.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Beam free?

Beam is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is HandyBeam free?

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

### Which is updated more often, Beam or HandyBeam?

Beam ships an update every 41 months, and HandyBeam every 20 months. Most recently, Beam was updated on October 3, 2026 and HandyBeam on October 2, 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.*