Comparison

PipeGrade vs Flowbox

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

Head to head
About

PipeGrade

Features
Read full description

Turn your iPhone into a practical pipe-slope gauge for plumbing, drainage, sewer, and DWV work. PipeGrade helps plumbers, contractors, installers, and DIY users plan runs, measure grade, and keep organized field records. Measure live slope with the motion sensors, calibrate flat and side-edge placements separately, check direction and stability, lock readings, and save them to a pipe run. Calculate slope, fall, horizontal run, or end elevation, then generate station and invert-elevation schedules. Organize projects with notes and field photos, and export field-ready PDF or CSV reports. Supports metric and imperial units, including percent, degrees, in/ft, mm/m, and 1:X. Project data stays on your device unless you choose to export or share it. No account, ads, or subscription. An optional one-time Lifetime Pro purchase unlocks the complete workflow. PipeGrade is a field calculation and documentation aid, not an approval, certification, or substitute for local codes. Verify final work using calibrated equipment and the methods required by your authority and project documents. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://pipe-grade-privacy-policy.164354133.workers.dev/

About

Flowbox

Features
Read full description

Flowbox is a professional toolkit for plumbers — job-site calculators covering drainage, venting, water supply, gas piping, and pipe fitting, all on-device with no account required. PIPE FUNDAMENTALS • Pipe Slope — solve rise, run, or grade against IPC minimums • Pipe Offset — travel and run for 45°, 22.5°, 60°, and other fittings • Flow Rate & Pressure Drop — Hazen-Williams friction loss for water pipe runs • Pipe Volume — water capacity of a pipe segment from ID and length DRAINAGE & VENTING • Drain Sizing — minimum drain pipe size from fixture unit load (DFU) • Vent Sizing — vent pipe diameter from DFU load and developed length • Sump/Ejector Pump Sizing — total dynamic head and horsepower from inflow and lift • Grease Trap Sizing — interceptor capacity from kitchen fixture flow rate SUPPLY & GAS • Water Supply Sizing — distribution pipe size from fixture unit demand (WSFU) • Gas Pipe Sizing — pipe size from BTU load and length, longest-length method • Water Heater Sizing — first hour rating or tankless GPM from peak demand • Water Hammer Arrestor — PDI-WH201 size from branch fixture units • Thermal Expansion — pipe growth and expansion loop size by material WHY FLOWBOX Pro unlock is a one-time purchase — no subscription, ever. No ads. No server required to use any calculator. Free tools (Pipe Slope, Drain Sizing, Pipe Volume) cover everyday use; Pro unlocks the full set. An optional Pro feature lets you sync your saved calculations and projects across your own devices via your own iCloud or Google Drive — off by default, and your data never touches our servers because we don't have any. Flowbox is a reference tool for estimating — always verify pipe slope, drain and vent sizing, water supply sizing, and gas pipe sizing against your local plumbing code (IPC or UPC as adopted locally) and a licensed professional before cutting, sizing, or installing. Gas piping in particular carries real safety consequences if undersized or misrouted.

Screenshots

PipeGrade4 screens
Flowbox4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Flowbox at 13.0 against PipeGrade's 17.0. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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. PipeGrade sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Flowbox sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Scorecard1 real difference Ā· 4 level
PipeGrade versus Flowbox: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPipeGradeFlowbox
PriceFreeFree
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size2 MB25 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLinfeng HeGABRIELE CHESI

In-app purchases

1 purchases

PipeGrade

One-time1
  • PipeGrade Pro Lifetime$12.99
1 purchases

Flowbox

One-time1
  • Flowbox Pro Unlock$8.99

Questions

Is PipeGrade free?
PipeGrade is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Flowbox free?
Flowbox is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do PipeGrade or Flowbox have ads?
Neither PipeGrade nor Flowbox shows ads.

Other comparisons