AWC Connection Calc vs iHP48
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
AWC Connection Calc
Calculate capacities for various fasteners in wood connections. Supports single and double shear, withdrawal capacities, and different material combinations like wood-to-wood, wood-to-concrete, and wood-to-steel.
- Calculate single bolt, nail, lag screw, wood screw capacities
- Determine lateral (single/double shear) capacities
- Calculate withdrawal capacities
- Support wood-to-wood connections
- Support wood-to-concrete connections
- Support wood-to-steel connections
Read full descriptionHide full description
Provides users with a mobile approach to calculating capacities for single bolts, nails, lag screws and wood screws per the 2024 NDS. Both lateral (single and double shear) and withdrawal capacities can be determined. Wood-to-wood, wood-to-concrete, and wood-to-steel connections are possible. LIMITS OF USE SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS Connection capacities are calculated on the basis of design provisions in the 2024 National Design Specification® for Wood Construction (NDS®). The calculated capacities are based on the following assumptions and conditions: · Bolts and lag screws must meet the requirements of ANSI/ASME B18.2.1, wood screws must meet the requirements of ANSI/ASME B18.6.1, and nails must meet the requirements of ASTM F1667. · Bolts, lag screws and wood screws must be installed in predrilled lead holes in accordance with the provisions of NDS Chapter 11. · Bolts, lag screws and wood screws must not be forcibly driven into connection members with a hammer or other impact device. · The faces of adjacent connection members are brought into contact when fasteners are installed. · Adequate edge distances, end distances and spacing must be provided for all fasteners to prevent splitting of wood connection members, in accordance with NDS Chapter 11. · Steel side plates with thickness of ¼ in. or greater must meet the requirements of ASTM A36, and steel side plates with thickness less than ¼ in. must meet the requirements of ASTM A653, Grade 33. · Concrete connection members must have compressive strength (fc') of at least 2500 psi. · The on-line Connection Calculator does not specifically address multiple-fastener connections. See NDS Chapters 10-11 and NDS Appendix E for applicable design provisions. · The on-line Connection Calculator does not address fasteners installed at an angle to grain (e.g., toe-nails). See NDS Chapters 10-11 for applicable design provisions. · The on-line Connection Calculator does not address fasteners subjected to combined lateral and withdrawal loading. See NDS Chapters 10-11 for applicable design provisions. · The on-line Connection Calculator does not address connections with gaps or non-structural spacer blocks between members. GENERAL STRUCTURAL GUIDELINES The quality of structural wood products and fasteners and the design of load-supporting members and connections shall conform to provisions of the NDS. The on-line Connection Calculator is based on design equations for lateral loading and withdrawal loading specified in NDS Chapters 10 and 11, along with fastener characteristics specified in NDS Appendix L. The NDS Commentary, NDS Appendices I through N, and NDS Chapters 12-13 provide additional guidelines regarding the design of connections in wood structures. RESPONSIBILITY FOR DESIGN While every effort has been made to insure the accuracy of the information presented, and special effort has been made to assure that the information reflects the state-of-the-art, neither the American Wood Council nor its members assume any responsibility for any particular design prepared from this on-line Connection Calculator. Those using this on-line Connection Calculator assume all liability from its use. This Connection Calculator is not meant to be a replacement for the NDS and does not encompass all of its design options. The American Wood Council On behalf of the industry it represents, AWC is committed to ensuring a resilient, safe and sustainable built environment. To achieve these objectives, AWC contributes to the development of sound public policies, codes and regulations that allow for the appropriate and responsible manufacture and use of wood products. We support the utilization of wood products by developing and disseminating consensus standards, comprehensive technical guidelines and tools for wood design and construction, as well as providing education regarding their application. Contact AWC via email: info@awc.org or connect with one of AWC’s regional building code experts.
iHP48
This app brings the powerful HP48 calculator experience to your mobile device. It offers enhanced performance, seamless file management, and a customizable interface with support for various HP calculator models. Enjoy a familiar and convenient calculator solution without needing extra hardware.
- Supports HP38, HP39, HP48, HP49, HP50 calculators
- Haptic feedback and customizable zoom options
- Seamless file transfer via iTunes and Files app
- Cloud storage integration (iCloud, OneDrive, Dropbox)
- Object saving/loading and copy/paste functionality
- Access to calculator packages, skins, and ROMs
- Internal file manager and extensible settings
Read full descriptionHide full description
Introducing iHP48 - Your Ultimate Calculator Companion iHP48 emerges from the necessity to revive the unparalleled calculator experience cherished by university students and engineers across various disciplines. Reviving the legacy of the original calculator, iHP48 delivers enhanced performance without the burden of carrying an additional device in your bag. Experience the simplicity and convenience of having the powerful HP48 at your fingertips once again. Key Features: Wide Compatibility: iHP48 supports HP38, HP39, HP48, HP49, and HP50 calculators. Easily configure your preferred calculator with the Fetch options. Enhanced User Experience: Enjoy Haptic feedback on keypress and customizable haptic styles via Settings. Zoom options tailored to your iPhone and preferences, including a new lift zoom for XS devices. Seamless File Management: Transfer files effortlessly from your computer using iTunes on both PC's and MacOS. Access iHP48 files directly from your device using the Files app and share them with any compatible iOS app. Copy files to and from your favorite cloud providers supported by the Files app, such as iCloud Drive, OneDrive, and Dropbox. Convenient Object Handling: Save or Load objects to/from your device using Files, ensuring your favorite .lib is readily available on your iHP48 stack. Copy and Paste supported objects seamlessly between iOS and the iHP48 Stack. Comprehensive Library: Access a rich library of Calculator Packages, Skin Collections, ROM's, and useful libraries like Meta Kernel and QPI. Intuitive Interface: Benefit from an internal File Manager for simplified file management and an extensible Settings administration accessible directly from the Settings app or via a shortcut from the iHP48 menu. Customizable Experience: Save your current calculator configuration for easy access. Explore special features embedded in various skins, including screen swipes, sounds, and orientation options. No Hidden Costs: iHP48 is completely free, devoid of any enterprise, professional, plus, or ultimate versions. There are no hidden features or payments required. We greatly appreciate any support you offer as we continue to enhance and refine iHP48. For additional information, visit https://www.thinkchile.com/iHP48. Experience the power of the legendary HP48, reinvented for the modern era with iHP48.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: iHP48 at 88% against AWC Connection Calc's 17%. iHP48 also leads on rating (4.6 vs 2.5) and ratings volume (302 vs 2). AWC Connection Calc's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs monthly). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
iHP48 holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 2.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: iHP48 has 302 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 17% of AWC Connection Calc's written reviews are positive against 88% of iHP48's.
AWC Connection Calc ships an update weekly, iHP48 monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | AWC Connection Calc | iHP48 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 2.5 (2 ratings) | 4.6 (302 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 16.7% of reviews | 88.3% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 2 | 302 — better |
| Update frequency | Weekly — better | Monthly |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 176 MB | 6 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | American Wood Council | Alexis Lorca |
Customer experience
AWC Connection Calc
iHP48
Bugs and requests
AWC Connection Calc
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
iHP48
Reported bugs
3 issues- Crashes on startup
- Inability to save state across sessions
- Incompatibility with certain iOS devices
Requested features
4 requests- Dark mode option
- Ability to disable haptic feedback
- Support for HP50G emulation
- Improved keyboard mapping and arrow key functionality
In-app purchases
AWC Connection Calc
No in-app purchases
iHP48
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is AWC Connection Calc free?
Is iHP48 free?
Which has better reviews, AWC Connection Calc or iHP48?
Do AWC Connection Calc or iHP48 have ads?
Which is updated more often, AWC Connection Calc or iHP48?
Other comparisons















