# ContractorTools vs GOLDEN STATE

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: GOLDEN STATE at none against ContractorTools's 7. GOLDEN STATE also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.7) and review sentiment (100% vs 82%). ContractorTools's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (1.8K vs 7). On price, update cadence, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. ContractorTools sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $12.99 per month. GOLDEN STATE asks for nothing beyond the download.

GOLDEN STATE holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ContractorTools has 1.8K ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 82% of ContractorTools's written reviews are positive against 100% of GOLDEN STATE's.

ContractorTools ships an update every 5 weeks, GOLDEN STATE every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ContractorTools | GOLDEN STATE |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (1.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/contractortools/id707055968/reviews) | **[5.0 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/golden-state/id1506526715/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.8K** | 7 |
| Positive reviews | 81.5% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 weeks** | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Best chart rank | **#169** | — |
| Size | 85 MB | 65 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.5 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Contractor Tools](https://appshunter.io/developer/707055953) | [Golden State Lumber, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1506526714) |

## What reviewers say

### ContractorTools

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/contractortools/id707055968)

**Currently charting:** #169 Top Grossing · Business (US App Store)

Streamline your contracting business with tools for creating estimates, invoices, and managing payments. Sync data seamlessly with QuickBooks Online and collaborate with your team across multiple devices. Focus on your work while this app handles the paperwork.

**Highlights:** Estimating, Invoicing, Payment tracking, QuickBooks Online sync, Multi-device sync, Offline functionality, Job templates

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Craftsman Costbooks | $12.99 | per month |
| Basic Plan | $24.99 | per month |
| Essentials Plan | $34.99 | per month |
| Pro Plan | $64.99 | per month |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great solution for estimating
- 👍 Easy to learn and operate
- 🚀 Convenient and professional
- 👍 Seamless access across devices
- 👍 Integrates with QuickBooks

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive for small contractors
- 🐛 Glitches and bugs
- 🔒 Limited payment processor options
- 📄 Limited customization for invoice templates
- 🔒 Frequent layout/hierarchy changes

**Reported bugs**

- Deleting items from estimates causes issues with invoices
- Syncing problems leading to incorrect data
- App crashing and becoming unusable

**Requested features**

- Option to show labor and materials costs separately
- Ability to copy/paste entire sections in estimates
- Quarterly updates for cost books
- Stage manager support
- Basic company financial reports


### GOLDEN STATE

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/golden-state/id1506526715)

This business app provides instant access to company updates, contact information, and product details. Users can get quotes, log into their accounts, and find installation guides and local resources. Stay informed and connected with essential business information.

**Highlights:** Receive business updates and instructions, Direct contact with local outlets, Request quotes and delivery options, Account login and access, Information on local events, Access installation guides, Connect with local resources

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ContractorTools free?

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

### Is GOLDEN STATE free?

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

### Which has better reviews, ContractorTools or GOLDEN STATE?

GOLDEN STATE is rated higher. ContractorTools averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.8K ratings, while GOLDEN STATE averages 5.0 from 7 ratings.

### Do ContractorTools or GOLDEN STATE have ads?

GOLDEN STATE shows ads; ContractorTools does not.

### Which is updated more often, ContractorTools or GOLDEN STATE?

ContractorTools ships an update every 5 weeks, and GOLDEN STATE every 6 weeks. Most recently, ContractorTools was updated on October 16, 2026 and GOLDEN STATE on October 6, 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.*