Comparison

Vibration analysis vs SKF Vertical shaft alignment

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

Head to head
About

Vibration analysis

This app analyzes phone accelerometer data to create a vibration spectrum. It helps evaluate vibration strength, frequency, and the rotation speed of various mechanisms like fans and motors. Useful for quality checks, malfunction detection, and balancing homemade rotating parts.

Highlights
  • Vibration spectrum analysis
  • Rotation speed evaluation
  • Mechanism quality assessment
  • Malfunction monitoring
  • Customizable FFT size
  • Multiple units of measurement
  • Peak frequency detection
Read full description

The application analyzes the data from the phone's accelerometer and builds a vibration spectrum. This allows the evaluation of not only the strength and frequency of the vibration, but also the speed of rotation of various mechanisms: fans, motors, various rotating components; since the vibration frequency often (but not always) coincides with the frequency of rotation. The application will be useful in determining the quality of fans and motors, in determining whether their actual parameters coincide with the ones declared by the manufacturer, it will find its uses in monitoring of malfunctions (e.g. in bearings) or while testing the quality of assembly and balancing of the homemade mechanisms with rotating parts. Do not expose your iPhone to an excessive vibration, as it may break. If the analyzed vibration is too strong, use a foam material pad, or put your iPhone at a distance where the force of the vibration is not dangerous to your device. In addition to decreasing vibration for the iPhone, a foam pad improves contact between the iPhone and the vibrating part, which makes the transmission of vibration more accurate and produces better results. BE SURE TO READ THE EXAMPLES OF THE VIBRATION SPECTRUM ANALYSIS AT THE APPLICATION WEB SITE (usefulmobileapps.com). Features of the full version of the application: • The choice of units of measurement. X-axis: Hz or RPM. Y-axis: g, m/s², ft/s², mm/s, in/s (ips), mm, mil, dB(A), dB(V). • FFT size (for built-in accelerometer): 64, 128, 256, 512, 1024, 2048, 4096 (data collection time from 0.64 sec. to 40 sec.). For an accelerometer connected to the headphone jack FFT size from 2048 to 131072. For Bluetooth-accelerometer FFT size from 512 to 32768. • Linear and logarithmic frequency scale. • Linear frequency scale with maximum details (there is a choice for the displayed frequency range). • Peak frequency detection. • Values of any point (for frequency scale and sound wave (at maximum detail)). • Selecting which axis of the accelerometer is to collect data. • Octave bands (1/1,1/3,1/6,1/12). • Window functions (Blackman, Hamming, Hann (Hanning), Blackman–Nuttall, Gaussian, Flat top). • Peak hold. • Exponential spectrum averaging. • Taking a screenshot by lightly touching the screen. • Root mean square (RMS, for vibration) or average value (AVG, for absolute values) for vibration wave. Values are calculated only for data displayed on the screen. • Calibration of the built-in accelerometer. Need EXCLUSIVELY for measuring absolute acceleration values (gravitational acceleration). To activate the settings, turn on the "Vibration wave" mode and turn off the "Only fluctuations" mode. The parameters of the accelerometer depend on the temperature and voltage of the battery, and may change over time. To obtain stable values, the accelerometer should work for several minutes. • Saving the measurement results in the application. Files with saved data (SavedData_[date]_[time].txt) can be copied to a desktop/laptop computer or transferred to another iPhone using iTunes. • Export data to a text ("Y=[y1 y2... yn]", "y1;y2;... yn", "x1;y1\nx2;y2;...") or WAV file. Number of points is adjusted via "FFT size". To export octaves, use "x1;y1\nx2;y2;...". • Accelerometer connects to the headphone jack (measurement range from 5 Hz to 24000 Hz). • A stroboscope for an external accelerometer (the feature was proposed by Todd French from Los Angeles, California). • Bluetooth accelerometer. When converting acceleration into speed or displacement, at 0-5 Hz frequencies noise starts prevailing over vibration peaks, which is why such frequencies are disregarded when doing the conversion. Should vibration frequency exceed 50 Hz, the peak will be recorded at an incorrect frequency, and hence speed or displacement will not be calculated correctly. Unrealistically high speed or large displacement may be a sign of this kind of false frequency.

About

SKF Vertical shaft alignment

This utility app, when paired with specific hardware, enables intuitive and accurate vertical shaft alignments for rotating machines. It guides users through measurements, provides corrective values, and generates detailed reports. A demonstration mode is available for users without the hardware.

Highlights
  • Intuitive vertical shaft alignment
  • Quick three-point measurement guidance
  • Support for various bolt configurations
  • Demonstration mode for trial
  • Automatic alignment report generation
  • Explanatory videos and 3D animations
  • Machine library with QR code scanner
Features
Read full description

The Vertical shaft alignment app is designed to be used with the SKF Shaft Alignment Tool TKSA 51 or TKSA 71. Together, the TKSA alignment tool and the app form an alignment system that allows vertical shaft alignments of many rotating machines to be made in an intuitive and easy way. The system uses line laser to PSD technology that enables highly accurate and reliable shaft alignments. The TKSA 51 or TKSA 71 and the apps communicate wirelessly via Bluetooth®. Without the hardware the app can nonetheless be used, as it features a fully functional demonstration allowing the complete alignment process to be experienced before purchasing a TKSA 71 or TKSA 51. KEY FEATURES: • Very easy-to-use – The Vertical shaft alignment app is designed to make vertical shaft alignments as easy and intuitive as possible, supporting fast and accurate alignment results.  • Quick Three Point Alignment Measurements - Follow the guidance of the app and perform a full 9-12-3 measurement on the vertical shaft. • Support for various bolt configurations – The app supports vertical shaft machines with 4, 6 or 8 bolts on a circular flange mounting and calculates corrective shim values for each bolt position to facilitate the alignment correction. • Demonstration mode – The Vertical shaft alignment app offers a fully functional demonstration mode allowing the complete alignment process to be experienced before purchasing a supported SKF Shaft Alignment Tool. • Automatic alignment report – Automatically generated alignment reports give a complete overview of the alignment process and results. The reports can be customized with additional notes, a machine picture and a signature. The report can easily be shared via email or cloud services. • Easy to follow explanatory videos – Short explanatory videos are available in the help section of the app and show in easy steps how to set up and perform accurate alignment measurements. • 3D Animations – 3D animations guide the user through the alignment process, allowing accurate shaft alignments to be performed in a very easy and intuitive way. • Machine library and QR code scanner – Helps keeping track of the machines that have been measured. Machine information like distances, the machine picture, and other details are saved for each machine and can be reused the next time the same machine is measured. QR codes can be scanned to identify a machine and quickly retrieve its details. The library can also be used for easy access to all the reports generated for each machine in one place. HARDWARE – SKF Shaft Alignment Tool TKSA 51 and TKSA 71:
 The SKF TKSA 51 and TKSA 71 systems use a pair of measurement units that are combined with laser transmitter and detectors to measure and correct shaft alignment with high accuracy and reliability. The data is transferred in real time through Bluetooth® 4.0 LE to the app. IMPORTANT NOTE: This app is designed to be used with the SKF Shaft Alignment Tool TKSA 51 or TKSA 71 hardware. The SKF TKSA 51 and 71 can be purchased separately from your local SKF Authorized Distributor. For more information and technical specifications about the SKF Shaft Alignment Tool, please visit our website.

Screenshots

Vibration analysis4 screens
SKF Vertical shaft alignment4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Vibration analysis at 57% against SKF Vertical shaft alignment's 0%. SKF Vertical shaft alignment's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2). On price, update cadence, ads and device support 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. Vibration analysis sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. SKF Vertical shaft alignment asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Vibration analysis versus SKF Vertical shaft alignment: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterVibration analysisSKF Vertical shaft alignment
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (43 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews57.4% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings43 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.6 — better16.6
Further details — not scored
Size5 MB68 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDmitriy KharutskiySKF

Customer experience

Vibration analysis

All ratings43 ratings
Positive69.8%
Neutral9.3%
Negative20.9%
Written reviews54 reviews
Positive57.4%
Neutral13.0%
Negative29.6%

SKF Vertical shaft alignment

Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Vibration analysis

One-time2
  • Settings$2.99
  • External accelerometer$2.99
None

SKF Vertical shaft alignment

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Vibration analysis free?
Vibration analysis is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is SKF Vertical shaft alignment free?
SKF Vertical shaft alignment is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Vibration analysis or SKF Vertical shaft alignment have ads?
Neither Vibration analysis nor SKF Vertical shaft alignment shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Vibration analysis or SKF Vertical shaft alignment?
Vibration analysis ships an update every 3 months, and SKF Vertical shaft alignment every 3 months. Most recently, Vibration analysis was updated on October 22, 2026 and SKF Vertical shaft alignment on October 13, 2026.

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