Comparison

Deflection Lite vs Beam HPC

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

Head to head
About

Deflection Lite

This app provides interactive and precise structural beam analysis. Easily visualize beam bending by dragging loads and supports, and calculate key engineering results like reactions, shear force, and bending moment.

Highlights
  • Interactive beam bending visualization
  • Calculate reactions, shear force, and bending moment
  • Built-in cross-section databases
  • Unlimited loads and supports
  • Export design to shareable permalink
  • Metric and standard units
Features
Read full description

Deflection Lite is the most interactive, fast, and precise app available for structural beam analysis. Simply drag loads and supports on the beam, and see how it bends. RESULTS Calculate reactions, shear force, bending moment, and beam deflection quickly and easily. CROSS SECTION DATABASES Specify elastic modulus and moment of inertia values directly, or find common shapes and materials using the built-in databases, which include most international steel sections, as well as some aluminum and wood shapes. UNLIMITED LOADS AND SUPPORTS Simply drag any load or support on the beam. • Concentrated point loads • Distributed loads • Moment loads • Simple supports • Fixed supports • Fixed hinges • Floating Gerber hinges OTHER FEATURES • Export your design to a permalink that you can share. • Automatic detection of local maxima and minima in diagrams • Metric and standard measurement units CONTACT We like to hear from you! Please email contact@ketchep.com if you have any issues, questions, or comments.

About

Beam HPC

This app calculates structural diagrams for beams, including moment, shear, and deflection. It supports various loads, supports, and material properties, allowing for interactive adjustments and comparisons. Designed for educational purposes, it helps users visualize and understand beam behavior.

Highlights
  • Moment, shear, and deflection diagrams
  • Multiple load types (forces, moments, distributed)
  • Adjustable support conditions (pinned, fixed, roller)
  • Segmented beams with varying properties
  • Interactive drag-and-drop interface
  • Educational focus on beam behavior
Features
Read full description

Beam HPC app calculates the moment, shear, deflection and rotation diagrams for a beam with various types of loading. Loading types include forces, moments and distributed loads. The load location and magnitude can be changed at any time. There are three types of supports (i.e. boundary conditions) including pinned, fixed and vertical roller. Each beam can be split into sub-beam segments. Each beam segment can have a different moment of inertia (I) and stiffness (E). The user can click and drag all items to quickly change and compare results. This program is designed for educational uses only. It should not be used for commercial purposes. There is no warranty or guarantee the results are accurate, and the user accepts all responsibility for values calculated.

Screenshots

Deflection Lite4 screens
Beam HPC3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Beam HPC at 100% against Deflection Lite's 44%. Beam HPC also leads on monetization model (free vs paid) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 15.0). Deflection Lite's advantage is rating (4.5 vs 4.0) and update cadence (every 3 months vs every 18 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Deflection Lite holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Deflection Lite has 46 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 44% of Deflection Lite's written reviews are positive against 100% of Beam HPC's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Deflection Lite ships an update every 3 months, Beam HPC every 18 months. The most recent releases landed on September 17, 2026 and September 2, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Deflection Lite versus Beam HPC: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDeflection LiteBeam HPC
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (46 ratings) — better4.0 (4 ratings)
Positive reviews44.4% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings46 — better4
Update frequencyEvery 3 months — betterEvery 18 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.09.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size108 MB18 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBlue KetchepKurt Gramoll

Customer experience

Deflection Lite

All ratings46 ratings
Positive82.6%
Neutral10.9%
Negative6.5%
Written reviews9 reviews
Positive44.4%
Neutral0.0%
Negative55.6%

Beam HPC

All ratings4 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral25.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Deflection Lite

No in-app purchases

None

Beam HPC

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Deflection Lite free?
Deflection Lite is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Beam HPC free?
Beam HPC is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Deflection Lite or Beam HPC?
Deflection Lite is rated higher. Deflection Lite averages 4.5 out of 5 from 46 ratings, while Beam HPC averages 4.0 from 4 ratings.
Do Deflection Lite or Beam HPC have ads?
Neither Deflection Lite nor Beam HPC shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Deflection Lite or Beam HPC?
Deflection Lite ships an update every 3 months, and Beam HPC every 18 months. Most recently, Deflection Lite was updated on September 17, 2026 and Beam HPC on September 2, 2026.

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