Ugly's Electrical References is a digital reference and calculator tool for electricians and contractors on iOS and Android.
Product velocity
Maintenance
Daily rank 🇺🇸
#12
▼1Productivity · paid
Sentiment
4.4
2k reviews
Nemesis
Electrical Calculations
The App DNA
What makes this app unique?
Users hire the app to maintain NEC code compliance and perform field calculations without needing physical books or internet connectivity.
For Electricians, electrical contractors, maintenance workers, and students who require portable, code-compliant reference material in the field.
What does it look like?
Key features
Outlines and explains changes to the National Electrical Code, including 2020, 2023, and 2026 editions.
Includes Ohm’s Law, voltage drop, ampacity, and conduit fill calculators for field use.
High-definition video guides for conduit bending techniques.
How much does it cost?
Paid model anchored at $12.99 per unit, utilizing a direct-purchase strategy for individual professionals and bulk B2B licensing.
Velocity
Maintenance developmentnew contentUX improvementsShow more...
The app ships approximately 0.12 releases per week, placing it firmly in the maintenance tier. Development is strictly reactive, centered on annual updates to align with the National Electrical Code and the corresponding reference book editions. There is no evidence of live operations, new feature development, or frequent iteration. The cadence is stable but low-frequency, reflecting a utility-focused product lifecycle.
Who built it?
Informed Publishing
6 apps tracked · Productivity
NIMS ICS Guide
EMS ALS Guide
Navigate eReader 2.0
Navigate eReader
Canadian Navigate eReaderUser Sentiment
What do users think recently?
Fresh user feedback skews mixed. Users appreciate comprehensive electrical reference material provides essential field support for journeyman and apprentice electricians, but report aggressive review solicitation interrupts professional workflow and creates significant user frustration.
How are ratings & reviews evolving?
What users say, by theme
- Comprehensive electrical reference material provides essential field support for journeyman and apprentice electricians
- Aggressive review solicitation interrupts professional workflow and creates significant user frustration
72 of 113 recent reviews analyzed · high confidence · Mixed overall
Read the full review analysisUnlock 1 user request, each backed by review evidence.
Access the full report for freeCompetition
Competitive landscape for Ugly's Electrical References
How's the Productivity market?
The app maintains a #9 Paid rank in the US Tools category, but the 14-rank decline across international markets signals that technical regressions are eroding global discovery.
Read the market outlookThe rivals identified
By Egal Net di Ettore Gallina
With over 48,000 reviews and a high-frequency update cycle, this app dominates the niche for specialized electrical utility tools.
- Provides a massive library of specialized electrical calculators that target specific NEC code requirements directly.
- Maintains a high-frequency update cadence with three releases in the last six months to ensure code compliance.
- Leverages a freemium model that lowers the barrier to entry compared to this app's flat-fee pricing.
Unlock the head-to-head verdict: where this rival wins, and where it loses.
Access the full report for freeThe Analyst's Read
Key takeaways for Ugly's Electrical References
Where is it heading?
The electrical reference market is shifting toward high-frequency update cycles, as seen in the nemesis app's 48,000-review scale. Ugly's must move beyond static book-to-app conversion and address the technical debt in its navigation and search to prevent further market share loss to more agile, utility-first competitors.
- Technical regressions in the latest update (broken video, missing tables) erode professional trust and drive negative sentiment.
- Aggressive review solicitation on every launch creates a friction-heavy user experience that accelerates churn among long-term professionals.
The SWOT
- Official NEC content licensing creates a high-trust barrier against non-specialized reference apps.
- Offline-first architecture ensures utility in remote job sites where connectivity is unreliable.
- Volume purchase program provides a B2B distribution channel into electrical contracting firms.
- Spanish language localization would capture a broader segment of the trade professional market.
- Accessibility features like zoomable diagrams would address specific user requests for readability.
- Direct integration with contractor project management software could deepen enterprise utility.
Next best moves
Deprecate persistent review prompts because they are the #1 driver of negative sentiment → restore rating baseline.
+ 1 more prioritized moveThe counter-intuitive read
The app's high price point is not a…
Read the full takeFeature gaps
Specialized electrical calculators (available in Electrical Calculations but missing here) +1
Since the last report: The app is experiencing a decline in quality due to technical regressions in the latest update, specifically regarding video playback and navigation, which are driving negative user sentiment despite a growing user base.
Bottom line
Ugly's Electrical References holds a strong competitive position through its official NEC content, but the latest update's technical regressions threaten its professional reputation, so the PM must prioritize stability and navigation fixes over new feature expansion.
Unlock 3 critical frictions, 3 market threats, 1 more prioritized move and the analyst’s take.
Access the full report for freeReport last updated