Report updated Apr 17, 2026
Steam Tables
For hVAC technicians, engineers, and installers who require precise, on-the-go thermodynamic calculations and equipment management tools.
Steam Tables is a well-regarded business app that is free with in-app purchases. With a 4.2/5 rating from 1.1K reviews, it maintains solid user satisfaction. Users particularly appreciate utility for engineering students, though aggressive paywall/premium model remains a common concern.
What is Steam Tables?
Current Momentum
v6.1 · 3mo ago
SteadySteam Tables recently added report sharing via text and email on iOS, following a major Android redesign with saved conditions.
Active Nemesis
Steam Tables
By Carmel Software
Other Rivals
7-Day Rank Pulse 🇺🇸
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Recent User MoodAI-powered deep analysis surfacing high-signal insights. Still in beta, accuracy improves daily. For informational purposes only.
What makes this app unique?
What Does It Look Like?
How Is The App's Momentum Right Now?
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What Are The Key Features?
Calculates saturated and superheated steam properties using actual steam-table formulas rather than static lookups.
Adjust input parameters via sliders for real-time calculation updates.
Bonus utility included within the app for tracking equipment and service records.
How much does it cost?
- iOS version: Paid one-time fee of $5.99
- Android version: Free with ad-supported or feature-limited model
The developer uses a split strategy: a premium $5.99 entry on iOS for professionals and a freemium model on Android to capture the student and high-volume market, though the latter suffers from paywall-related sentiment issues.
Who Built It?
Carmel Software
Providing specialized engineering calculation tools for HVAC professionals. Streamlining complex thermodynamic and system sizing tasks for field technicians.
Portfolio
13
Apps
Who is Carmel Software?
Carmel Software Corporation maintains a long-standing niche in the HVAC engineering software market, operating as a specialized utility provider rather than a broad-market developer. Their strategic moat is built on deep domain expertise and the integration of proprietary calculation engines that serve as digital replacements for legacy industry tools like the Trane Ductulator. The portfolio reflects a transition toward cloud-connected mobile utilities, though they face ongoing pressure from free, industrial-grade alternatives that threaten their paid-tier revenue model.
Who is Carmel Software for?
- HVAC engineers
- Field technicians
- Installers requiring precise
- On-the-go thermodynamic
Portfolio momentum
With 30 releases in the last 6 months and a majority of the portfolio receiving updates within the last year, the publisher maintains an active development cycle for their specialized toolset.
What other apps does Carmel Software make?
What do users think recently?
High confidence · Latest 100 of 1.1K total reviews analyzed
How did the latest release land?
What is the recent mood?
Recent user voice shows a excited sentiment. Users appreciate utility for engineering students and ease of use and speed, but report aggressive paywall/premium model and data accuracy and formatting.
What Users Love
What Frustrates Users
What is the competitive landscape for Steam Tables?
How's The Business Market?
How does it evolve in the Business market?
| Country | Category | Chart | Rank | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇫🇮 Finland | Business | iOSPaid | #77 | |
| 🇧🇷 Brazil | Business | iOSPaid | #99 |
The rivals identified
The Nemesis
Head to Head
While TLV has the edge in brand authority and price (free), Steam Tables by Carmel Software offers superior interactive utility with its slider-based inputs and broader HVAC-specific toolset for paying professionals.
What sets Steam Tables apart
Interactive slider controls allow for rapid 'what-if' analysis without manual typing
Includes the HVAC Equipment Locator utility as a built-in bonus feature
What's Steam Tables's Edge
Zero-cost entry point compared to the $5.99 premium price of the target app
Direct brand association with industrial steam trap and valve manufacturing
Contenders
Steam Tables
Eduardo M. Almeida
A direct competitor from another top-tier steam engineering firm, providing essential thermodynamic data to the same professional audience.
Includes a 'Steam Pipe Sizing' tool within the same interface
Features a more technical output display focused on industrial boiler applications
Steam Tables by CA
Irving Josue Cortes Iturriaga
A highly-rated, utility-focused implementation of the standard steam formulas favored by engineering students and researchers.
Focuses on high-precision scientific output for academic use
Supports a very lightweight footprint on the device compared to feature-heavy HVAC suites
Peers
WolframAlpha
Wolfram Group LLC
While a general computational engine, it is the go-to tool for engineers to verify complex thermodynamic properties and steam data.
Natural language processing allows users to type 'saturated steam at 100 psi' directly
Provides graphical representations and step-by-step mathematical derivations
New Kids on the Block
Steam Tables Pro
Eduardo Almeida
A newer entrant focusing on a modern, dark-mode UI and streamlined mobile experience for the IAPWS-IF97 standard.
Highly optimized for the latest iOS versions with a focus on gesture-based navigation
Offers a more aggressive update cycle for UI/UX improvements
The outtake for Steam Tables
Strengths to defend, gaps to attack
Core Strengths
- Formula-based calculation engine (not static lookups)
- Interactive slider UI for rapid 'what-if' analysis
- 15-year developer track record and HVAC suite integration
Critical Frictions
- Scientific notation formatting issues affecting readability
- Perceived deceptive paywall on Android platform
- Reported inaccuracies in specific physical properties (viscosity)
Growth Levers
- Modernize UI with dark mode and gesture navigation
- Add steam pipe sizing to match industrial competitors
- Improve data export/reporting features
Market Threats
- Free high-authority apps from industrial leaders like TLV
- Downward trend in paid rankings (#87, ↓16)
- Newer entrants with modern, streamlined UI/UX
What are the next best moves?
Fix scientific notation and exponent readability
Directly cited as making the app 'useless' in user complaints; critical for professional trust.
Audit kinematic viscosity and Prandtl number calculations
User reported a 10^6 magnitude error, which is a critical failure for a 'professional-grade' engineering tool.
Redesign Android monetization onboarding
Frequent 'deceptive' labels in reviews indicate the current freemium transition is damaging the brand and driving 1-star ratings.
Feature Gaps vs Competitors
- Steam Pipe Sizing tool (available in Spirax-Sarco)
- Condensate and flash steam recovery calculations (available in TLV)
- Dark mode and gesture-based navigation (available in Steam Tables Pro)
Key Takeaways
Steam Tables is a robust legacy tool with a superior calculation engine, but it is resting on its laurels. To defend its #87 ranking against free industrial rivals like TLV, the PM must immediately resolve technical accuracy reports and modernize the output formatting to meet professional standards.
Where Is It Heading?
Stable
Android version refactored to Kotlin (v6.2.1) — indicates active technical debt management and platform investment.
Rankings dropped 16 positions to #87 Paid — suggests loss of momentum against newer or free competitors.
Recent iOS updates focused on OS compatibility and basic sharing — maintenance mode rather than feature expansion.