Elec-Mate vs CertsApp

CertsApp includes a selection of electrical calculators, which is one of its differentiators compared to certificate-only apps. Having calculators alongside certificates in a single app is genuinely useful for on-site work. The exact range of calculators available varies and may continue to expand.

Elec-Mate includes over 70 specialist electrical calculators. These cover the full range of BS 7671 calculations: cable sizing to Appendix 4, voltage drop verification (including the tabular method and the mV/A/m method), maximum demand calculations, diversity factors (BS 7671 Table 7.1 and beyond), conduit fill rates, trunking fill rates, earth fault loop impedance checks against maximum Zs values for every protective device type, prospective fault current, disconnection time verification, cable derating for grouping (Table 4C1/4C2/4C3), cable derating for ambient temperature (Table 4B1/4B2), the adiabatic equation for protective conductor sizing, and many more.

The depth of calculator coverage matters for electricians who work on anything beyond basic domestic installations. Commercial projects, industrial installations, and complex domestic work all require calculations that go beyond simple cable sizing. Having the right calculator available on site — rather than having to look up tables in the book and work through the maths manually — saves time and reduces errors.

Both apps recognise that calculators are essential for modern electricians. The difference is primarily in the breadth and depth of coverage. If you only need basic cable sizing and voltage drop, CertsApp's calculators may be sufficient. If you need the full range of BS 7671 calculations, Elec-Mate provides a more comprehensive toolkit.

CertsApp does not currently include AI tools. This is not a criticism — AI features are a relatively new development in the electrician app space, and most apps do not yet offer them.

Elec-Mate includes eight Elec-AI specialist agents and 12 AI-powered tools, each designed for a specific aspect of electrical work. These are not generic chatbots — they are specialist tools trained on electrical industry data:

• Circuit Designer: Analyses your project requirements and suggests BS 7671-compliant circuit arrangements. It considers diversity, cable grouping, ambient temperature, and protective device coordination — automating what would otherwise be a lengthy manual process.
• Cost Engineer: Uses real trade pricing data and labour timing intelligence to produce detailed, accurate job estimates. This is particularly valuable for quoting work you have not done before, as it draws on market data rather than guesswork.
• Installation Guide: Provides step-by-step guidance for specific installation scenarios, referencing relevant BS 7671 regulations, manufacturer guidelines, and industry best practices.
• Maintenance Agent: Helps diagnose electrical faults and plan maintenance schedules based on installation characteristics, age, and usage patterns.
• Health & Safety: Generates site-specific RAMS (Risk Assessments and Method Statements) tailored to your particular job, going beyond generic templates to address the actual hazards and controls relevant to that installation.

AI tools are most valuable for electricians who quote for new work regularly, take on varied or complex projects, or need to produce professional documentation like RAMS for commercial clients. If your work is primarily routine domestic installations where you know the costs and procedures inside out, AI tools may be less immediately useful — though the Cost Engineer can still help ensure you are charging enough for your work.

CertsApp does not include a training platform. It is designed as a working tool for qualified electricians, not as a learning resource. This is a common approach — most electrician apps focus on the tools of the trade rather than education.

Elec-Mate includes a comprehensive training platform with courses covering:

• 18th Edition (BS 7671:2018+A4:2026): Complete course content covering the current Wiring Regulations, structured for both initial learning and revision.
• Level 2 Electrical Installation: Aligned with the City & Guilds Level 2 curriculum for electrical installation work.
• Level 3 Electrical Installation: Advanced course content for the City & Guilds Level 3 qualification.
• AM2 Preparation: Focused preparation for the AM2 practical assessment that electricians must pass to register with a competent person scheme.
• EPA Simulator: End Point Assessment simulation to help apprentices prepare for their final assessment.

For apprentices, having training material in the same app as professional tools means a seamless transition from learning to working. For qualified electricians, the 18th Edition course is valuable for revision when regulation amendments are published or when preparing for competent person scheme assessments. Employers benefit too — providing one app that covers both training and tools for their workforce simplifies administration and reduces costs.

CertsApp is primarily focused on certificates and calculations. For business management tasks like quoting, invoicing, job scheduling, and payment collection, you would typically use separate software alongside CertsApp.

Elec-Mate includes business management features as an integrated part of the platform. You can create professional quotes from within the app, convert accepted quotes into scheduled jobs, track job progress, generate invoices, collect payments via Stripe, and sync your financial data with Xero for accounting purposes.

The practical benefit is a streamlined workflow. When you complete a certificate on site, you can immediately generate an invoice from the same app, email both the certificate and invoice to the client, and collect payment — all before leaving the property. This workflow is particularly valuable for sole traders and small contractors who handle every aspect of their business themselves.

For electricians who already have business software they are happy with (such as a standalone invoicing app or accounting package), this feature may be less important. But for those who are currently using spreadsheets, paper invoices, or no system at all, having business management built into their primary work tool can be transformative.

CertsApp uses a credit-based pricing model. You purchase credits, and each certificate you generate costs a certain number of credits. This pay-as-you-go approach means you only pay for the certificates you actually produce, which can be cost-effective for electricians who generate only a few certificates per month.

However, for busier electricians producing 10, 15, or 20+ certificates per month, credit-based pricing adds up quickly. It also creates a subtle disincentive to produce certificates — you might hesitate to certify a small job because of the per-certificate cost, which is not ideal from a compliance perspective.

Elec-Mate uses a flat monthly subscription starting from £6.99 per month. All features are included: all 16 certificate types (unlimited), all 70+ calculators, all 8 Elec-AI tools, all training courses, and all business management features. There are no per-certificate charges, no credit limits, and no feature restrictions. Every plan comes with a 7-day free trial that includes full access to everything.

The break-even point is typically around 3 to 5 certificates per month, depending on CertsApp's credit pricing. Beyond that, Elec-Mate's flat subscription is cheaper per certificate — and you also get access to AI tools, training, and business management that CertsApp does not offer at any price. For electricians producing certificates regularly, the unlimited model provides predictable costs and better value.

Both CertsApp and Elec-Mate are designed for mobile use on iOS and Android devices. Elec-Mate additionally works on desktop computers via a Progressive Web App (PWA), which provides a larger-screen experience for tasks like reviewing certificates, managing quotes, or working through training material.

Offline support is essential for electricians working in locations without mobile signal — basements, plant rooms, underground car parks, industrial units, and rural properties are all common scenarios. Elec-Mate provides full offline support: data saves locally every 10 seconds and syncs to the cloud every 30 seconds when connectivity returns. You can complete certificates, run calculations, and access reference material without any internet connection.

CertsApp's offline capabilities may vary by feature. If you regularly work in areas with poor connectivity, check the latest information from CertsApp about their offline support before relying on it in the field.