Comparison

HP41CV vs Plus42

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

Head to head
About

HP41CV

Experience the functionality of a classic 90s pocket calculator on your iPhone. This app offers UPN calculation with a basic course for new users. Many core functions are available for free, with advanced features offered as optional upgrades.

Highlights
  • HP-41 CV calculator emulation
  • UPN (Reverse Polish Notation) calculation
  • Basic UPN course with examples
  • Core functions available for free
  • Optional advanced features
Features
Read full description

The HP-41 CV for your iPhone! The HP-41 CV was the best and handiest Pocket Calculator in the 90íst. (Part of the Apollo missions!) A UPN calculation with the same genial handling is now available for your iPhone. For all users, not familiar with the UPN Concept, a Basic course with examples is included. The most functions of the HP 41 CV are available free. In addition statistic functions, programmability, persistent Key assignment and new functions like printing will be available as option.

About

Plus42

This advanced scientific calculator simulates the classic HP-42S RPN calculator with enhanced features. It offers algebraic expressions, unit conversions, directories for storage, a larger resizable display, financial functions, and 2D plotting with integral and root finding.

Highlights
  • HP-42S RPN calculator simulation
  • Algebraic expressions
  • Attached units and conversions
  • Program and variable directories
  • Resizable 8-row, 22-column display
  • Time value of money and amortization
  • 2D function plotting with zoom and pan
Features
Read full description

Plus42 is an advanced scientific programmable calculator, based on Free42. Free42, in turn, is a complete re-implementation of the HP-42S scientific programmable RPN calculator, which was made from 1988 until 1995 by Hewlett-Packard. Free42 is a complete rewrite and contains no HP code whatsoever. Plus42 builds on Free42 and adds: Algebraic expressions modeled after those used on the HP-27S and HP-17B/19B; attached units and unit conversions modeled after those used on the HP-48/49/50 series; directories for more organized storage of programs and variables; a larger display, with 8 rows and 22 columns (131x64 pixels) by default, which the user may resize at will; time value of money and amortization schedules; and two-dimensional plotting of functions, with ability to zoom and pan, and find integrals and roots from points in the plot.

Screenshots

HP41CV4 screens
Plus424 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Plus42 at 92% against HP41CV's 12%. Plus42 also leads on rating (4.9 vs 2.7) and update cadence (weekly vs every 73 months). HP41CV's advantage is price (Free vs $9.99). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model 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

HP41CV is free to download; Plus42 costs $9.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Plus42 holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 2.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 21 and 79 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 12% of HP41CV's written reviews are positive against 92% of Plus42's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

HP41CV ships an update every 73 months, Plus42 weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
HP41CV versus Plus42: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHP41CVPlus42
PriceFree — better$9.99
Rating2.7 (21 ratings)4.9 (79 ratings) — better
Positive reviews11.8% of reviews92.3% of reviews — better
Number of ratings2179 — better
Update frequencyEvery 73 monthsWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.012.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size8 MB11 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJurgen Anton StrohmerThomas Okken

Customer experience

HP41CV

All ratings21 ratings
Positive28.6%
Neutral23.8%
Negative47.6%
Written reviews17 reviews
Positive11.8%
Neutral41.2%
Negative47.1%

Plus42

All ratings79 ratings
Positive97.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative2.5%
Written reviews39 reviews
Positive92.3%
Neutral2.6%
Negative5.1%

In-app purchases

None

HP41CV

No in-app purchases

None

Plus42

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is HP41CV free?
HP41CV is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Plus42 free?
Plus42 costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, HP41CV or Plus42?
Plus42 is rated higher. HP41CV averages 2.7 out of 5 from 21 ratings, while Plus42 averages 4.9 from 79 ratings.
Do HP41CV or Plus42 have ads?
Neither HP41CV nor Plus42 shows ads.
Which is updated more often, HP41CV or Plus42?
HP41CV ships an update every 73 months, and Plus42 weekly. Most recently, HP41CV was updated on September 26, 2026 and Plus42 on October 2, 2026.

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