Comparison

MyScript Calculator vs Charcoal

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

Head to head
About

MyScript Calculator

This app transforms your device into an interactive notepad for calculations. Simply write your math problems by hand, and it instantly provides results. Edit calculations with gestures, reuse past results, and export your work.

Highlights
  • Write calculations naturally
  • Edit with gestures
  • Drag and drop results
  • Copy and export calculations
  • Fraction display options
  • Multi-line calculations
  • Memory and history functions
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

The new MyScript© Calculator 2 makes daily math fun and easy! Calculator 2 turns your device into an interactive piece of paper. Simply write a calculation and it gets you the result in real time. Develop it further with editing gestures or by adding new elements anywhere. Reuse previous results with drag and drop. Calculator 2 interprets everything you do on the fly. Calculator 2 is based on MyScript Interactive Ink®, the next step for digital ink. It is the successor of the award-winning first handwriting calculator. BENEFITS AND FEATURES · Write calculations in an intuitive and natural way without a keyboard. · Erase easily by using scratch-out gestures to remove symbols and numbers. · Drag and drop numbers from and to the canvas, the memory bar or to an external app. · Copy your results to the clipboard or export them to other apps. · Fractions: Display results using decimals, fractions or mixed numbers. · Multi-line: Continue the same calculation on the next line or write several calculations on multiple lines. · Memory: Save results into memory. Reuse them anytime in your calculations. · History: Retrieve all your past calculations to reuse or export. SUPPORTED OPERATORS · Basic operations: +, -, ×, ÷, /, ·, : · Powers, roots, exponentials: 7², √, ∛, e³ · Miscellaneous operations: %, |5|, 3! · Brackets: ( ) · Trigonometry: sin, cos, tan, cot, cosh, sinh, tanh, coth · Inverse trigonometry: asin, acos, atan, acot, arcsin, arccos, arctan, arccot, acosh, asinh, atanh, acoth, arcosh, arsinh, artanh, arcoth · Logarithms: ln, log · Constants: π, e, phi

About

Charcoal

This app offers a simple yet powerful sketching experience with rich tools and beautiful color palettes. Easily create and export your artwork for use in other graphics programs. It supports modern iOS features like multiple windows and dark mode for enhanced productivity.

Highlights
  • Simple sketching interface
  • Rich drawing tools
  • Beautiful color palettes
  • Export sketches
  • Multiple window support
  • Dark mode
Features
Read full description

• Charcoal is incredibly easy to use: Just create or open a sketch and start sketching. There are no layers or confusing settings. Instead, Charcoal features rich tools and beautiful color palettes. • Charcoal allows you to export a sketch to use it in your favorite graphics program. • Charcoal supports modern iOS and iPadOS features like multiple windows and dark mode: use it at night or open multiple sketches, even side by side.

Screenshots

MyScript Calculator4 screens
Charcoal3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Charcoal at Free against MyScript Calculator's $2.99. MyScript Calculator's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months) and ratings volume (1.5K vs 143). On rating, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases 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

Charcoal is free to download; MyScript Calculator costs $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for MyScript Calculator against 4.5 for Charcoal. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: MyScript Calculator has 1.5K ratings behind it against 143, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 75% of MyScript Calculator's written reviews are positive against 77% of Charcoal's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

MyScript Calculator ships an update every 3 weeks, Charcoal every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
MyScript Calculator versus Charcoal: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMyScript CalculatorCharcoal
Price$2.99Free — better
Rating4.5 (1.5K ratings)4.5 (143 ratings) — better
Positive reviews74.7% of reviews76.9% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1.5K — better143
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
Best chart rank#76 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod, Vision Pro — better
Requires iOS13.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size14 MB28 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMyScriptLars Augustin

Customer experience

MyScript Calculator

All ratings1,508 ratings
Positive88.7%
Neutral3.5%
Negative7.8%
Written reviews538 reviews
Positive74.7%
Neutral9.1%
Negative16.2%

Charcoal

All ratings141 ratings
Positive87.2%
Neutral7.1%
Negative5.7%
Written reviews117 reviews
Positive76.9%
Neutral13.7%
Negative9.4%

User reviews

MyScript Calculator

From 1.5K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Easy to use
  • 🚀 Instant calculations
  • 💡 Handwriting recognition
  • 🎨 Intuitive interface
  • ⚡️ Efficient for quick math

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Inconsistent recognition of symbols and operators
  • 🔢 Limited to basic arithmetic, no support for algebra or advanced math
  • 🔍 Small writing space, difficult to view long calculations
  • 💻 Not as functional as a traditional calculator on smaller screens
  • 🔢 Struggles with large numbers and scientific notation

Charcoal

From 143 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Simple and intuitive
  • 👍 Great for quick sketching
  • 🎨 Aesthetically pleasing design
  • 💰 Free with no ads

Room to improve

  • 🎨 Limited color palette
  • 🎨 Lack of customization options
  • 🎨 Missing advanced drawing tools
  • 🐛 Occasional bugs and crashes

Bugs and requests

MyScript Calculator

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Incorrect calculation results for certain inputs
  • Difficulty editing or correcting written expressions
  • Inconsistent behavior when using the Apple Pencil

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add support for variables, equations, and advanced math functions
  • Improve recognition of symbols, operators, and handwriting
  • Increase writing space and allow scrolling/zooming
  • Provide more customization options (e.g., font size, pen thickness)
  • Integrate with other productivity apps (e.g., Notes, Nebo)

Charcoal

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Saved sketches lose quality
  • Palette colors change unexpectedly
  • Freezing when opening color palette

Requested features

4 requests
  • Ability to change brush/pen size
  • Layers and blending tools
  • Color wheel and custom color selection
  • Import/export options

In-app purchases

None

MyScript Calculator

No in-app purchases

None

Charcoal

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is MyScript Calculator free?
MyScript Calculator costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Charcoal free?
Charcoal is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, MyScript Calculator or Charcoal?
Charcoal is rated higher. MyScript Calculator averages 4.5 out of 5 from 1.5K ratings, while Charcoal averages 4.5 from 143 ratings.
Do MyScript Calculator or Charcoal have ads?
Neither MyScript Calculator nor Charcoal shows ads.
Which is updated more often, MyScript Calculator or Charcoal?
MyScript Calculator ships an update every 3 weeks, and Charcoal every 2 months. Most recently, MyScript Calculator was updated on September 25, 2026 and Charcoal on September 8, 2026.

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