Comparison

x36 vs RCL

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

Head to head
About

x36

This app offers a powerful scientific and engineering calculator with advanced features like programmability, multiple number bases, and statistical functions. It emulates the functionality of calculators from the 70s and 80s, providing over 100 functions for complex calculations.

Highlights
  • Programmability with 1000 steps
  • Trigonometric functions with selectable units
  • Statistical functions and linear regression
  • Four number bases (Decimal, Hex, Octal, Binary)
  • Metric-English conversions
  • Fraction operations
  • Over 100 functions
Features
Read full description

This calculator is packed with features common to any good scientific and engineering calculator from the 70's and 80's including: Programability. Can store up to 1000 steps. Includes label, jump, loop and subroutine capability. -Common mathematical operations including square roots, powers, reciprocals, and logarithmic functions. -Up to 15 levels of parenthesis. -A full set of trigonometric functions working with user selectable units of degrees, radians, and gradians. Also performs polar-rectangular and degrees-minutes-seconds - decimal degree conversions. -Common physical constants such as the speed of light, gravitational constant and Avogadro's number. -Single and double variable statistical functions including linear regression. 10 memory storage locations. -Metric-English and English metric conversions. -Four number bases (Decimal, Hexadecimal, Octal, and Binary). -Bit logic operations. -Three display modes (floating point, scientific, and engineering) with user adjustable number of digits displayed. -Can perform operations with fractions! Over 100 functions in all! AND NO ADS!

About

RCL

This app faithfully recreates the TI-57 programmable calculator, offering its full scientific functions and programming capabilities. It includes a user manual, sample programs, and features like turbo speed and alphanumeric display.

Highlights
  • TI-57 recreation
  • Scientific functions
  • Programming capabilities
  • User manual included
  • Sample programs
  • Turbo speed option
  • Alphanumeric display option
Features
Read full description

RCL-57 is a complete and faithful recreation of the TI-57, one of the first programmable calculators. RCL-57 implements all the scientific functions and programming capabilities of the TI-57. In addition, it includes: * A complete user manual * Sample programs including Lunar Lander * Optional turbo speed and alphanumeric display * Listings of steps, registers and log * Saving and loading of programs * Sharing and importing of programs

Screenshots

x364 screens
RCL4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: RCL at Free against x36's $0.99. x36's advantage is update cadence (every 2 months vs every 14 months) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.1). On review sentiment, ads, in-app purchases 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

RCL is free to download; x36 costs $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

x36 ships an update every 2 months, RCL every 14 months. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
x36 versus RCL: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
Parameterx36RCL
Price$0.99Free — better
Rating5.0 (2 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings2 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 14 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS12.0 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size1 MB2 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCarl CookPaul Novaes

Customer experience

x36

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

RCL

Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

x36

No in-app purchases

None

RCL

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is x36 free?
x36 costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is RCL free?
RCL is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do x36 or RCL have ads?
Neither x36 nor RCL shows ads.
Which is updated more often, x36 or RCL?
x36 ships an update every 2 months, and RCL every 14 months. Most recently, x36 was updated on November 2, 2026 and RCL on November 3, 2026.

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