Comparison

GO vs Formula

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

Head to head
About

GO

This app offers a highly accurate simulation of the classic HP-29C programmable scientific calculator. It features RPN input, extensive storage registers, and a wide range of mathematical and statistical functions. Users can program complex calculations, import/export programs, and view detailed program information.

Highlights
  • RPN input
  • 10-digit LED display simulation
  • Four stack registers
  • Thirty storage registers
  • Extensive math and statistical functions
  • Programmable with 198 steps
  • Program import/export
Features
Read full description

GO-29 SciRPN closely simulates the venerable HP-29C Programmable Pocket Scientific Calculator from 1977. Virtually indistinguishable from the real item in operation, GO-29 is a powerful yet simple retro calculator. • RPN (Reverse Polish Notation) • 10-digit LED calculator display, 10-99 to 10+99 • Four stack registers with roll down • Thirty storage registers with arithmetic memory operators: ◦ 10 primary registers ◦ 6 statistical registers ◦ 14 indirect registers • Math, trigonometric, polar/rectangular, sexagesimal/decimal, logarithmic, statistical, power and other miscellaneous functions • Programmable, with labels, subroutines, branching, conditionals, indirect addressing, annotated program listing, and memory for 198 program steps • Library of Sample Programs • Fast, slow or single step program execution • Program import via pasteboard or from other Apps • Program export via printer, email, pasteboard or to others Apps • iTunes program File Sharing • Two additional windows with views of: ◦ stack/storage registers ◦ keystroke log ◦ program source code ◦ program documentation • Copy-from and Paste-to the calculator display • Simple Paper Tape annotations

About

Formula

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Remember why you calculated it—not just the answer. Formula gives you an editable calculation with room for words, so you can check your thinking, change a number and use the result again. A CALCULATOR YOU CAN EDIT See the whole expression. Move the cursor, select, copy, paste or change any part without starting over. The result updates as you type. Use calculator buttons, your iPhone or iPad keyboard, or hide both to make room for the calculation. PUT WORDS NEXT TO YOUR NUMBERS Try: 3 coffees * 4 + 2 sandwiches * 7 The answer is 26. Ordinary words are comments, so you can remember what the numbers mean without putting the text in quotes. Comments appear smaller and gray; hide them when you want to focus on the math. SAVE ONCE. REUSE AND ADJUST. Give a calculation a name to save it as a formula. Reuse a price, a quantity or a whole calculation in another expression. Saved formulas appear as compact, tappable items: show the name or value, or hold to edit. Suggestions help you find existing formulas as you type. Change a saved formula and every calculation linked to it updates—including linked entries in history. Explore a different price or quantity, then use value history to restore an earlier version and recalculate the links again. KEEP YOUR REGULAR CALCULATIONS CLOSE Organize formulas into groups, choose icons, search your library and drag formulas between groups. Open a saved formula in the main editor to work on it directly; valid edits save automatically. Your draft returns when you reopen the app. FAMILIAR MATH, LESS FRICTION Use parentheses, powers, square roots and percentages. Write 2(3+4) instead of 2*(3+4). Keep seeing the current result while you add the next operation. With the Apple keyboard, you can also use its dictation feature where available. MADE FOR YOUR IPHONE AND IPAD Calculations work offline, without an account. Your draft, history and formula library are stored on your device; they do not sync between devices. Choose English, Russian, French or German in the app. Free, with no ads or in-app purchases. Questions or ideas? info@playflow.io

Screenshots

GO4 screens
Formula4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Formula at Free against GO's $6.99. Formula also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 6 weeks). On ads, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement 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

Formula is free to download; GO costs $6.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

GO ships an update every 6 weeks, Formula fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
GO versus Formula: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGOFormula
Price$6.99Free — better
Rating5.0 (5 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings5 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaid—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV — betteriPhone, iPad, Mac
Requires iOS16.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size26 MB2 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSteve LidieRostislav Lyashko

In-app purchases

None

GO

No in-app purchases

None

Formula

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is GO free?
GO costs $6.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Formula free?
Formula is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do GO or Formula have ads?
Neither GO nor Formula shows ads.
Which is updated more often, GO or Formula?
GO ships an update every 6 weeks, and Formula fortnightly. Most recently, GO was updated on November 3, 2026 and Formula on October 31, 2026.

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