Comparison

xCluster vs Max Calc

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

Head to head
About

xCluster

Visualize DX cluster activity on a world map and in a list. Filter spots by call sign or band, and set custom alerts for specific stations or countries. Integrates with popular DX services and provides call parsing for location data.

Highlights
  • Display DX spots on map and list
  • Filter by band and call sign
  • Set custom alerts
  • Integrates with DXSummit and PSK Reporter
  • Built-in call parser
  • Zoom and pan map
Features
Read full description

xCluster is a visual display of dx cluster activity built for the iPad. DX spots are received via telnet or web services and displayed in a tabular form and plotted on a map of the world. You can filter the spots by call sign or band. Spots are created using the latitude and longitude of the dx station and spotter. The program has an internal call parsing component to determine the country for each call but can use QRZ.com for more accurate location data. Lookup priority is QRZ.com with the the call parser as a backup. DX spots can be displayed on a map or in a tabular form. Alerts for specific stations, bands or countries may be set and will be highlighted in the list and on the map. A number of major telnet clusters are built in along with DXSummit and PSK Reporter. PSK Reporter will display other stations that can hear your signal. You must be running WSJT-X or FLDIGI and have it configured correctly to work. You may contact the author with questions, suggestions or issues at support@w6op.com Features: Display dx spots on a map and in a list Predefined cluster servers and websites Filter by band and call sign Set alerts for display in the list and on the map Alerts can be set by country, band and call sign Save alerts in iCloud Built in call parser if QRZ.com is unavailable Freeform cluster command input Zoom and pan the map display

About

Max Calc

This app offers a versatile calculation suite, combining standard, scientific, developer, and accounting functions. It also includes a unit converter and tools for health and date calculations, all within a user-friendly interface.

Highlights
  • Standard and Scientific Calculator
  • Developer Calculator (hex, binary)
  • Accounting Calculator
  • 130+ Unit Converter
  • Body and Date/Time Calculator
  • History tracking
  • Customizable result formatting
Features
Read full description

Max Calc: Your All-in-One Calculator App Max Calc is more than just a calculator; it's a comprehensive toolset designed to simplify your calculations across various domains. With its six-in-one functionality, you can effortlessly handle everything from basic arithmetic to complex scientific computations, developer-specific tasks, financial calculations, unit conversions, and even personal health metrics. Key features include: * Standard and Scientific Calculator: Perform basic and advanced calculations with ease. * Developer Calculator: Work with hexadecimal, binary, and 7-64 bit numbers, along with integer/real number CPU representation and signed/unsigned arithmetic. * Accounting Calculator: Tackle financial calculations with dedicated functions. * 130+ Unit Converter: Convert between various units of measurement effortlessly. * Body and Date/Time Calculator: Calculate BMI, age, and more. Max Calc is designed with simplicity in mind, providing a user-friendly interface without compromising on functionality. Enjoy features like memory storage, history tracking, customizable result formatting, and more.

Screenshots

Max Calc4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Max Calc at 5.0 against xCluster's 4.0. Max Calc also leads on update cadence (every 9 days vs every 3 weeks) and iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.0). xCluster's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and ratings volume (5 vs 1). On price, review sentiment, ads and monetization model 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

Both are free to download. Max Calc sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. xCluster asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Max Calc holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: xCluster has 5 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

xCluster ships an update every 3 weeks, Max Calc every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and June 4, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
xCluster versus Max Calc: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterxClusterMax Calc
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (5 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings5 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 9 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS26.017.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size33 MB8 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPeter BourgetAnatolii Mazkun

Customer experience

xCluster

All ratings5 ratings
Positive80.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative20.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Max Calc

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

In-app purchases

None

xCluster

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Max Calc

One-time2
  • 5 days Free Using All PremiumFree
  • Premium features$4.99

Questions

Is xCluster free?
xCluster is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Max Calc free?
Max Calc is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, xCluster or Max Calc?
Max Calc is rated higher. xCluster averages 4.0 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while Max Calc averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do xCluster or Max Calc have ads?
Neither xCluster nor Max Calc shows ads.
Which is updated more often, xCluster or Max Calc?
xCluster ships an update every 3 weeks, and Max Calc every 9 days. Most recently, xCluster was updated on September 21, 2026 and Max Calc on June 4, 2026.

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