# PCalc vs Beacon Lodestar

The clearest difference is price: Beacon Lodestar at Free against PCalc's $9.99. Beacon Lodestar also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 4) and rating (5.0 vs 4.7). PCalc's advantage is ratings volume (779 vs 4) and device support (5 vs 3). On update cadence, ads and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Beacon Lodestar is free to download; PCalc costs $9.99 up front. PCalc sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Beacon Lodestar asks for nothing beyond the download.

Beacon Lodestar holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PCalc has 779 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 83% of PCalc's written reviews are positive against 100% of Beacon Lodestar's.

PCalc ships an update every 6 weeks, Beacon Lodestar every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PCalc | Beacon Lodestar |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $9.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.7 (779 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pcalc/id284666222/reviews) | **[5.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/beacon-lodestar/id6752503144/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **779** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 83.4% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Every 4 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 83 MB | 35 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch, Vision Pro** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [TLA Systems Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/284666225) | [Beacon Services, Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1839514733) |

## What reviewers say

### PCalc

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pcalc/id284666222)

A powerful calculator designed for professionals and students, offering advanced features like RPN mode, multi-line display, and extensive unit conversions. It supports various number systems and includes an Apple Watch app for on-the-go calculations.

**Highlights:** Optional RPN mode, Multi-line display, Extensive unit conversions, Paper tape, Multiple undo/redo, Hexadecimal, octal, binary support, Apple Watch app

**Features:** Apple Watch app, iMessage stickers, Fun Camera support, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Small Tip | $0.99 | one-time |
| Medium Tip | $1.99 | one-time |
| Large Tip | $4.99 | one-time |
| Enormous Tip | $9.99 | one-time |


### Beacon Lodestar

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/beacon-lodestar/id6752503144)

Access marina information and manage your account from anywhere. Submit and track support tickets, get WiFi updates, receive important alerts, and check weather conditions.

**Highlights:** Submit and track support tickets, Get the latest WiFi updates, Receive important alerts and announcements, Check current weather conditions, Stay up to date with marina information

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PCalc free?

PCalc costs $9.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is Beacon Lodestar free?

Beacon Lodestar is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, PCalc or Beacon Lodestar?

Beacon Lodestar is rated higher. PCalc averages 4.7 out of 5 from 779 ratings, while Beacon Lodestar averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.

### Do PCalc or Beacon Lodestar have ads?

Neither PCalc nor Beacon Lodestar shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, PCalc or Beacon Lodestar?

PCalc ships an update every 6 weeks, and Beacon Lodestar every 4 weeks. Most recently, PCalc was updated on November 6, 2026 and Beacon Lodestar on November 5, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*