Comparison

PCalc vs Classicalc calculator

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

Head to head
About

PCalc

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
Currently charting
Read full description

PCalc is the powerful choice for scientists, engineers, students, programmers, or indeed anybody looking for a feature rich calculator. It includes an optional RPN mode and multi-line display, a choice of button layouts, an extensive set of unit conversions and constants, a paper tape, multiple undo and redo, engineering and scientific notation, as well as support for hexadecimal, octal, and binary calculations. Includes an Apple Watch app, so you can calculate on your wrist!

About

Classicalc calculator

This calculator app offers instant calculations as you type, following the mathematical order of operations. It features unique piano sound themes and allows seamless continuation of calculations across iPhone and Apple Watch. Your equations are automatically saved for convenience.

Highlights
  • Instant calculation as you type
  • Mathematical order of operators
  • Cross-device continuity (iPhone/Watch)
  • Automatic equation saving
  • 14 piano sound themes
  • Copy result to clipboard
Read full description

Classicalc is a unique, the most classy calculator app on the App Store. It's designed to be beautiful and simple, but also… to sound amazing! Each color theme has its own, actual Grand Piano major scale! It's Chopin-awesome! Underneath it beautiful simplicity, there's some serious technology powering Classicalc: ## Instant Calculation calculates the formula as you type, so you never have to use the equals sign (=). We spare you one unnecessary tap at a time. ## Classicalc calculates result using mathematical order of operators (× ÷ + -) so if you would like to add 1 to 1 and then multiply the result by 2, you should write (1 + 1) × 2 instead of 1 + 1 × 2 ## You can start your calculations on your iPhone, then Continue on your Apple Watch, and the other way around. ## Your most recent equation is always saved, even if you shut the app. When you run it again, The formula is instantly there. ## 14 great-looking backgrounds with related actual Grand Piano major scales. Change colors and major scales on iPhone app (by pressing little diamond in top-left corner) to change colors on Apple Watch. ## In case the numbers bore you, you can always play a song. It's Chopin-awesome! *** Tips *** - long press "backspace" button to clear whole expression (you can also force touch on your Watch) - long press the result on your iPhone/iPad to copy it to the system clipboard

Screenshots

PCalc4 screens
Classicalc calculator4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: PCalc at 4.7 against Classicalc calculator's 3.8. PCalc also leads on update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 20 months) and ratings volume (770 vs 13). Classicalc calculator's advantage is price ($0.99 vs $9.99) and in-app purchases (none vs 4). On ads 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

PCalc costs $9.99 and Classicalc calculator $0.99 up front. PCalc sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Classicalc calculator asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

PCalc holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PCalc has 770 ratings behind it against 13, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 84% of PCalc's written reviews are positive against 63% of Classicalc calculator's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PCalc ships an update every 6 weeks, Classicalc calculator every 20 months. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard9 real differences · 2 level
PCalc versus Classicalc calculator: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPCalcClassicalc calculator
Price$9.99$0.99 — better
Rating4.7 (770 ratings) — better3.8 (13 ratings)
Positive reviews83.6% of reviews — better62.5% of reviews
Number of ratings770 — better13
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeks — betterEvery 20 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
Best chart rank#74 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch, Vision ProiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple Watch
Requires iOS15.012.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size81 MB14 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTLA Systems Ltd.Lukasz Kowalski

Customer experience

PCalc

All ratings770 ratings
Positive90.8%
Neutral2.7%
Negative6.5%
Written reviews483 reviews
Positive83.6%
Neutral5.4%
Negative11.0%

Classicalc calculator

All ratings13 ratings
Positive69.2%
Neutral7.7%
Negative23.1%
Written reviews8 reviews
Positive62.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative37.5%

In-app purchases

4 purchases

PCalc

One-time4
  • Small Tip$0.99
  • Medium Tip$1.99
  • Large Tip$4.99
Show 1 more
  • Enormous Tip$9.99
None

Classicalc calculator

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is PCalc free?
PCalc costs $9.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Classicalc calculator free?
Classicalc calculator costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, PCalc or Classicalc calculator?
PCalc is rated higher. PCalc averages 4.7 out of 5 from 770 ratings, while Classicalc calculator averages 3.8 from 13 ratings.
Do PCalc or Classicalc calculator have ads?
Neither PCalc nor Classicalc calculator shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PCalc or Classicalc calculator?
PCalc ships an update every 6 weeks, and Classicalc calculator every 20 months. Most recently, PCalc was updated on October 15, 2026 and Classicalc calculator on October 3, 2026.

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