# picocalc vs Firstext

The clearest difference is update cadence: Firstext at every 2 weeks against picocalc's every 31 months. picocalc's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and review sentiment (66% vs 50%). On price, ads, in-app purchases and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. picocalc sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Firstext sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

picocalc ships an update every 31 months, Firstext every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | picocalc | Firstext |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/picocalc/id284740333/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **3** | — |
| Positive reviews | **65.6% of reviews** | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 31 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 6 MB | 6 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **17.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Vision Pro** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Masayuki Akamatsu](https://appshunter.io/developer/284722836) | [Akihiro Usui](https://appshunter.io/developer/1387267485) |

## What reviewers say

### picocalc

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/picocalc/id284740333)

This app displays a single number on your home screen badge, which can be set, added to, or subtracted from. It's a minimalist tool for quick numerical reminders. Negative numbers and zero are not displayed on the badge.

**Highlights:** Set a number, Add to number, Subtract from number, Home screen badge display, Hides zero and negative numbers

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $0.99 | one-time |


### Firstext

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/firstext/id1642650670)

This app is a straightforward text editor designed for quick note-taking and text creation. It automatically saves your work and allows for easy sharing to other applications with customizable actions. Advanced features like search, replace, and character counting are also included.

**Highlights:** Instant text input on launch, Automatic text saving and restoration, Customizable text sharing actions, Cursor movement by swiping, Search and replace functionality, Character and line counting, Font size adjustment

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Snack-Sized Tip | $0.49 | one-time |
| Restriction Removal | $1.99 | one-time |
| Coffee-Sized Tip | $1.99 | one-time |
| Lunch-Sized Tip | $3.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is picocalc free?

picocalc is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Firstext free?

Firstext is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do picocalc or Firstext have ads?

Both picocalc and Firstext show ads.

### Which is updated more often, picocalc or Firstext?

picocalc ships an update every 31 months, and Firstext every 2 weeks. Most recently, picocalc was updated on September 22, 2026 and Firstext on September 16, 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.*