# Calculator vs Basic Calculator

The clearest difference is price: Basic Calculator at Free against Calculator's $1.99. Basic Calculator also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.0) and ratings volume (3.2K vs 1). Calculator's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ads (none vs shown). On device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Basic Calculator is free to download; Calculator costs $1.99 up front. Basic Calculator sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Calculator asks for nothing beyond the download.

Basic Calculator holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Basic Calculator has 3.2K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 60% of Calculator's written reviews are positive against 74% of Basic Calculator's.

Calculator ships an update every 11 months, Basic Calculator every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 18, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Calculator | Basic Calculator |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $1.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/calculator/id286319444/reviews) | **[4.8 (3.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/basic-calculator-classic-calc/id430271248/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **3.2K** |
| Positive reviews | 60.0% of reviews | **74.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 11 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | **#181** | — |
| Size | 5 MB | 93 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | +4 |
| Developer | [Byte Works, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/286319447) | [MobArts](https://appshunter.io/developer/429185872) |

## What reviewers say

### Calculator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/calculator/id286319444)

**Currently charting:** #181 Top Paid · Utilities (US App Store)

This app offers a comprehensive scientific calculator with multiple modes, including algebraic, scientific, conversions, and logic calculations. It features a user-friendly design with large buttons and remembers your progress if interrupted.

**Highlights:** Algebraic entry, Scientific calculations, Unit conversions (length, area, volume, etc.), Logic calculator (binary, octal, decimal, hex), 10 memory registers, Wide number range support

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Basic Calculator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/basic-calculator-classic-calc/id430271248)

A free, classic calculator app with large, easy-to-press buttons and customizable skins. It supports basic arithmetic, memory functions, and can handle very large numbers without using scientific notation. Multitasking is also supported on compatible devices.

**Highlights:** Large, easy-to-press buttons, Multiple beautiful skins, Basic arithmetic operations, Standard memory functions, Supports large numbers (up to 60 digits), Multitasking support (Split View, Slide Over)

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Banner Ad Removal | $0.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and easy to use
- 💡 Useful copy and paste functions
- 👍 Clear and large display
- 👍 Variety of skins/themes
- 👍 Responsive and fast

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Compatibility issues with iOS updates
- 🐛 Inaccurate calculations with larger numbers
- 🔋 Slow load times
- 🔍 Intrusive ads

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes or freezes after iOS updates
- Percent key not functioning correctly

**Requested features**

- Reinstate iPhone version
- Add scientific calculator functions
- Improve memory retention


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Calculator free?

Calculator costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Basic Calculator free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Calculator or Basic Calculator?

Basic Calculator is rated higher. Calculator averages 4.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Basic Calculator averages 4.8 from 3.2K ratings.

### Do Calculator or Basic Calculator have ads?

Basic Calculator shows ads; Calculator does not.

### Which is updated more often, Calculator or Basic Calculator?

Calculator ships an update every 11 months, and Basic Calculator every 2 months. Most recently, Calculator was updated on September 18, 2026 and Basic Calculator on September 23, 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.*