Comparison

HotPaw Basic vs CalCollections

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

Head to head
About

HotPaw Basic

Experience retro computing by typing and running Basic programs on your iPhone or iPad. This app functions as a programmable calculator and can display simple line graphics, Morse code audio, and perform FFT analysis.

Highlights
  • Retro text-mode Basic interpreter
  • Programmable calculator functionality
  • Simple line graphics display
  • Morse Code audio output
  • FFT analysis
  • GPS location support
  • MQTT and BTLE communications
Features
Read full description

Calling all early-personal-computing fans, remember typing Basic programs into your home computer? HotPaw Basic recreates the retro-experience of a text-mode Basic interpreter, and it runs right on your iPhone or iPad. You can also use HotPaw Basic as a programmable calculator, or for displaying simple line graphics. The HotPaw Basic interpreter supports the minimal Basic language, including: Commands: let if then else endif dim data read restore for to step next while wend goto gosub return ? print input open close end stop mat run new list del save load dir cls rem Functions: int() abs() sgn() rnd() sqr() exp() log() log10() sin() cos() tan() atn() len() val() asc() str$() chr$() hex$() mid$() timer() date$ time$ pi Operators: + - * / mod ^ = and or xor not Also includes new command and functions to support line graphics, Morse Code audio, FFT analysis, GPS location, MQTT and BTLE communications. Line numbers are required. Type in the text of your program and type "run" to run them. See: http://www.hotpaw.com/rhn/basic/iphone/ for a more complete description of the Basic language syntax, commands and functions which this Basic interpreter supports.

About

CalCollections

Features
Read full description

This app allows users to organise their calculators into collections. The app uses tailored options to register the calculators and as much information possible about them. With CalCollections you can have all your calculator collections in one place.

Screenshots

HotPaw Basic1 screens
CalCollections4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: CalCollections at Free against HotPaw Basic's $4.99. CalCollections also leads on update cadence (every 4 weeks vs every 5 months). HotPaw Basic's advantage is iOS requirement (12.3 vs 18.4). On ads, in-app purchases 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

CalCollections is free to download; HotPaw Basic costs $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

HotPaw Basic ships an update every 5 months, CalCollections every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 6, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
HotPaw Basic versus CalCollections: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHotPaw BasicCalCollections
Price$4.99Free — better
Rating3.9 (7 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews52.4% of reviews—
Number of ratings7 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsEvery 4 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaid—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS12.3 — better18.4
Further details — not scored
Size1 MB2 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperHotPaw ProductionsThe Calculator Store SLNE

In-app purchases

None

HotPaw Basic

No in-app purchases

None

CalCollections

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is HotPaw Basic free?
HotPaw Basic costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is CalCollections free?
CalCollections is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do HotPaw Basic or CalCollections have ads?
Neither HotPaw Basic nor CalCollections shows ads.
Which is updated more often, HotPaw Basic or CalCollections?
HotPaw Basic ships an update every 5 months, and CalCollections every 4 weeks. Most recently, HotPaw Basic was updated on September 6, 2026 and CalCollections on September 18, 2026.

Other comparisons