# PCalc Lite vs Calculator for iPad₊

PCalc Lite and Calculator for iPad₊ both sit at 4.4 stars, but that hides the real split: 82% of PCalc Lite's written reviews are positive against 40% of Calculator for iPad₊'s. PCalc Lite also leads on ads (none vs shown). Calculator for iPad₊'s advantage is ratings volume (126K vs 214). On price, rating, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. PCalc Lite sells 11 one-off in-app purchases and Calculator for iPad₊ sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.4 for PCalc Lite against 4.5 for Calculator for iPad₊. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Calculator for iPad₊ has 126K ratings behind it against 214, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 82% of PCalc Lite's written reviews are positive against 40% of Calculator for iPad₊'s.

PCalc Lite ships an update every 2 months, Calculator for iPad₊ monthly. Both last shipped on October 26, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | PCalc Lite | Calculator for iPad₊ |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (214 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pcalc-lite/id300311831/reviews) | **[4.5 (126K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/calculator-for-ipad/id1174240047/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 214 | **126K** |
| Positive reviews | **82.5% of reviews** | 40.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 79 MB | 145 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [TLA Systems Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/284666225) | [Impala Studios](https://appshunter.io/developer/1063279743) |

## What reviewers say

### PCalc Lite

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pcalc-lite/id300311831)

This free scientific calculator offers essential features like RPN mode, unit conversions, and multiple undo/redo. It provides a taste of a more powerful version, with optional in-app purchases for expanded functionality.

**Highlights:** Optional RPN mode, Multiple undo and redo, Unit conversions and constants, Two stylish themes, Apple Watch app

**Features:** Family Sharing, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Theme Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Power User Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Multiple Line Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Conversion Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Small Tip | $0.99 | one-time |
| Medium Tip | $1.99 | one-time |
| Programmer Pack | $2.99 | one-time |
| Engineer Pack | $2.99 | one-time |
| Large Tip | $4.99 | one-time |
| Complete Pack | $9.99 | one-time |
| Enormous Tip | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and responsive
- 👍 Clean and intuitive interface
- 💡 Customizable themes and settings
- 🚀 Efficient performance
- 👍 Useful conversion tools

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional lags and crashes
- 🔒 Lack of dark mode support
- 🔒 Inconsistent icon appearance after upgrades
- 🔒 Limitations in RPN mode on Apple Watch
- 🔒 Lack of financial calculator functions

**Reported bugs**

- Calculations sometimes produce unexpected results
- Upside-down text censorship feature is problematic
- Purchased features not always accessible on Apple Watch

**Requested features**

- Add option to display thousands separators
- Implement a history function to review past calculations
- Provide more customization options for the widget
- Add support for sexagesimal angle input and conversion


### Calculator for iPad₊

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/calculator-for-ipad/id1174240047)

This app offers both basic and advanced scientific calculations with an intuitive interface designed for tablets and phones. It includes features like currency conversion, calculation history, and the ability to share results. An optional premium membership removes ads and provides enhanced support.

**Highlights:** Basic & Scientific Calculator, Advanced Scientific Functions, Live Currency Converter, Calculation History, Copy and Share Calculations, Equation Editing, Memory Banks

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

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| The Full Experience - 1 Month | $0.99 | per month |
| Weekly Premium Access | $0.99 | per 7 days |
| The Full Experience - 6 Months | $3.99 | per 6 months |
| The Full Calculator Experience | $3.99 | per year |
| Limited Time Offer | $4.99 | per year |
| Premium Subscription Yearly | $5.19 | per year |
| Annual Premium Access | $9.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Helpful for math calculations
- 👍 Variety of functions beyond basic calculator
- 👍 Useful for students and teachers

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🙄 Excessive ads and pop-ups
- 💰 Expensive subscription to remove ads
- 🐛 Occasional calculation errors
- 🤔 Missing key features like fractions and eraser

**Reported bugs**

- Calculation errors
- Ads obstructing functionality

**Requested features**

- Add fraction support
- Include an eraser function
- Improve accuracy of calculations
- Reduce intrusiveness of ads


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PCalc Lite free?

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

### Is Calculator for iPad₊ free?

Calculator for iPad₊ is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, PCalc Lite or Calculator for iPad₊?

Calculator for iPad₊ is rated higher. PCalc Lite averages 4.4 out of 5 from 214 ratings, while Calculator for iPad₊ averages 4.5 from 126K ratings.

### Do PCalc Lite or Calculator for iPad₊ have ads?

Calculator for iPad₊ shows ads; PCalc Lite does not.

### Which is updated more often, PCalc Lite or Calculator for iPad₊?

PCalc Lite ships an update every 2 months, and Calculator for iPad₊ monthly. Most recently, PCalc Lite was updated on October 26, 2026 and Calculator for iPad₊ on October 26, 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.*