# PCalc Lite vs A Complex Calc

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: A Complex Calc at none against PCalc Lite's 11. A Complex Calc also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.4) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). PCalc Lite's advantage is ratings volume (214 vs 23) and device support (4 vs 2). On price, review sentiment and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. PCalc Lite sells 11 one-off in-app purchases. A Complex Calc asks for nothing beyond the download.

A Complex Calc holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PCalc Lite has 214 ratings behind it against 23, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 83% of PCalc Lite's written reviews are positive against 80% of A Complex Calc's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

PCalc Lite ships an update every 2 months, A Complex Calc every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and September 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PCalc Lite | A Complex Calc |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (214 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pcalc-lite/id300311831/reviews) | **[4.7 (23 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/a-complex-calc/id1372571548/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **214** | 23 |
| Positive reviews | **82.6% of reviews** | 80.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 76 MB | 28 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **10.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [TLA Systems Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/284666225) | [Antonio Ruffolo](https://appshunter.io/developer/1372571547) |

## 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

**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


### A Complex Calc

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/a-complex-calc/id1372571548)

Perform complex calculations with a modern, user-friendly interface. Offers both basic and scientific modes, including support for complex numbers and advanced functions. This lightweight application provides a history of computations and is completely free with no advertisements.

**Highlights:** Complex number support, Basic and Scientific modes, History of operations, Trigonometric and hyperbolic functions, Random number generation, Lightweight app size

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PCalc Lite free?

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

### Is A Complex Calc free?

A Complex Calc is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, PCalc Lite or A Complex Calc?

A Complex Calc is rated higher. PCalc Lite averages 4.4 out of 5 from 214 ratings, while A Complex Calc averages 4.7 from 23 ratings.

### Do PCalc Lite or A Complex Calc have ads?

Neither PCalc Lite nor A Complex Calc shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, PCalc Lite or A Complex Calc?

PCalc Lite ships an update every 2 months, and A Complex Calc every 3 weeks. Most recently, PCalc Lite was updated on October 13, 2026 and A Complex Calc on September 29, 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.*