# PCalc Lite vs Solves

The clearest difference is rating: Solves at 4.9 against PCalc Lite's 4.4. Solves also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months) and review sentiment (91% vs 83%). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. PCalc Lite sells 11 one-off in-app purchases and Solves sells 6 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Solves holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 214 and 381 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 83% of PCalc Lite's written reviews are positive against 91% of Solves's.

PCalc Lite ships an update every 2 months, Solves every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PCalc Lite | Solves |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (214 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pcalc-lite/id300311831/reviews) | **[4.9 (381 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/solves-calculator-for-all/id1394359548/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 214 | **381** |
| Positive reviews | 82.6% of reviews | **90.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 76 MB | 82 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [TLA Systems Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/284666225) | [Oleg Barinov](https://appshunter.io/developer/1394359547) |

## 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


### Solves

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/solves-calculator-for-all/id1394359548)

A powerful and versatile calculator for all your Apple devices. Edit complex expressions, sync history across devices, and enjoy a clean, ad-free experience. Unlock advanced features like unit conversion and fraction support with an optional upgrade.

**Highlights:** Edit expressions without limitations, Instant results, Sync calculation history across devices, Unit conversion (currencies, physical units), Fraction support, Customizable themes

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

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Tip Option #1 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Tip Option #2 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Tip Option #3 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Tip Option #4 | $9.99 | one-time |
| Solves+ | $9.99 | one-time |
| Tip Option #5 | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Excellent calculator app
- 🚀 Smooth and responsive
- 🔒 No ads or data collection
- 💡 Useful features like history, comments, and unit conversions
- 👍 Clean and intuitive design

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes or bugs after updates
- 🐛 Issues with certain mathematical operations
- 🐛 Family sharing not working properly
- 🐛 Lag or performance issues on some devices
- 💡 Desire for more advanced features like fractions, base conversions

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes when pressing certain buttons
- Issues with parsing complex expressions
- Incorrect results for some calculations
- Problems with history clearing or syncing

**Requested features**

- Add support for fractions and mixed numbers
- Implement a widget for quick access
- Allow resizing the app window on Mac
- Provide more customization options
- Add support for Apple Watch


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PCalc Lite free?

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

### Is Solves free?

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

### Which has better reviews, PCalc Lite or Solves?

Solves is rated higher. PCalc Lite averages 4.4 out of 5 from 214 ratings, while Solves averages 4.9 from 381 ratings.

### Do PCalc Lite or Solves have ads?

Neither PCalc Lite nor Solves shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, PCalc Lite or Solves?

PCalc Lite ships an update every 2 months, and Solves every 3 weeks. Most recently, PCalc Lite was updated on September 24, 2026 and Solves on September 19, 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.*