# PCalc Lite vs Sci

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Sci at none against PCalc Lite's 11. Sci also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.4) and ratings volume (3.6K vs 214). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

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

Sci holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sci has 3.6K ratings behind it against 214, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 83% of PCalc Lite's written reviews are positive against 93% of Sci's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PCalc Lite | Sci |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (214 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pcalc-lite/id300311831/reviews) | **[4.8 (3.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scipro-calculator/id684978583/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 214 | **3.6K** |
| Positive reviews | 82.6% of reviews | **93.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 76 MB | 70 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **9.3** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [TLA Systems Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/284666225) | [Jerry Montgomery](https://appshunter.io/developer/684978586) |

## 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


### Sci

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scipro-calculator/id684978583)

This app offers a versatile calculator with three distinct modes: Basic, Scientific, and Programmer. It provides a history view, sharing capabilities, and supports various input and output formats. The app is designed for iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch.

**Highlights:** Multi-mode calculator (Basic, Scientific, Programmer), Calculation history, Share results via email, Copy & paste values, Configurable display precision, Retina graphics

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and responsive
- 👍 Clean and intuitive interface
- 🔒 No ads or in-app purchases
- 💡 Versatile with basic, scientific, and programming modes
- 👍 Useful for a variety of calculations

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional bugs or glitches
- 🔍 Lack of split-screen support on iPad
- 🔍 Limited keyboard input support
- 🔍 Inconsistent behavior when switching between modes

**Reported bugs**

- Incorrect calculations for certain sequences of operations
- Memory issues when dealing with large numbers or exponents
- Compatibility problems with newer iOS versions

**Requested features**

- Ability to configure number of digits displayed
- Option to change display colors or themes
- Support for more advanced programming features
- Integration with other apps or services


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PCalc Lite free?

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

### Is Sci free?

Sci is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

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

Sci is rated higher. PCalc Lite averages 4.4 out of 5 from 214 ratings, while Sci averages 4.8 from 3.6K ratings.

### Do PCalc Lite or Sci have ads?

Neither PCalc Lite nor Sci shows ads.

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

PCalc Lite ships an update every 2 months, and Sci every 2 months. Most recently, PCalc Lite was updated on October 13, 2026 and Sci on October 16, 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.*