Comparison

Math Ref Lite vs PocketCAS lite for Mathematics

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

Head to head
About

Math Ref Lite

Access a sample of over 700 essential math formulas, figures, tips, and examples across various subjects. This educational tool is ideal for students, teachers, and professionals needing quick math references.

Highlights
  • Over 700 math formulas, figures, and examples
  • Tools from Algebra to Physics
  • Search functionality
  • Print support for equations
  • Editable notes
  • Multiple math categories
Features
Read full description

Math Ref Lite is a free version of the award winning education app Math Ref. This app gives you just a sample (over 700) of the over 1,400 helpful formulas, figures, tips, and examples that are included in the full version of Math Ref. So, if you're a student, teacher, or need math for work and want to try before you buy, this app is for you. *Let us know what we can do to be a 5 star app! Email us at info@happymaau.com* "Math Ref is just an awesomely useful app for students, teachers, and anyone else who works with math and needs to do a lot of calculations." - FindmySoft.com Features: -Tools - Ranging from Algebra to Physics -Search - Easily find what you're looking for -Print Support - Print equations or groups -Editable Notes - Write what will help you best -App Orientation Locking -UI - An all around better UI See our site www.happymaau.com for more information. Current Main Categories: -Algebra -Geometry -Trigonometry -Series & Sequences -Derivatives -Integration -Intro Probability and Statistics -Intro Physics -Intro Algorithms -Intro Financial (includes Real Estate) -Glossary

About

PocketCAS lite for Mathematics

This advanced math application assists with a wide range of mathematical problems, from basic arithmetic to calculus, algebra, and statistics. It functions as a graphing calculator replacement, aids in homework, and supports complex calculations for academic and professional use.

Highlights
  • 2D and 3D plotting
  • Calculus functions (limits, derivatives)
  • Linear algebra operations
  • Equation solving
  • Scripting language
  • Physical units and constants
  • iCloud sync
Read full description

PocketCAS Lite is a graphing calculator for iPhone and iPad. It graphs your functions, finds derivatives and works with exact fractions and roots. Everything runs on your device, so it works without internet or an account. Graphs - 2D plots of functions, implicit equations, polar and parametric curves and vector fields, two functions per plot. PocketCAS marks zeros, extrema and intersections. In full screen, tap a mark to read its coordinates. - 3D surfaces with soft light and shading. Drag to turn them, pinch to zoom. Derivatives - Under each function, a suggestion shows its derivative, already worked out, and a small plot sits beside the result. Tap one to add it to your document. - Exact derivatives of products, quotients, roots and chains, written the way your textbook writes them. Exact results - Arithmetic with exact fractions and roots, trigonometric, exponential and logarithmic functions. - Matrices: determinants, inverses and products. - Your own functions, with conditions and recursion. - Common units and physical constants. Reads like your textbook - Results look the way they do in a textbook: fractions, roots, powers and matrices. - A math keyboard with every function in reach, and a hint shows what goes between the brackets. Made for daily work - Documents keep your calculations and plots together, and iCloud syncs them between your devices. - Export and print plots, entries or whole documents (with a PocketCAS Lite watermark). - Help built in: the function reference explains every function with examples, and tutorials get you started. More with PocketCAS Pro PocketCAS Pro is a separate app. It adds calculation steps that name the rule behind each step, integrals, limits, series and sums, equation and system solving, factoring and simplifying, eigenvalues, differential equations, scripts, plots with more than two functions, imports of documents and CSV data, larger matrices in the editor, exports without a watermark, and suggestions with zeros, extrema and integrals. The function reference in Lite marks the functions of Pro with a PRO badge. Questions or ideas? Write to us at https://pocketcas.com/support.

Screenshots

Math Ref Lite4 screens
PocketCAS lite for Mathematics4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: PocketCAS lite for Mathematics at none against Math Ref Lite's 5. PocketCAS lite for Mathematics also leads on review sentiment (91% vs 61%) and ratings volume (204 vs 7). Math Ref Lite's advantage is iOS requirement (11.0 vs 18.0). On price, rating, update cadence and ads 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

Both are free to download. Math Ref Lite sells 5 one-off in-app purchases. PocketCAS lite for Mathematics asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Math Ref Lite against 4.6 for PocketCAS lite for Mathematics. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PocketCAS lite for Mathematics has 204 ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 61% of Math Ref Lite's written reviews are positive against 91% of PocketCAS lite for Mathematics's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Math Ref Lite ships an update every 2 months, PocketCAS lite for Mathematics every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Math Ref Lite versus PocketCAS lite for Mathematics: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMath Ref LitePocketCAS lite for Mathematics
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (7 ratings)4.6 (204 ratings)
Positive reviews61.3% of reviews90.8% of reviews — better
Number of ratings7204 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS11.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size65 MB41 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperHappy Maau Studios, LLCTiming Software GmbH

Customer experience

Math Ref Lite

All ratings7 ratings
Positive85.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative14.3%
Written reviews124 reviews
Positive61.3%
Neutral12.1%
Negative26.6%

PocketCAS lite for Mathematics

All ratings204 ratings
Positive91.7%
Neutral4.9%
Negative3.4%
Written reviews152 reviews
Positive90.8%
Neutral1.3%
Negative7.9%

User reviews

Math Ref Lite

From 7 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Great reference app
  • 👍 Handy for homework
  • 👍 Useful for students
  • 👍 Comprehensive information
  • 👍 Easy to use

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Crashes frequently
  • 🐛 Not working after updates
  • 🐛 Incompatible with older devices
  • 🐛 Poor definitions/errors
  • 🐛 Lacks examples

PocketCAS lite for Mathematics

From 204 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Intuitive and user-friendly interface
  • 📊 Excellent graphing capabilities with 3D visualization
  • 💰 Free version available with substantial features
  • 🧮 Powerful mathematical computation engine
  • 📱 Convenient mobile alternative to expensive calculators

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Recent updates cause crashes on older documents
  • 💸 Expensive compared to free alternatives
  • 🔒 Limited free version functionality
  • 🎮 Clunky interface in some areas
  • ❌ Cannot plot certain advanced functions

Bugs and requests

Math Ref Lite

Reported bugs

9 issues
  • App not supported on iPhone 5
  • App not compatible with iPad 4 after update
  • App crashes on launch for iPad Air
  • App crashes often
  • Update not initiating
Show 4 more
  • App crashes after two minutes
  • Hangs on iPad
  • Always crashes, buttons unresponsive
  • Update requires newer iOS version

Requested features

13 requests
  • Add language option
  • Include physics equations
  • Add more examples
  • Add a search function
  • Option to copy formulas
Show 8 more
  • Landscape mode for formulas
  • Add diagrams for clarity
  • Include a calculator
  • Add practice questions
  • More complex formulas in full version
  • Simple formulas for basic concepts in free version
  • Add Fourier Series and Greek Alphabet
  • Improve presentation and polish

PocketCAS lite for Mathematics

Reported bugs

6 issues
  • App crashes when loading previously saved documents
  • Crashes with no error feedback or debugging information
  • Cannot plot certain mathematical functions
  • Zoom scaling issues with 3D graphs (scales Z-axis incorrectly)
  • Compatibility broken with iOS 6 after iOS 7 update
Show 1 more
  • Function plotting limitations for advanced equations

Requested features

8 requests
  • Dark theme/dark mode for UI
  • Multiple polynomials on single graph
  • Inverse button functionality
  • Better zoom functionality for 3D graphs
  • Improved documentation and tutorials
Show 3 more
  • More Greek characters support
  • Measurement conversion capabilities
  • Better control layout and cleanup

In-app purchases

5 purchases

Math Ref Lite

One-time5
  • Remove Ads$0.99
  • Full Unlock$1.99
  • Great Tip$2.99
Show 2 more
  • Awesome Tip$4.99
  • Amazing Tip$9.99
None

PocketCAS lite for Mathematics

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Math Ref Lite free?
Math Ref Lite is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is PocketCAS lite for Mathematics free?
PocketCAS lite for Mathematics is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Math Ref Lite or PocketCAS lite for Mathematics?
Math Ref Lite and PocketCAS lite for Mathematics are both rated 4.6 out of 5 on the App Store, from 7 and 204 ratings respectively.
Do Math Ref Lite or PocketCAS lite for Mathematics have ads?
Neither Math Ref Lite nor PocketCAS lite for Mathematics shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Math Ref Lite or PocketCAS lite for Mathematics?
Math Ref Lite ships an update every 2 months, and PocketCAS lite for Mathematics every 3 months. Most recently, Math Ref Lite was updated on October 12, 2026 and PocketCAS lite for Mathematics on October 15, 2026.

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