# i48 vs RPN

The clearest difference is rating: RPN at 4.0 against i48's 3.4. RPN also leads on monetization model (free vs paid) and review sentiment (83% vs 54%). i48's advantage is ratings volume (206 vs 4) and device support (3 vs 1). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

RPN holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 3.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: i48 has 206 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 54% of i48's written reviews are positive against 83% of RPN's.

i48 ships an update every 4 months, RPN every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | i48 | RPN |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.4 (206 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/i48/id329454950/reviews) | **[4.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rpn-67-np/id603100249/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **206** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 54.2% of reviews | **83.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 months** | Every 5 months |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free** |
| Size | 4 MB | 38 MB |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 | 12.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Automagic Software Pty Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/329454953) | [CuVee Software](https://appshunter.io/developer/424873503) |

## What reviewers say

### i48

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/i48/id329454950)

This application emulates the HP48GX calculator on your iPhone or iPod touch. It allows you to perform complex calculations like matrix operations and function integration on the go.

**Highlights:** HP48GX calculator emulation, Matrix calculations, Function integration, Mobile calculator, On-the-go calculations

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Realistic HP48 emulation
- 🚀 Great functionality and features
- 💡 Useful unit conversions
- 👍 Familiar interface for HP48 users

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Freezes and crashes
- 🐛 Unresponsive buttons and input issues
- 🐛 Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions
- 🔋 Performance and battery drain problems

**Reported bugs**

- Memory recovery prompt not working
- Cursor keys behaving erratically
- Equation solver locking up the app
- Keyboard issues on certain devices

**Requested features**

- Landscape mode support
- Improved display resolution and graphics
- Haptic feedback for button presses
- Ability to assign units to numbers


### RPN

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rpn-67-np/id603100249)

This app simulates a legendary vintage scientific calculator, offering a "live" display of its internal states and a virtual paper tape printer. It allows loading and running original sample programs, with advanced features that can be switched off for an authentic experience.

**Highlights:** Live display of stack and registers, Virtual paper tape printer, Email or print paper tape, Cut/copy/paste display value, 30 selectable background images, Non-volatile memory

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is i48 free?

i48 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is RPN free?

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

### Which has better reviews, i48 or RPN?

RPN is rated higher. i48 averages 3.4 out of 5 from 206 ratings, while RPN averages 4.0 from 4 ratings.

### Do i48 or RPN have ads?

Neither i48 nor RPN shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, i48 or RPN?

i48 ships an update every 4 months, and RPN every 5 months. Most recently, i48 was updated on October 22, 2026 and RPN on October 20, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*