# Free42 vs bcRPN

The clearest difference is update cadence: Free42 at every 9 days against bcRPN's every 22 months. Free42 also leads on ratings volume (287 vs 8) and review sentiment (94% vs 80%). On price, rating, 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.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Free42 against 4.8 for bcRPN. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Free42 has 287 ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 94% of Free42's written reviews are positive against 80% of bcRPN's.

Free42 ships an update every 9 days, bcRPN every 22 months. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Free42 | bcRPN |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (287 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/free42/id337692629/reviews)** | [4.8 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bcrpn/id1614744829/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **287** | 8 |
| Positive reviews | **94.4% of reviews** | 80.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 9 days** | Every 22 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 9 MB | 0 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Thomas Okken](https://appshunter.io/developer/337692632) | [Paul Wilkins](https://appshunter.io/developer/1614739840) |

## What reviewers say

### Free42

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/free42/id337692629)

This application is a faithful re-implementation of the HP-42S scientific calculator and its associated printer. It offers full functionality without requiring original HP ROM images and is an open-source project.

**Highlights:** HP-42S calculator simulation, HP-82240 printer simulation, Open source project, No HP ROM required, Complete rewrite

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Faithful reproduction of HP42S
- 👍 Identical to physical calculator
- 👍 Runs all original programs
- 👍 Convenient to have on phone
- 👍 Haptic feedback on button presses

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Screen not filling entire display on newer devices
- 🔇 Configurable key click sound missing
- 🔇 Lack of loud click sound feedback

**Reported bugs**

- Occasional issues with Solver function
- Store and Recall functions not working properly

**Requested features**

- Display all registers (X, Y, Z, T, Last X) simultaneously
- Ability to share/transfer programs between devices
- Improved use of screen real estate on larger displays


### bcRPN

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bcrpn/id1614744829)

This utility app functions as a Reverse Polish Notation calculator. It handles complex numbers and utilizes extended precision for all calculations, offering an unlimited stack depth and an undo feature for up to 10 operations.

**Highlights:** Reverse Polish Notation (RPN) input, Complex number calculations, Extended precision math, Unlimited stack depth, Undo functionality (up to 10 operations)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Free42 free?

Free42 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is bcRPN free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Free42 or bcRPN?

Free42 is rated higher. Free42 averages 4.8 out of 5 from 287 ratings, while bcRPN averages 4.8 from 8 ratings.

### Do Free42 or bcRPN have ads?

Neither Free42 nor bcRPN shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Free42 or bcRPN?

Free42 ships an update every 9 days, and bcRPN every 22 months. Most recently, Free42 was updated on October 23, 2026 and bcRPN on October 24, 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.*