Comparison

Free42 vs Calculator₊

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

Head to head
About

Free42

This app is a faithful, open-source simulation of the HP-42S scientific calculator and its associated printer. It offers a complete rewrite without requiring original ROM images, allowing users to run existing programs on their devices.

Highlights
  • HP-42S calculator simulation
  • HP-82240 printer simulation
  • Open Source project
  • Runs original HP-42S programs
  • No ROM image required
  • Customizable skins
Features
Read full description

Free42 is a re-implementation of the HP-42S calculator and the HP-82240 printer. It is a complete rewrite, not using any HP code, and it does not require an HP-42S ROM image. Free42 is an Open Source project. The executables and source code are released under the terms of the GNU General Public License, version 2. All third-party code used in Free42 is either in the public domain, or licensed under terms compatible with GPLv2, or used with the authors' permission.

About

Calculator₊

This app offers a comprehensive suite of calculation tools, including basic, scientific, and unit conversions. It features an AI-powered math solver that can solve problems from photos and provides a dedicated space for math notes. Accessibility features ensure ease of use for all users.

Highlights
  • Basic and scientific calculations
  • Unit and currency converter
  • AI-powered math solver with photo recognition
  • Math notes with instant solutions
  • Calculation history log
  • Accessibility features (Dynamic Text Size, VoiceOver, High-Contrast Mode)
Features
Read full description

America's #1 Calculator App! Download Calculator₊ Now - Your All-in-One Math Solution! We're excited to announce the biggest update to Calculator₊ in 10 years! With over 200 million downloads and a whopping 3 million+ 5-star ratings, Calculator₊ is the trusted choice of millions worldwide. And now, it's even better! More Than Just Your Average Calculator! • Standard Calculator: Breeze through basic arithmetic operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. • Scientific Calculator: Tackle complex calculations with ease, including trigonometric, logarithmic, and exponential functions. • Calculation History: Keep track of your past calculations with a detailed history log. • Unit Converter: Effortlessly convert units like inches to centimeters and much more, making it a handy tool for everyday use. • Percentage Calculator: Easily calculate percentages, increases, and decreases with pre-designed input fields that do the work for you. • Currency Converter: Convert currencies in real-time, including Bitcoin, with the latest exchange rates. • Fraction Calculator: Work seamlessly with fractions – perfect for students and professionals alike. • Ad-Free Experience: Say goodbye to annoying full-screen ads and focus on your calculations. Be Amazed by Our New AI-Powered Math Solver! • AI Math Solutions: Instantly solve math equations, quizzes, and word problems with our advanced AI. Use the Photo Solver to snap a picture of any problem, and Calculator₊ will work its magic. • Math Notes: A dedicated note-taking tool for all your math needs. Jot down equations, diagrams, and notes in a space designed for mathematical thinking. • Instant Math: In Math Notes mode, simply write an equation, add an "=", and Calculator₊ will generate the solution in real-time. Built for Everyone, Now Even More Accessible! Calculator₊ is designed to work effortlessly for all users, no matter how you use your iPhone, and includes these additional accessibility features: • Dynamic Text Size: Scale the calculator interface to the text size that works best for you, without losing layout clarity. • VoiceOver Support: Navigate & Calculate using VoiceOver, fully compatible with iOS accessibility settings. • High-Contrast Mode: A bold, high-contrast display that makes every button and result instantly readable in any lighting condition. • Dark and Light Mode: Calculator₊ automatically adjusts to your preferred mode. Why Choose Calculator₊? • Proven Track Record: Over a decade of providing fast and reliable calculations. • Loved by Millions: Join the 200+ million users who rely on Calculator₊, with an average rating of 4.7 stars from 3.5 million reviews. • Versatile & Powerful: Handles everything from basic sums to advanced scientific calculations. Perfect for school, work, or home. Celebrate with a Special Gift! To celebrate the release of this massive update, we're offering a 1-MONTH FREE TRIAL of our premium features, including: • Ad-Free Experience: No more pesky ads. • Unlimited AI Math Solving: Solve as many equations and problems as you need. • Unlimited Fraction Calculations: Ideal for students and professionals alike. • Unlimited Currency Conversions: Including real-time Bitcoin conversions. • Premium Customer Support: Get priority assistance from our expert support team. If you have any suggestions or questions, our support team is ready to help. Simply email us at support@impalastudios.com. Terms & Conditions: https://impalastudios.com/terms Privacy Policy: https://impalastudios.com/privacy

Screenshots

Free423 screens
Calculator₊4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Free42 at none against Calculator₊'s 10. Free42 also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (94% vs 63%). Calculator₊'s advantage is ratings volume (1.7M vs 287) and chart position (#93 vs unranked). On price, rating and iOS requirement 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. Calculator₊ sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Free42 asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Free42 against 4.7 for Calculator₊. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Calculator₊ has 1.7M ratings behind it against 287, 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 63% of Calculator₊'s.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Free42 ships an update weekly, Calculator₊ every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 8, 2026 and November 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 3 level
Free42 versus Calculator₊: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFree42Calculator₊
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (287 ratings) — better4.7 (1.7M ratings)
Positive reviews94.4% of reviews — better63.1% of reviews
Number of ratings2871.7M — better
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank—#93 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch, Vision Pro — better
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB247 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperThomas OkkenImpala Studios

Customer experience

Free42

All ratings287 ratings
Positive93.7%
Neutral2.4%
Negative3.8%
Written reviews178 reviews
Positive94.4%
Neutral1.7%
Negative3.9%

Calculator₊

All ratings1,736,431 ratings
Positive92.2%
Neutral3.5%
Negative4.3%
Written reviews3,118 reviews
Positive63.1%
Neutral6.2%
Negative30.8%

User reviews

Free42

From 287 App Store ratings

What we love

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

Room to improve

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

Calculator₊

From 1.7M App Store ratings

What we love

  • 💻 Useful calculator features
  • 🎨 Customizable backgrounds and themes
  • 📚 Helpful history tracking

Room to improve

  • 📺 Intrusive full-screen ads
  • 💰 Expensive subscription model
  • 🔍 Ads blocking calculator functionality

Bugs and requests

Free42

Reported bugs

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

Requested features

3 requests
  • 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

Calculator₊

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Incorrect calculation results for certain functions
  • Inability to delete last entered digit without clearing entire calculation

Requested features

3 requests
  • Ability to delete individual calculation history entries
  • More free advanced calculator features (fractions, currency, etc.)
  • Improved ad placement that doesn't interfere with usage

In-app purchases

None

Free42

No in-app purchases

10 purchases

Calculator₊

Subscriptions10
  • Premium Member Special Offer7 Days trial$0.991 Month
  • Monthly Premium Member3 Days trial$0.991 Month
  • 1 Month Premium Access7 Days trial$1.491 Month
Show 7 more
  • Half-Yearly Premium Member3 Days trial$3.996 Months
  • Calculate Faster, AI, & No Ads3 Days trial$4.997 Days
  • 1 Year Ad-Free3 Days trial$5.991 Year
  • Calculate Faster, AI, & No Ads3 Days trial$5.997 Days
  • 1 Month Premium Trial1 Month trial$5.997 Days
  • Math Solver/Full Access/No Ads$5.997 Days
  • 6 Months Premium Access7 Days trial$8.996 Months

Questions

Is Free42 free?
Free42 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Calculator₊ free?
Calculator₊ is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Free42 or Calculator₊?
Free42 is rated higher. Free42 averages 4.8 out of 5 from 287 ratings, while Calculator₊ averages 4.7 from 1.7M ratings.
Do Free42 or Calculator₊ have ads?
Calculator₊ shows ads; Free42 does not.
Which is updated more often, Free42 or Calculator₊?
Free42 ships an update weekly, and Calculator₊ every 3 weeks. Most recently, Free42 was updated on November 8, 2026 and Calculator₊ on November 9, 2026.

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