# Free42 vs Panecal Plus Sci. Calculator

The clearest difference is price: Free42 at Free against Panecal Plus Sci. Calculator's $2.99. Free42 also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 3 months) and review sentiment (94% vs 79%). Panecal Plus Sci. Calculator's advantage is chart position (#197 vs unranked). On rating, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Free42 is free to download; Panecal Plus Sci. Calculator costs $2.99 up front. 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 Panecal Plus Sci. Calculator. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 283 and 363 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 94% of Free42's written reviews are positive against 79% of Panecal Plus Sci. Calculator's.

Free42 ships an update weekly, Panecal Plus Sci. Calculator every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Free42 | Panecal Plus Sci. Calculator |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $2.99 |
| Rating | [4.8 (283 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/free42/id337692629/reviews) | [4.8 (363 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/panecal-plus-sci-calculator/id672649451/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 283 | **363** |
| Positive reviews | **93.8% of reviews** | 79.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | — | **#197** |
| Size | 9 MB | 18 MB |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 | 12.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Thomas Okken](https://appshunter.io/developer/337692632) | [Noriyasu Kutsuzawa](https://appshunter.io/developer/668500806) |

## 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


### Panecal Plus Sci. Calculator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/panecal-plus-sci-calculator/id672649451)

**Currently charting:** #197 Top Paid · Utilities (US App Store)

This app functions as a scientific calculator with a multiline editable display. It allows users to view and modify formulas as they are entered, preventing errors. Past calculations can be reused, and variable memory enables efficient recalculations.

**Highlights:** Multiline editable formulas, Re-calculation of past formulas, Cursor-based editing and swipe navigation, Copy and paste formulas, Formula and answer history, Number base conversion (binary, octal, decimal, hex), Variable memory

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Free42 free?

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

### Is Panecal Plus Sci. Calculator free?

Panecal Plus Sci. Calculator costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Free42 or Panecal Plus Sci. Calculator?

Free42 and Panecal Plus Sci. Calculator are both rated 4.8 out of 5 on the App Store, from 283 and 363 ratings respectively.

### Do Free42 or Panecal Plus Sci. Calculator have ads?

Neither Free42 nor Panecal Plus Sci. Calculator shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Free42 or Panecal Plus Sci. Calculator?

Free42 ships an update weekly, and Panecal Plus Sci. Calculator every 3 months. Most recently, Free42 was updated on October 14, 2026 and Panecal Plus Sci. Calculator 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.*