Comparison

Free42 vs my12c

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 mobile devices.

Highlights
  • HP-42S calculator simulation
  • HP-82240 printer simulation
  • Open-source project
  • No ROM image required
  • Runs original programs
  • 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

my12c

Read full description

The financial calculator that has been on every banker's, broker's and realtor's desk since 1981 — now on your iPhone, iPad and Mac. my12C brings the legendary 12C Voyager series financial calculator back to life with cycle-accurate emulation running the original microcode. Every keystroke, every display flicker, every RPN operation — faithfully reproduced. WHY THE 12C NEVER WENT AWAY The 12C is the longest-lived calculator ever made, and for good reason: its time-value-of-money keys, cash-flow analysis and RPN logic solve real financial problems in a handful of keystrokes. It is still the calculator used in finance courses and licensing exams around the world. FEATURES • Cycle-accurate emulation — runs the original Voyager microcode, not a simulation • Time value of money — n, i, PV, PMT and FV, solve for any of the five • Amortization — interest and principal for any range of payments • Cash-flow analysis — NPV and IRR for up to 20 grouped cash flows • Bonds — price and yield to maturity on the 30/360 basis • Depreciation — straight-line, sum-of-the-years-digits and declining-balance • Calendar — days between dates and date arithmetic, actual and 30/360 • Percentages, simple interest, odd-period compounding, statistics and linear regression • Programmable — up to 99 lines, with conditional tests, branching and looping • RPN entry — the efficient Reverse Polish Notation four-level stack • Authentic 7-segment LCD display with all original annunciators • Built-in self-tests, working exactly as on the original hardware BUILT FOR TODAY • Complete Owner's Manual inside the app — every section, worked example, cash-flow diagram, formula and program listing of the original handbook, with a linked subject index • iCloud sync — your calculator state follows you across devices • Native on iPhone and Mac — landscape optimized on iOS, resizable window on macOS • Full keyboard support on Mac — type numbers and operators directly, Enter on the numeric keypad works as ENTER • Dark interface faithful to the original Voyager design

Screenshots

Free423 screens
my12c3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Free42 at none against my12c's 1. Free42 also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 26.0). On price, update cadence, ads and device support 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. my12c sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Free42 asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Free42 ships an update weekly, my12c every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Free42 versus my12c: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFree42my12c
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (287 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews94.4% of reviews—
Number of ratings287 — better—
Update frequencyWeeklyEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Mac
Requires iOS15.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB6 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperThomas OkkenMiroslav Perovic

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

my12c

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Free42

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

my12c

One-time1
  • Unlock Full App$9.99

Questions

Is Free42 free?
Free42 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is my12c free?
my12c is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Free42 or my12c have ads?
Neither Free42 nor my12c shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Free42 or my12c?
Free42 ships an update weekly, and my12c every 5 days. Most recently, Free42 was updated on November 6, 2026 and my12c on October 31, 2026.

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