Comparison

Calculator Max vs CALC Smart Calculator ±

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

Head to head
About

Calculator Max

This app offers a comprehensive suite of calculation tools, from basic arithmetic to advanced scientific functions. It features a history tape for easy access and reuse of entries, and a unique scribble pad for handwritten notes and equation solving on iPads. Enjoy a clean interface, multitasking support, and customizable themes.

Highlights
  • Basic and scientific calculators
  • History tape with export options
  • Handwritten notes and equation solving
  • Multitasking support on iPad
  • Customizable themes and app icons
  • Home Screen and Lock Screen widgets
Features
Read full description

Calculator Max makes both simple and complex calculations easy. It offers all calculators you’ll ever need in one carefully designed, uncluttered and easy-to-use package. Switching between calculators is buttery-smooth and natural. The basic calculator with big buttons swiftly handles everyday tasks. The more advanced scientific calculator is loaded with all important mathematical functions and constants. A history tape with your entries is comfortably accessible in all calculator modes. Thanks to it, you never lose track of what you’ve entered and the entries can be reused effortlessly in your calculations. The tape can also be exported to common formats and shared or printed. On the large screen of any iPad it is pure joy to make handwriting notes or draw your ideas right in the app. Write down any math equation and let the app calculate it for you in the blink of an eye. Or reuse any handwriting which you can easily convert to editable text. ————————— WHAT YOU GET ————————— /// POWERFUL CALCULATOR /// — Basic calculator with big buttons — Scientific calculator packed with functions and constants — History tape with the calculations at your fingertips in all modes — Extensive rounding options (e.g. two decimal places for accounting) — Up to 5 memory slots for frequent numbers — Plain Text, Monospaced Text, CSV, PDF and image export formats — Advanced export, share and print options — Scribble Pad on iPad for easy math equations solving, handwritten notes and sketches /// PRODUCTIVE WORKFLOW /// — Side tape layouts for easier long records handling — Clean and uncluttered interface with refined haptic feedback — Multitasking support on iPad for side-by-side work — External keyboard support for even faster input and app control — Universal app for all your iPhones, iPads and Macs — User interface precisely adapted for each device capabilities /// FAST ACCESS /// — Home Screen widgets with last calculations and memory — Widgets for direct access from the Lock Screen — Control Center and Lock Screen fast access buttons /// MIGHTY SCRIBBLE PAD /// — The right place for your quick notes and sketches — Easily calculates any written down math equation — Recognizes your handwriting and converts it to editable text — Fully-fledged notebook with unlimited number of paper sheets — Exportable as text, image or PDF — Optimized for your finger as well as Apple Pencil — Support for LAMY and Adonit styluses (on iPad) — Available on all iPad models /// EXTENSIVE CUSTOMIZATION /// — Handcrafted design themes with dark mode support — Loads of app icons you can easily choose from the best one for your Homescreen — Carefully selected sound sets Terms of use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

CALC Smart Calculator ±

This app offers a versatile calculator experience with basic, scientific, and advanced modes. It features real-time results, unit conversions, custom functions, and a shareable history. Optimized for various Apple devices, it's designed for ease of use by students, professionals, and scientists.

Highlights
  • Real-time results
  • Unit and currency conversions
  • Custom functions and constants
  • Shareable calculation history
  • Landscape mode with tape-roll
  • Gratuity calculator
Features
Read full description

Why Choose CALC Smart? ► Used by Scientists, Professionals and Students alike ► Apple-Featured: Spotlighted in Utilities and Calculate & Convert. ► User-Loved: Over 10k+ global reviews and 200M+ sessions validate its utility. ► Educator-Certified: Praised by teachers on the Educational App Store for its intuitive UI. Ready for the Latest OS * Multitask on your iPad and use 3D Touch shortcuts. * Search your calculation history with Spotlight. * Widget with history integration. * Apple Watch support, complete with haptic feedback and complications. Top 10 Unique Features ① Real-time results, even with incomplete parentheses. ② Landscape mode for shareable history and tape-roll. ③ Optimized custom keyboard & widget to save space and time. ④ Fast unit and currency conversions—a swipe away. ⑤ Quick gratuity calculator with rounding options. ⑥ Display decimals as fractions with 1/999 precision. ⑦ Create unlimited custom functions and constants. ⑧ Easy expression sharing via link. ⑨ Built-in timer. ⑩ Limitless themes and layouts. Why Users Love CALC * Live Math: Natural input, even for complex calculations. * Swipe Functions: Over 60 advanced math functions just a swipe away. * History: Never lose track of your calculations. * Conversion: 21 categories, plus custom options. Additional Features * Edit on the Fly: Long-press to modify expressions and numbers. * Audio Feedback: Customize tapping sounds. * Styling: Multiple font choices. * Enterprise-Ready: EMM support with MDM & AppConfig. We Listen * Frequent updates based on your feedback. Got a suggestion? Visit our UserVoice page: https://QApps.UserVoice.com Custom Background Tip * Design your own CALC background with images from NASA’s multimedia library: https://nasa.gov/multimedia Terms & Usage * Using this app means agreeing to the standard Terms of Use. Standard Terms of Use (EULA) - https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Calculator Max4 screens
CALC Smart Calculator ±4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: CALC Smart Calculator ± at 87% against Calculator Max's 55%. CALC Smart Calculator ± also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.3) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months). Calculator Max's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases 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 Max sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per year and CALC Smart Calculator ± sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 3 months. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

CALC Smart Calculator ± holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.9K and 2.4K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 55% of Calculator Max's written reviews are positive against 87% of CALC Smart Calculator ±'s.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Calculator Max ships an update every 2 months, CALC Smart Calculator ± fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Calculator Max versus CALC Smart Calculator ±: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCalculator MaxCALC Smart Calculator ±
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (1.9K ratings)4.8 (2.4K ratings) — better
Positive reviews55.1% of reviews87.3% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1.9K2.4K — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, MaciPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch
Requires iOS15.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size126 MB16 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPavel KozarekQApps LLC

Customer experience

Calculator Max

All ratings1,651 ratings
Positive82.0%
Neutral2.8%
Negative15.2%
Written reviews292 reviews
Positive55.1%
Neutral3.4%
Negative41.4%

CALC Smart Calculator ±

All ratings2,370 ratings
Positive96.7%
Neutral2.1%
Negative1.2%
Written reviews640 reviews
Positive87.3%
Neutral3.9%
Negative8.8%

User reviews

Calculator Max

From 1.9K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Easy to use
  • 📝 Useful note-taking feature
  • 💾 Tape/history feature
  • 👍 Clean and intuitive interface
  • 🎨 Customizable appearance

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions
  • 📤 Lack of export/sharing options for tape/history
  • 🔍 Difficulty finding settings
  • 🔀 Sensitive orientation switching

CALC Smart Calculator ±

From 2.4K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 💻 Excellent calculator functionality
  • 🎨 Beautiful and clean interface
  • 🔢 Displays full calculation history
  • 🔍 Useful conversion tools
  • 🤖 Seamless Apple Watch integration

Room to improve

  • 💰 Subscription model introduced
  • 🔒 Restricted features behind paywall
  • 📊 Calculation bugs and inaccuracies
  • 🔄 Unnecessary UI changes frustrate users

Bugs and requests

Calculator Max

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Crashes after iOS 26 update
  • Tape not visible/functional on iPhone
  • Calculator buttons/layout issues in split-screen mode

Requested features

5 requests
  • Left-handed mode
  • Backspace/edit functionality
  • Scientific calculator mode with tape
  • Tape annotation/labeling
  • Cloud/Dropbox sync for tape

CALC Smart Calculator ±

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Calculation errors in certain scenarios
  • Forced tutorial popup on every launch
  • Unreliable widget functionality

Requested features

4 requests
  • Ability to easily clear calculation history
  • Option to customize button layout
  • Support for entering hexadecimal numbers
  • Integration with other apps and services

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Calculator Max

Subscriptions1
  • Calculator Max Pro7 Days trial$4.991 Year
One-time1
  • Calculator Max Pro$3.99
4 purchases

CALC Smart Calculator ±

Subscriptions4
  • Quarterly Supporter$0.993 Months
  • Quarterly Supporter7 Days trial$1.993 Months
  • Annual Contributor$2.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Annual Contributor7 Days trial$5.991 Year

Questions

Is Calculator Max free?
Calculator Max is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is CALC Smart Calculator ± free?
CALC Smart Calculator ± is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Calculator Max or CALC Smart Calculator ±?
CALC Smart Calculator ± is rated higher. Calculator Max averages 4.3 out of 5 from 1.9K ratings, while CALC Smart Calculator ± averages 4.8 from 2.4K ratings.
Do Calculator Max or CALC Smart Calculator ± have ads?
Neither Calculator Max nor CALC Smart Calculator ± shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Calculator Max or CALC Smart Calculator ±?
Calculator Max ships an update every 2 months, and CALC Smart Calculator ± fortnightly. Most recently, Calculator Max was updated on October 22, 2026 and CALC Smart Calculator ± on October 23, 2026.

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