# Calculator Max vs Palettra

The clearest difference is rating: Palettra at 5.0 against Calculator Max's 4.3. Palettra also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs every 2 months). Calculator Max's advantage is ratings volume (1.9K vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Calculator Max sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per year and Palettra sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Palettra holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Calculator Max has 1.9K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Calculator Max ships an update every 2 months, Palettra every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Calculator Max | Palettra |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (1.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/calculator-max/id364905554/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/palettra/id6782158329/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.9K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 55.1% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 126 MB | 21 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Pavel Kozarek](https://appshunter.io/developer/303215376) | [新焰 陈](https://appshunter.io/developer/1882014839) |

## What reviewers say

### Calculator Max

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/calculator-max/id364905554)

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:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Calculator Max Pro | $4.99 | per year |
| Calculator Max Pro | $3.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

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


### Palettra

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/palettra/id6782158329)

This tool helps researchers, students, and designers recolor scientific figures and images. It offers professional and adaptive color palettes, allowing you to remap chart colors and export high-quality images for various professional uses.

**Highlights:** Professional color palettes, Adaptive palette generation, Image and PDF import, Chart color remapping, High-quality image export (PNG, JPEG, TIFF, PDF), Cross-platform access

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Palettra Pro Monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| Palettra Pro Yearly | $9.99 | per year |
| Palettra Pro Lifetime | $14.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Calculator Max free?

Calculator Max is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Palettra free?

Palettra is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Calculator Max or Palettra?

Palettra is rated higher. Calculator Max averages 4.3 out of 5 from 1.9K ratings, while Palettra averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Calculator Max or Palettra have ads?

Neither Calculator Max nor Palettra shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Calculator Max or Palettra?

Calculator Max ships an update every 2 months, and Palettra every 4 days. Most recently, Calculator Max was updated on October 22, 2026 and Palettra on October 9, 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.*