# Calculator₊ vs Basic Calculator

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Calculator₊ at 1.7M against Basic Calculator's 3.2K. Calculator₊ also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months) and chart position (#92 vs unranked). Basic Calculator's advantage is review sentiment (74% vs 63%). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Calculator₊ sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month and Basic Calculator sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Calculator₊ against 4.8 for Basic Calculator. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Calculator₊ has 1.7M ratings behind it against 3.2K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 63% of Calculator₊'s written reviews are positive against 74% of Basic Calculator's.

Calculator₊ ships an update fortnightly, Basic Calculator every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Calculator₊ | Basic Calculator |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (1.7M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/calculator/id398129933/reviews) | **[4.8 (3.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/basic-calculator-classic-calc/id430271248/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.7M** | 3.2K |
| Positive reviews | 63.2% of reviews | **74.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#92** | — |
| Size | 237 MB | 93 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch, Vision Pro** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | +4 |
| Developer | [Impala Studios](https://appshunter.io/developer/1063279743) | [MobArts](https://appshunter.io/developer/429185872) |

## What reviewers say

### Calculator₊

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/calculator/id398129933)

**Currently charting:** #92 Top Grossing · Utilities (US App Store)

This app offers a comprehensive suite of calculation tools, including basic, scientific, and unit conversion functions. It features an AI-powered math solver that can solve problems from photos and a dedicated math notes section for jotting down equations and diagrams. Accessibility options like dynamic text size and VoiceOver support are also included.

**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

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases (12)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Member Special Offer | $0.99 | per month |
| Monthly Premium Member | $0.99 | per month |
| 1 Month Premium Access | $1.49 | per month |
| Unlimited Math Calculations | $3.99 | per 6 months |
| Half-Yearly Premium Member | $3.99 | per 6 months |
| Calculate Faster, AI, & No Ads | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| 1 Year Ad-Free | $5.99 | per year |
| Calculate Faster, AI, & No Ads | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| 1 Month Premium Trial | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| Math Solver/Full Access/No Ads | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| 6 Months Premium Access | $8.99 | per 6 months |
| Smart Currency & Fraction Calc | $14.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

- Incorrect calculation results for certain functions
- Inability to delete last entered digit without clearing entire calculation

**Requested features**

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


### Basic Calculator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/basic-calculator-classic-calc/id430271248)

A free, classic calculator app with large, easy-to-press buttons and customizable skins. It supports basic arithmetic, memory functions, and can handle very large numbers without using scientific notation. Multitasking is also supported on compatible devices.

**Highlights:** Large, easy-to-press buttons, Multiple beautiful skins, Basic arithmetic operations, Standard memory functions, Supports large numbers (up to 60 digits), Multitasking support (Split View, Slide Over)

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Banner Ad Removal | $0.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and easy to use
- 💡 Useful copy and paste functions
- 👍 Clear and large display
- 👍 Variety of skins/themes
- 👍 Responsive and fast

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Compatibility issues with iOS updates
- 🐛 Inaccurate calculations with larger numbers
- 🔋 Slow load times
- 🔍 Intrusive ads

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes or freezes after iOS updates
- Percent key not functioning correctly

**Requested features**

- Reinstate iPhone version
- Add scientific calculator functions
- Improve memory retention


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Calculator₊ free?

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

### Is Basic Calculator free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Calculator₊ or Basic Calculator?

Basic Calculator is rated higher. Calculator₊ averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.7M ratings, while Basic Calculator averages 4.8 from 3.2K ratings.

### Do Calculator₊ or Basic Calculator have ads?

Both Calculator₊ and Basic Calculator show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Calculator₊ or Basic Calculator?

Calculator₊ ships an update fortnightly, and Basic Calculator every 2 months. Most recently, Calculator₊ was updated on September 24, 2026 and Basic Calculator on September 23, 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.*