Comparison

CalculateRetro vs The Cool Calculator

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

Head to head
About

CalculateRetro

This app allows users to track all their calculations with features like a backspace key, history printing, and PDF export. It supports Apple Watch, dark mode, and customization of display and fonts. Calculations can be shared via email or saved for later access.

Highlights
  • Apple Watch calculator
  • Today View Extension
  • Printable/emailable calculation history
  • Backspace key for corrections
  • Customizable display and fonts
  • Dark mode support
  • Copy/paste functionality
Features
Read full description

Featured in What´s Hot on iTunes The BEST Calculator! App for iPad, iPhone, iTouch and Apple Watch. Ever lost your train of thought half way through a calculation and thought how handy it would be to have a print out or e-mail of your work? Features: - Print out the calculation history or send by PDF. - Correct with a backspace key if you enter a wrong digit without having to redo all. - Email, PDF or Print the calculation history. - PDF the Tape and access previous in the Documents Folder. - Exchange Documents in iTunes or open in iBooks, Email, etc. - Rename and share PDF documents. - Copy and Paste numbers to other Apps, by tapping on the display. - Change number display to Fixed, Scientific, etc., by tapping on the display. - Customize the background, fixed digits, fonts, colors and sizes. - Customize the Tape font, size and color. - An audible sound confirms if you have pressed a button, which can be easily disabled by touching the speaker. - Show calculations on an Apple TV or an external monitor with a cable. - Previous calculation is repeated when the equal sign is pressed. - Grand Total calculated. - Numbers in Memory may be logged to the Tape. - A visible and audible error when trying to divide by zero or take the square root of a negative number. - Numbers are shown in local format, depending on your Region Formats, i.e. comma used in Europe.

About

The Cool Calculator

This app offers a powerful calculator with a unique drag-and-drop memory function. It also includes tools for measurement conversion, debt amortization, and real-time currency exchange rates.

Highlights
  • Drag-and-drop result saving to memory
  • Measurement conversion utility
  • Debt calculator with amortization
  • Real-time currency conversion
  • Customizable backgrounds and buttons
  • Copy results to clipboard
Features
Read full description

The unique feature of the Cool Calculator is that you can DRAG your calculated results to one of the Memory Buttons and drop it and then re-use it. The Cool Calculator includes not just a Cool Calculator, but also a Measurement Conversion Utility, Amortization Utility and get Current Currency Conversions. With this Version you get all this: - Copy your Calculated Result to the Clipboard - Conversions That Copy results to the Clipboard - Debt Calculator with Amortization Schedule - Currency Conversion (Internet Connection Required) - Tax and Discount Buttons (iPad Only) - Change your Button Backgrounds - New Hi-Res Backgrounds for Retna Displays - New Hi-Res Buttons for Retna Displays - The Background Image moves with the device - Save Your Memory slots and recall them at a later time. - Additional Hi-Res Button Images to Choose From - Change the Font and Size on the Calculator Buttons - Additional Hi-Res Background Images from Dienzo Fine Art Photo - Help screens on the iPad to learn how to use the app. With an In-App Purchase you get: - No Ads Try The Cool Calculator Today!!!! You will not be disappointed!

Screenshots

CalculateRetro4 screens
The Cool Calculator4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: The Cool Calculator at Free against CalculateRetro's $1.99. The Cool Calculator also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.5) and ratings volume (399 vs 15). CalculateRetro's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ads (none vs shown). On review sentiment, update cadence 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

The Cool Calculator is free to download; CalculateRetro costs $1.99 up front. The Cool Calculator sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. CalculateRetro asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

The Cool Calculator holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: The Cool Calculator has 399 ratings behind it against 15, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 82% of CalculateRetro's written reviews are positive against 86% of The Cool Calculator's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 months. Both last shipped on November 1, 2026.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
CalculateRetro versus The Cool Calculator: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCalculateRetroThe Cool Calculator
Price$1.99Free — better
Rating4.5 (15 ratings)4.8 (399 ratings) — better
Positive reviews82.4% of reviews86.1% of reviews — better
Number of ratings15399 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 3 months
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS26.014.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size16 MB35 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperHannes SverrissonBitco Software LLC

Customer experience

CalculateRetro

All ratings15 ratings
Positive86.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative13.3%
Written reviews17 reviews
Positive82.4%
Neutral0.0%
Negative17.6%

The Cool Calculator

All ratings379 ratings
Positive94.7%
Neutral2.1%
Negative3.2%
Written reviews36 reviews
Positive86.1%
Neutral2.8%
Negative11.1%

Bugs and requests

CalculateRetro

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

The Cool Calculator

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Decimal not in right place when adding up
  • New update crashed app on iPad 4
  • No numbers in buttons after update
  • App crashes after update
  • Default to 0.2 when entering decimals like .02 or .002

Requested features

5 requests
  • Copy calculations to other tabs
  • Add tax and discount buttons (deluxe version)
  • Option for number formatting (commas, $)
  • Landscape view for free version
  • Remove ads or offer a paid version without ads

In-app purchases

None

CalculateRetro

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

The Cool Calculator

One-time1
  • Deluxe Version$2.99

Questions

Is CalculateRetro free?
CalculateRetro costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is The Cool Calculator free?
The Cool Calculator is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, CalculateRetro or The Cool Calculator?
The Cool Calculator is rated higher. CalculateRetro averages 4.5 out of 5 from 15 ratings, while The Cool Calculator averages 4.8 from 399 ratings.
Do CalculateRetro or The Cool Calculator have ads?
The Cool Calculator shows ads; CalculateRetro does not.
Which is updated more often, CalculateRetro or The Cool Calculator?
CalculateRetro ships an update every 3 months, and The Cool Calculator every 3 months. Most recently, CalculateRetro was updated on November 1, 2026 and The Cool Calculator on November 1, 2026.

Other comparisons