# CalculateRetro vs The Cool Calculator

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.

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.

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.

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

## The numbers

| Metric | CalculateRetro | The Cool Calculator |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $1.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.5 (15 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/calculateretro/id428851944/reviews) | **[4.8 (399 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-cool-calculator/id456864819/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 15 | **399** |
| Positive reviews | 82.4% of reviews | **86.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 16 MB | 35 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Hannes Sverrisson](https://appshunter.io/developer/428851947) | [Bitco Software LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/451102427) |

## What reviewers say

### CalculateRetro

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/calculateretro/id428851944)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### The Cool Calculator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-cool-calculator/id456864819)

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:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Deluxe Version | $2.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🎨 Amazing design
- 🖼️ Customizable backgrounds
- 💡 Cool features
- 🚀 Fast and efficient

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Decimal placement issues
- 💥 Crashes after updates
- 🚫 No numbers on buttons (temporary bug)
- 💸 Ads in free version
- 📱 No landscape view in free version

**Reported bugs**

- 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**

- 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


## Frequently asked 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.

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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.*