# Basic Calculator vs Calculator⁻

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Calculator⁻ at none against Basic Calculator's 1. Calculator⁻ also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). Basic Calculator's advantage is rating (4.8 vs 4.4) and review sentiment (74% vs 52%). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Basic Calculator sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Calculator⁻ asks for nothing beyond the download.

Basic Calculator holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3.2K and 3.6K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 74% of Basic Calculator's written reviews are positive against 52% of Calculator⁻'s.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. Both last shipped on September 23, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Basic Calculator | Calculator⁻ |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (3.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/basic-calculator-classic-calc/id430271248/reviews)** | [4.4 (3.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/calculator/id1327796464/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 3.2K | **3.6K** |
| Positive reviews | **74.3% of reviews** | 52.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 93 MB | 4 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | +4 | 4+ |
| Developer | [MobArts](https://appshunter.io/developer/429185872) | [UniCom Technology](https://appshunter.io/developer/1270764210) |

## What reviewers say

### 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


### Calculator⁻

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/calculator/id1327796464)

A straightforward calculator app designed for simplicity, offering basic arithmetic operations and percentage calculations. It allows users to record and recall past results, customize colors, and enable touch sounds for a personalized experience.

**Highlights:** Basic arithmetic operations, Percentage calculations, Record and recall results, Customizable colors, Touch sound option

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Efficient calculations
- 💡 Retro design
- 👍 Simple and straightforward

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Decimal point issues
- 🐛 Incorrect calculations
- 🐛 Broken buttons
- 🔍 Confusing button layout

**Reported bugs**

- Decimal point problem: .5 becomes 5
- Button that should be 7 shows as 9 and gives 9 when used
- Percentage button does not work correctly

**Requested features**

- Backspace button
- Percentage button that works properly
- Arrange buttons in standard calculator layout


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Basic Calculator free?

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

### Is Calculator⁻ free?

Calculator⁻ is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

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

Basic Calculator is rated higher. Basic Calculator averages 4.8 out of 5 from 3.2K ratings, while Calculator⁻ averages 4.4 from 3.6K ratings.

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

Both Basic Calculator and Calculator⁻ show ads.

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

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