# Basic Calculator vs Solves

The clearest difference is ads: Solves at none against Basic Calculator's shown. Solves also leads on review sentiment (91% vs 74%) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). Basic Calculator's advantage is ratings volume (3.2K vs 381). On price, rating, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Basic Calculator sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Solves sells 6 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Basic Calculator against 4.9 for Solves. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Basic Calculator has 3.2K ratings behind it against 381, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 74% of Basic Calculator's written reviews are positive against 91% of Solves's.

Basic Calculator ships an update every 2 months, Solves every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Basic Calculator | Solves |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (3.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/basic-calculator-classic-calc/id430271248/reviews) | **[4.9 (381 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/solves-calculator-for-all/id1394359548/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **3.2K** | 381 |
| Positive reviews | 74.3% of reviews | **90.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 93 MB | 82 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | +4 | 4+ |
| Developer | [MobArts](https://appshunter.io/developer/429185872) | [Oleg Barinov](https://appshunter.io/developer/1394359547) |

## 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


### Solves

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/solves-calculator-for-all/id1394359548)

A powerful and versatile calculator for all your Apple devices. Edit complex expressions, sync history across devices, and enjoy a clean, ad-free experience. Unlock advanced features like unit conversion and fraction support with an optional upgrade.

**Highlights:** Edit expressions without limitations, Instant results, Sync calculation history across devices, Unit conversion (currencies, physical units), Fraction support, Customizable themes

**Features:** Family Sharing, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Tip Option #1 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Tip Option #2 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Tip Option #3 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Tip Option #4 | $9.99 | one-time |
| Solves+ | $9.99 | one-time |
| Tip Option #5 | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Excellent calculator app
- 🚀 Smooth and responsive
- 🔒 No ads or data collection
- 💡 Useful features like history, comments, and unit conversions
- 👍 Clean and intuitive design

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes or bugs after updates
- 🐛 Issues with certain mathematical operations
- 🐛 Family sharing not working properly
- 🐛 Lag or performance issues on some devices
- 💡 Desire for more advanced features like fractions, base conversions

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes when pressing certain buttons
- Issues with parsing complex expressions
- Incorrect results for some calculations
- Problems with history clearing or syncing

**Requested features**

- Add support for fractions and mixed numbers
- Implement a widget for quick access
- Allow resizing the app window on Mac
- Provide more customization options
- Add support for Apple Watch


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Basic Calculator free?

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

### Is Solves free?

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

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

Solves is rated higher. Basic Calculator averages 4.8 out of 5 from 3.2K ratings, while Solves averages 4.9 from 381 ratings.

### Do Basic Calculator or Solves have ads?

Basic Calculator shows ads; Solves does not.

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

Basic Calculator ships an update every 2 months, and Solves every 3 weeks. Most recently, Basic Calculator was updated on September 23, 2026 and Solves on September 19, 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.*