# Basic Calculator vs The Simple Calculator

The clearest difference is update cadence: The Simple Calculator at weekly against Basic Calculator's every 2 months. The Simple Calculator also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). Basic Calculator's advantage is ratings volume (3.2K vs 171). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads there is nothing between them.

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

Basic Calculator holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Basic Calculator has 3.2K ratings behind it against 171, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 74% of Basic Calculator's written reviews are positive against 77% of The Simple Calculator's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Basic Calculator ships an update every 2 months, The Simple Calculator weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Basic Calculator | The Simple Calculator |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (3.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/basic-calculator-classic-calc/id430271248/reviews)** | [4.6 (171 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-simple-calculator-solve/id1525169566/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **3.2K** | 171 |
| Positive reviews | 74.3% of reviews | **76.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 93 MB | 28 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | +4 | 4+ |
| Developer | [MobArts](https://appshunter.io/developer/429185872) | [Andreas Skotadis](https://appshunter.io/developer/1525168367) |

## 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


### The Simple Calculator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-simple-calculator-solve/id1525169566)

This app offers a straightforward way to perform everyday calculations, including basic arithmetic, roots, percentages, and geometric formulas for common shapes. It supports fractions and offers convenient features like dark mode and copy-paste functionality.

**Highlights:** Basic arithmetic operations, Roots and percentages, Geometric calculations for shapes, Fraction support, Portrait and landscape modes, Dark mode, Copy and paste results

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $0.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Basic Calculator free?

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

### Is The Simple Calculator free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Basic Calculator or The Simple Calculator?

Basic Calculator is rated higher. Basic Calculator averages 4.8 out of 5 from 3.2K ratings, while The Simple Calculator averages 4.6 from 171 ratings.

### Do Basic Calculator or The Simple Calculator have ads?

Both Basic Calculator and The Simple Calculator show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Basic Calculator or The Simple Calculator?

Basic Calculator ships an update every 2 months, and The Simple Calculator weekly. Most recently, Basic Calculator was updated on September 23, 2026 and The Simple Calculator on September 12, 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.*