# Basic Calculator vs Calculator

The clearest difference is ads: Calculator at none against Basic Calculator's shown. Calculator also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Basic Calculator sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Calculator sells 2 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 4.8 for Calculator. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3.2K and 1.9K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 74% of Basic Calculator's written reviews are positive against 71% of Calculator's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

## 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) | [4.8 (1.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/calculator-mingcalc/id1596875771/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **3.2K** | 1.9K |
| Positive reviews | **74.3% of reviews** | 71.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 93 MB | 54 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) | [杭州智慧小明科技有限公司](https://appshunter.io/developer/1631940625) |

## 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-mingcalc/id1596875771)

This utility app offers a streamlined and efficient calculator experience. It records your entire calculation history for easy retrieval and allows for personalized prompt tones and customizable themes. Ideal for iPad users seeking a simpler, faster calculation tool.

**Highlights:** Faster calculation speed, Complete calculation process recording, Customizable prompt tones, Built-in exquisite themes, Ideal for iPad

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| One year VIP | $3.99 | one-time |
| Permanent VIP | $14.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Convenient and efficient
- 💡 Useful features
- 👍 Simple operation
- 👍 Colorful and visually appealing

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Issues with deleting the app
- 💰 Expensive paid version
- 🔒 Unclear about the paid subscription

**Reported bugs**

- Paid subscription not working as expected
- Compatibility issues with older devices

**Requested features**

- Add scientific calculation options
- Ability to save and export calculation history


## 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 in-app purchases available.

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

Basic Calculator and Calculator are both rated 4.8 out of 5 on the App Store, from 3.2K and 1.9K ratings respectively.

### Do Basic Calculator or Calculator have ads?

Basic Calculator shows ads; Calculator does not.

### 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 21, 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.*