# Basic Calculator vs Calculator Express with Notes

The clearest difference is rating: Basic Calculator at 4.8 against Calculator Express with Notes's 4.4. Basic Calculator also leads on ratings volume (3.2K vs 43). Calculator Express with Notes's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 2 months). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Basic Calculator sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Calculator Express with Notes sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Basic Calculator holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Basic Calculator has 3.2K ratings behind it against 43, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 74% of Basic Calculator's written reviews are positive against 69% of Calculator Express with Notes's.

Basic Calculator ships an update every 2 months, Calculator Express with Notes monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and August 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Basic Calculator | Calculator Express with Notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (3.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/basic-calculator-classic-calc/id430271248/reviews)** | [4.4 (43 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/calculator-express-with-notes/id1604079825/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **3.2K** | 43 |
| Positive reviews | **74.3% of reviews** | 69.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 93 MB | 28 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | +4 | 4+ |
| Developer | [MobArts](https://appshunter.io/developer/429185872) | [RAMAN KHVASHCHEUSKI](https://appshunter.io/developer/1437493298) |

## 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 Express with Notes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/calculator-express-with-notes/id1604079825)

A beautifully designed utility app offering six essential tools, including currency, unit, and percentage converters, plus calculators for BMI, tips, and world time. Users can customize the app's appearance and manage calculation history with notes and labels.

**Highlights:** Currency converter, Unit converter, Percentage calculator, BMI calculator, Tip calculator, World time converter, Customizable appearance, Calculation history with notes

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads -50% off | $1.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads | $4.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Basic Calculator free?

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

### Is Calculator Express with Notes free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Basic Calculator or Calculator Express with Notes?

Basic Calculator is rated higher. Basic Calculator averages 4.8 out of 5 from 3.2K ratings, while Calculator Express with Notes averages 4.4 from 43 ratings.

### Do Basic Calculator or Calculator Express with Notes have ads?

Both Basic Calculator and Calculator Express with Notes show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Basic Calculator or Calculator Express with Notes?

Basic Calculator ships an update every 2 months, and Calculator Express with Notes monthly. Most recently, Basic Calculator was updated on September 23, 2026 and Calculator Express with Notes on August 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.*