# Basic Calculator vs Calculator

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Basic Calculator at 74% against Calculator's 52%. Basic Calculator also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.5). Calculator's advantage is ratings volume (146K vs 3.2K) and update cadence (every 4 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, ads, 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 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 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Calculator has 146K ratings behind it against 3.2K, 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 52% of Calculator's.

Basic Calculator ships an update every 2 months, Calculator every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 25, 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)** | [4.5 (146K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/calculator/id552974550/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 3.2K | **146K** |
| Positive reviews | **74.3% of reviews** | 51.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 4 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 93 MB | 82 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | +4 | 4+ |
| Developer | [MobArts](https://appshunter.io/developer/429185872) | [The App Tower Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/552974553) |

## 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/id552974550)

This utility app offers a straightforward calculation experience with a vast selection of over 80 customizable themes. Personalize your calculator's appearance to suit your style while performing everyday math tasks.

**Highlights:** Basic calculations, Over 80 themes, Theme customization, Easy to use interface

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Ad Free Calculator | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🎨 Customizable backgrounds
- 💯 Accurate calculations
- 🆒 Unique design
- 🔍 Helpful for schoolwork

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💸 Ads disrupt usage
- 🔒 Requires payment to remove ads
- 🔀 Cannot rotate to landscape mode
- 🐛 Occasional calculation errors
- 📵 Freezes during use

**Reported bugs**

- Ads freeze the app
- Incorrect results for certain calculations

**Requested features**

- Add fraction support
- Implement a calculation history feature
- Provide more background theme options
- Allow landscape mode on tablets


## 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 is rated higher. Basic Calculator averages 4.8 out of 5 from 3.2K ratings, while Calculator averages 4.5 from 146K 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 4 weeks. Most recently, Basic Calculator was updated on September 23, 2026 and Calculator on September 25, 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.*