# Basic Calculator vs RealCalculator

The clearest difference is ads: RealCalculator at none against Basic Calculator's shown. Basic Calculator's advantage is rating (4.8 vs 4.3) and ratings volume (3.2K vs 44). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Basic Calculator sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and RealCalculator sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Basic Calculator holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Basic Calculator has 3.2K ratings behind it against 44, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 74% and 75% positive.

Basic Calculator ships an update every 2 months, RealCalculator monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 11, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Basic Calculator | RealCalculator |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (3.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/basic-calculator-classic-calc/id430271248/reviews)** | [4.3 (44 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/realcalculator-ai-solver/id6738848590/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **3.2K** | 44 |
| Positive reviews | 74.3% of reviews | **75.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 93 MB | 53 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | +4 | 4+ |
| Developer | [MobArts](https://appshunter.io/developer/429185872) | [HigherGroundsTech LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1580456124) |

## 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


### RealCalculator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/realcalculator-ai-solver/id6738848590)

This AI-powered study companion offers step-by-step solutions for a wide range of subjects, including math, science, and history. It features a comprehensive scientific calculator, unit converter, and graphing tools to aid in learning and problem-solving.

**Highlights:** AI-powered step-by-step solutions, Multi-subject support (Math, Science, History, etc.), Comprehensive scientific calculator, Unit converter, Real-time graphing, Photo-to-solution capability

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro Unlimited access | $1.99 | per 7 days |
| Pro Unlimited access | $49.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Basic Calculator free?

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

### Is RealCalculator free?

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

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

Basic Calculator is rated higher. Basic Calculator averages 4.8 out of 5 from 3.2K ratings, while RealCalculator averages 4.3 from 44 ratings.

### Do Basic Calculator or RealCalculator have ads?

Basic Calculator shows ads; RealCalculator does not.

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

Basic Calculator ships an update every 2 months, and RealCalculator monthly. Most recently, Basic Calculator was updated on September 23, 2026 and RealCalculator on September 11, 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.*