Comparison

StudentCalc vs The PocketLab

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

StudentCalc

A scientific calculator designed for ease of use on mobile devices. It offers large, uncluttered buttons and intuitive gesture-based access to functions, eliminating the need for complex key combinations. Customize your experience with background options and enjoy extended accuracy for precise calculations.

Highlights
  • Gesture-based function access
  • Large, uncluttered buttons
  • Backspace correction key
  • Copy and paste functionality
  • Customizable background and display
  • Extended accuracy calculations
Features
Read full description

Scientific Calculator for iPad, iPhone and iTouch all in the same App. Easy to access the scientific functions by swiping between exponents, logs and sinus functions so all buttons are large and uncluttereds, this allows you to work faster and more reliable (no rotation or "2nd" function keys needed). All the functions are visible on the iPad, but more are revealed by rotating to landscape. Balloon help for easy functionality. Features: - Correct with a backspace key if you enter a wrong digit without having to redo. - Parantheses and correct calculation priority. - Copy and Paste numbers to other Apps, by tapping on the display. - Change number display to Fixed, Scientific, etc., by tapping on the display. - Customize you background and fixed digits. - An audible sound confirms if you have pressed a button, which can be easily disabled by touching the speaker. - Previous calculation is repeated when the equal sign is pressed. - Memory is saved between uses. - Degrees and Radians can be switched by pressing the symbol on the screen or a button. - A visible and audible error when trying to divide by zero or take the square root of a negative number. - Numbers are shown in local format, depending on your Region Formats, i.e. comma used in Europe. - Calculations are done in extended accuracy so that the square root of 2 repeated a few times, followed by a square will result in 2, not 1.999999999999983 (try this on other calculators!).

About

The PocketLab

This app connects to a physical sensor to bring science learning to life. It allows students, educators, and makers to explore STEM concepts through hands-on lessons and data analysis. Visualize and record measurements, create graphs, and integrate data with other software for a comprehensive science experience.

Highlights
  • Connects to PocketLab sensors
  • Streams real-time measurement data
  • Data recording and analysis
  • Graph creation
  • Data integration with other software
  • STEM curriculum and lessons
Features
Read full description

The PocketLab app brings together science curriculum, hands-on lessons, and data sensors for science learning. We built PocketLab for the curious explorers, educators, students, and makers to bring science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) to life like never before. PocketLab sensors connect with a single button to your iPhone or iPad and instantly stream measurement data that you can see and record. PocketLab sensors are designed for investigating physics, biology, chemistry, Earth science, environmental science, and engineering. Using the PocketLab app, you can easily analyze your data, create graphs, and integrate your data with other software. PocketLab has the same features as lab equipment that costs thousands of dollars but is low cost and intuitive to use. NOTE: The PocketLab app is designed to pair with a PocketLab sensor. Order your sensor at thepocketlab.com.

Screenshots

StudentCalc3 screens
The PocketLab3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: The PocketLab at Free against StudentCalc's $1.99. The PocketLab also leads on ratings volume (12 vs 2) and iOS requirement (14.5 vs 26.0). StudentCalc's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 3.1) and review sentiment (100% vs 59%). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

The PocketLab is free to download; StudentCalc costs $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

StudentCalc holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: The PocketLab has 12 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of StudentCalc's written reviews are positive against 59% of The PocketLab's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

StudentCalc ships an update every 4 months, The PocketLab every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on August 22, 2026 and July 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
StudentCalc versus The PocketLab: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterStudentCalcThe PocketLab
Price$1.99Free — better
Rating5.0 (2 ratings) — better3.1 (12 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better58.6% of reviews
Number of ratings212 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 3 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS26.014.5 — better
Further details — not scored
Size16 MB2 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperHannes SverrissonMyriad Sensors

Customer experience

StudentCalc

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

The PocketLab

All ratings12 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews29 reviews
Positive58.6%
Neutral0.0%
Negative41.4%

In-app purchases

None

StudentCalc

No in-app purchases

None

The PocketLab

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is StudentCalc free?
StudentCalc costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is The PocketLab free?
The PocketLab is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, StudentCalc or The PocketLab?
StudentCalc is rated higher. StudentCalc averages 5.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while The PocketLab averages 3.1 from 12 ratings.
Do StudentCalc or The PocketLab have ads?
Neither StudentCalc nor The PocketLab shows ads.
Which is updated more often, StudentCalc or The PocketLab?
StudentCalc ships an update every 4 months, and The PocketLab every 3 months. Most recently, StudentCalc was updated on August 22, 2026 and The PocketLab on July 6, 2026.

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