Comparison

Calculator XL vs Simplify Notes

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

Head to head
About

Calculator XL

This app combines five essential calculation tools into one convenient package. It offers standard, scientific, unit conversion, loan, and tip calculators with a user-friendly interface and large buttons. Ideal for everyday tasks and complex computations.

Highlights
  • Standard Calculator
  • Scientific Calculator
  • Unit Converter
  • Loan Calculator
  • Tip Calculator
  • Calculation History
  • Widgets
Features
Read full description

5 for the Price of 1! Calculator XL is a Universal App for iPhone, iPad, iPod, and iMac, offering: • Standard Calculator • Scientific Calculator • Unit Converter • Loan Calculator • Tip Calculator Quick, accurate, and easy to use, Calculator XL features large, illuminated buttons for standard operations and a sleek, polished design. Features: • Standard Calculator: Extra-large buttons with additional features like delete, x², √, and %. • Scientific Calculator: 30 advanced functions with color-coded, multifunction buttons. • Unit Converter: Supports length, volume, weight, and temperature conversions, with color-coding for Imperial and US units. Perfect for any use, especially in the kitchen! On iPad, switch between calculators with the flip of a switch. On iPhone, rotate left for the Scientific Calculator or right for the Unit Converter. Extra Features: • History list of calculations • Widgets. 2 types, one for history, and one for current number and memory • 29 types of unit conversions with color-coding • 30 scientific functions • Handy delete (Del) button • Memory with preview display • Extra-large buttons for ease of use • One-tap copy • x², √, and % in standard mode Calculator XLt Free is the free version of Calculator XL, available for both iPad and iPhone.

About

Simplify Notes

Capture and organize handwritten notes, notebooks, and PDFs in one place. Create unlimited notebooks, draw naturally with Apple Pencil, and import PDFs to study, plan, or research. Reduce clutter and enhance focus with a calm, organized system.

Highlights
  • Unlimited notebooks
  • Natural handwriting and drawing
  • Apple Pencil support
  • PDF import and annotation
  • Folder organization
  • Add images and tags
  • Quick search and PDF export
Features
Read full description

CAPTURE EVERY IDEA. ORGANIZE EVERY SUBJECT. Simplify Notes brings handwritten notes, notebooks and PDFs together in one calm, organized place. Write naturally with Apple Pencil, create notebooks for every subject, organize your work into folders and keep important ideas easy to find. Whether you’re studying for an exam, attending a lecture or planning a personal project, everything stays clear and connected. BUILT FOR THE WAY YOU STUDY • Create unlimited notebooks • Write and draw naturally • Use Apple Pencil on iPad • Import and work with PDFs • Organize notebooks into folders • Add images to your notes • Mark important content with tags and favorites • Search and find notes quickly • Export your work as PDF • Choose from multiple paper formats • Keep courses, projects and ideas together LESS CLUTTER. MORE FOCUS. Simplify Notes helps you reduce the mental load of scattered files, loose pages and disconnected ideas. Give every course, subject or project its own place, so you can focus on learning instead of searching. PERFECT FOR • College and university students • Lecture and class notes • Exam preparation • Research and assignments • Engineering and MBA studies • Personal projects • Everyday ideas and planning No account required. No subscription. Just open the app and start writing. Your ideas deserve a place you’ll actually remember.

Screenshots

Calculator XL4 screens
Simplify Notes2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Simplify Notes at Free against Calculator XL's $9.99. Simplify Notes also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 2 months) and rating (5.0 vs 4.6). Calculator XL's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (118 vs 1). On 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

Simplify Notes is free to download; Calculator XL costs $9.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Simplify Notes holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Calculator XL has 118 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Calculator XL ships an update every 2 months, Simplify Notes weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Calculator XL versus Simplify Notes: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCalculator XLSimplify Notes
Price$9.99Free — better
Rating4.6 (118 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews75.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings118 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsWeekly — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterAd-supported
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.6 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size11 MB13 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGero MazzaMario Guzman

Customer experience

Calculator XL

All ratings118 ratings
Positive93.2%
Neutral0.8%
Negative5.9%
Written reviews44 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral6.8%
Negative18.2%

Simplify Notes

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Calculator XL

Reported bugs

9 issues
  • App crashes upon launching
  • Update eliminated all history/calculations
  • Numbers on buttons not displayed properly in landscape
  • US Unit/Imperial function is confusing
  • Cannot use split screen on iPad
Show 4 more
  • Some calculations are not accurate (e.g., 11^6)
  • Converter needs to distinguish between imperial measure and US
  • EE button does not work
  • Converter has decimal point off (e.g., mm to feet/yard)

Requested features

4 requests
  • Option to lock the board from moving
  • Split screen function for iPad
  • Themes/Skins for buttons
  • Android and Windows versions

Simplify Notes

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Calculator XL

No in-app purchases

None

Simplify Notes

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Calculator XL free?
Calculator XL costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Simplify Notes free?
Simplify Notes is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Calculator XL or Simplify Notes?
Simplify Notes is rated higher. Calculator XL averages 4.6 out of 5 from 118 ratings, while Simplify Notes averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Calculator XL or Simplify Notes have ads?
Simplify Notes shows ads; Calculator XL does not.
Which is updated more often, Calculator XL or Simplify Notes?
Calculator XL ships an update every 2 months, and Simplify Notes weekly. Most recently, Calculator XL was updated on October 12, 2026 and Simplify Notes on September 30, 2026.

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