# RPN vs DB48X

RPN and DB48X both sit at 4.3 stars, but that hides the real split: 82% of RPN's written reviews are positive against 50% of DB48X's. RPN also leads on price ($1.99 vs $4.99) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 14.0). DB48X's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 4 months) and chart position (#176 vs unranked). On rating, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

RPN costs $1.99 and DB48X $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.3 for RPN against 4.2 for DB48X. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 15 and 6 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 82% of RPN's written reviews are positive against 50% of DB48X's.

RPN ships an update every 4 months, DB48X every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | RPN | DB48X |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$1.99** | $4.99 |
| Rating | **[4.3 (15 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rpn-45-sd/id509923051/reviews)** | [4.2 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/db48x/id6615086535/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **15** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | **81.8% of reviews** | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | **#176** |
| Size | 14 MB | 7 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 14.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [CuVee Software](https://appshunter.io/developer/424873503) | [Christophe de Dinechin](https://appshunter.io/developer/1761608161) |

## What reviewers say

### RPN

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rpn-45-sd/id509923051)

This app is a detailed simulation of a 1973 scientific calculator, offering a photorealistic interface and all original functions. It includes powerful enhancements for modern use, such as complex number support and advanced date calculations.

**Highlights:** Photorealistic calculator simulation, Full HP-45 function implementation, Complex number support, Advanced date and time functions, Printer simulation for calculation records, Stopwatch functionality, Cut/copy/paste display values

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### DB48X

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/db48x/id6615086535)

**Currently charting:** #176 Top Paid · Productivity (US App Store)

This advanced scientific calculator offers arbitrary precision computations, RPN and algebraic operations, and extensive graphing capabilities. It supports complex numbers, matrices, symbolic calculations, and over 1000 built-in functions, inspired by the HP48 series.

**Highlights:** Arbitrary precision computations, RPN and algebraic operations, Complex numbers, vectors, and matrices, Symbolic computations and numerical solving, Graphing and plotting, Engineering units and currency conversion, Built-in hyperlinked help system

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is RPN free?

RPN costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is DB48X free?

DB48X costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, RPN or DB48X?

RPN is rated higher. RPN averages 4.3 out of 5 from 15 ratings, while DB48X averages 4.2 from 6 ratings.

### Do RPN or DB48X have ads?

Neither RPN nor DB48X shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, RPN or DB48X?

RPN ships an update every 4 months, and DB48X every 3 weeks. Most recently, RPN was updated on November 1, 2026 and DB48X on November 2, 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.*