Comparison

PocketCAS vs MathStudio

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

Head to head
About

PocketCAS

This advanced math application assists with a wide range of mathematical problems, from basic arithmetic to calculus, algebra, and statistics. It functions as a graphing calculator replacement, aids in homework, and supports complex calculations for academic and professional use.

Highlights
  • 2D and 3D plotting
  • Calculus functions (limits, derivatives)
  • Linear algebra operations
  • Equation solving
  • Scripting language
  • Physical units and constants
  • iCloud sync
Features
Read full description

PocketCAS is a graphing calculator for iPhone and iPad. It graphs your functions, finds derivatives and works with exact fractions and roots. Everything runs on your device, so it works without internet or an account. An in-app purchase unlocks PocketCAS Pro, with steps, integrals and the solver. Graphs - 2D plots of functions, implicit equations, polar and parametric curves and vector fields, two functions per plot. PocketCAS marks zeros, extrema and intersections. In full screen, tap a mark to read its coordinates. - 3D surfaces with soft light and shading. Drag to turn them, pinch to zoom. Derivatives - Under each function, a suggestion shows its derivative, already worked out, and a small plot sits beside the result. Tap one to add it to your document. - Exact derivatives of products, quotients, roots and chains, written the way your textbook writes them. Exact results - Arithmetic with exact fractions and roots, trigonometric, exponential and logarithmic functions. - Matrices: determinants, inverses and products. - Your own functions, with conditions and recursion. - Common units and physical constants. Reads like your textbook - Results look the way they do in a textbook: fractions, roots, powers and matrices. - A math keyboard with every function in reach, and a hint shows what goes between the brackets. Made for daily work - Documents keep your calculations and plots together, and iCloud syncs them between your devices. - Export and print plots, entries or whole documents (with a watermark). - Help built in: the function reference explains every function with examples, and tutorials get you started. Unlock PocketCAS Pro One purchase in the app unlocks everything in PocketCAS Pro, without a subscription: calculation steps that name the rule behind each step, integrals, limits, series and sums, equation and system solving, factoring and simplifying, eigenvalues, differential equations, scripts, plots with more than two functions, imports of documents and CSV data, larger matrices in the editor, exports without a watermark, and suggestions with zeros, extrema and integrals. Family Sharing is included, and Restore Purchases is in the main menu. Until you unlock it, the function reference marks the functions of Pro with a PRO badge. PocketCAS Pro is also sold as its own app; you need only one. Questions or ideas? Write to us at https://pocketcas.com/support. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://pocketcas.com/privacy.php

About

MathStudio

This powerful app offers a symbolic graphing calculator with a scripting language for complex computations and visualizations. It bridges the gap between technology and imagination, allowing users to create interactive plots and animations. Ideal for students, teachers, and engineers, it provides hundreds of mathematical functions and syncs across devices.

Highlights
  • Symbolic graphing calculator
  • Expressive scripting language
  • Interactive plots and animations
  • Hundreds of mathematical functions
  • iCloud document syncing
  • Computer algebra system
Features
Read full description

MathStudio brings unprecedented computational power to your iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch. From building simple algorithms to creating interactive plots and animations, MathStudio bridges the gap between technology and your imagination. "It is a programming tour-de-force, and really does provide a substantial subset of the functionality of desktop powerhouses like Mathematica and Maple." ▸ Simply the best calc app by ilachina Develop your ideas to their fullest extent with MathStudio's expressive scripting language that features new syntax to do amazing things with just a few lines of code. Research and development in the scientific, engineering, mathematical and computing fields almost always involves the need for a scripting language to take your results one step further. Sync your documents with iCloud and have access from any device including your Mac. "Perfect app for quick, powerful computation and visualization. I keep using it instead of Mathematica on my home computer because it's just so convenient. I can't believe how well it renders the evolution of such complex systems. I am blown away." ▸ Mini Mathematica by Professor Dave MathStudio goes beyond a traditional graphing calculator by combining the power of the fastest proprietary computer algebra system available on iOS that can create cartesian, parametric, polar, implicit, vector fields, cylindrical, spherical, regression and image plots. Plot time graphs using the T variable to create animated plots that graph in space and time! "This app really goes beyond your typical graphing calculator as well. How? By allowing you to interact with the graphs that you generate by touching them! I could go on and on about this app, but If you're still reading this review, let's just say that you're probably not going to find a better graphing calculator than this in the App Store." ▸ Replace your old graphing calculator! by AppShouter From basic calculations to college calculus, MathStudio is a full featured scientific calculator and is an indispensable tool for students, teachers and engineers. It provides features that go beyond what you will find in traditional TI calculators with a modern and intuitive interface with hundreds of mathematical functions that cover Basic Math, Pre-Algebra, Algebra, Trigonometry, Precalculus, Calculus, Statistics, Finite Math and Linear Algebra. "This app is way more than a graphing calculator. Capabilities like solving differential equations, preforming matrix factorizations and many more place it in a league of its own for hand held computation. The interface is simple and the extensive catalog makes it easy to quickly learn how to execute any operation. As an undergraduate math and physics student, this app has completely replaced my TI and drastically reduced the time I spend on MATLAB and Mathematica. I would recommend MathStudio to anyone!" ▸ Amazing Capabilities by Mac-Lover From unit conversions to compound unit arithmetic, MathStudio includes complete support for units with intuitive syntax. Plot lists of data with powerful regression analysis functions, invert and multiply matrices, calculate determinants, solve derivatives, integrals, limits, differential equations and more with the most powerful computing app available on iOS. "This app offers so much, and everyone can learn from it. Amazing 3D graphics, intuitively designed with the end user in mind. It is apps such as MathStudio, that show us why the App Store for iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad is by far the best for mobile devices." ▸ Creatively genius by howwaya Are you a user from Mathematica or MATLAB? MathStudio offers much of the same functionality! For more help getting starting using MathStudio visit our discussion forums. http://discuss.mathstud.io

Screenshots

PocketCAS4 screens
MathStudio4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: PocketCAS at Free against MathStudio's $19.99. PocketCAS also leads on review sentiment (91% vs 68%). MathStudio's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 18.0). On rating, ratings volume, update cadence and ads 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

PocketCAS is free to download; MathStudio costs $19.99 up front. PocketCAS sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. MathStudio asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for PocketCAS against 4.6 for MathStudio. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 204 and 170 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 91% of PocketCAS's written reviews are positive against 68% of MathStudio's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PocketCAS ships an update every 3 months, MathStudio every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
PocketCAS versus MathStudio: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPocketCASMathStudio
PriceFree — better$19.99
Rating4.6 (204 ratings)4.6 (170 ratings)
Positive reviews90.8% of reviews — better68.4% of reviews
Number of ratings204 — better170
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS18.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size42 MB3 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTiming Software GmbHPomegranate Apps LLC

Customer experience

PocketCAS

All ratings204 ratings
Positive91.7%
Neutral4.9%
Negative3.4%
Written reviews152 reviews
Positive90.8%
Neutral1.3%
Negative7.9%

MathStudio

All ratings170 ratings
Positive88.8%
Neutral5.3%
Negative5.9%
Written reviews117 reviews
Positive68.4%
Neutral12.8%
Negative18.8%

Bugs and requests

PocketCAS

Reported bugs

6 issues
  • App crashes when loading previously saved documents
  • Crashes with no error feedback or debugging information
  • Cannot plot certain mathematical functions
  • Zoom scaling issues with 3D graphs (scales Z-axis incorrectly)
  • Compatibility broken with iOS 6 after iOS 7 update
Show 1 more
  • Function plotting limitations for advanced equations

Requested features

8 requests
  • Dark theme/dark mode for UI
  • Multiple polynomials on single graph
  • Inverse button functionality
  • Better zoom functionality for 3D graphs
  • Improved documentation and tutorials
Show 3 more
  • More Greek characters support
  • Measurement conversion capabilities
  • Better control layout and cleanup

MathStudio

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

PocketCAS

One-time1
  • PocketCAS Pro$29.99
None

MathStudio

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is PocketCAS free?
PocketCAS is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is MathStudio free?
MathStudio costs $19.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, PocketCAS or MathStudio?
PocketCAS and MathStudio are both rated 4.6 out of 5 on the App Store, from 204 and 170 ratings respectively.
Do PocketCAS or MathStudio have ads?
Neither PocketCAS nor MathStudio shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PocketCAS or MathStudio?
PocketCAS ships an update every 3 months, and MathStudio every 2 months. Most recently, PocketCAS was updated on October 23, 2026 and MathStudio on October 20, 2026.

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