# Basic Calculator+ vs Simple Notes

The clearest difference is rating: Basic Calculator+ at 4.9 against Simple Notes's 2.6. Basic Calculator+ also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2) and ratings volume (260K vs 8). Simple Notes's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 4 months). On price, review sentiment, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Simple Notes sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Basic Calculator+ asks for nothing beyond the download.

Basic Calculator+ holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 2.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Basic Calculator+ has 260K ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 87% of Basic Calculator+'s written reviews are positive against 81% of Simple Notes's.

Basic Calculator+ ships an update every 4 months, Simple Notes every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Basic Calculator+ | Simple Notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (260K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/basic-calculator-plus/id539356791/reviews)** | [2.6 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simple-notes-noted-memo/id563351488/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **260K** | 8 |
| Positive reviews | **87.4% of reviews** | 81.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 50 MB | 14 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **8.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Best Free Apps](https://appshunter.io/developer/539356794) | [elias sleiman](https://appshunter.io/developer/551532485) |

## What reviewers say

### Basic Calculator+

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/basic-calculator-plus/id539356791)

Perform essential arithmetic operations with a straightforward calculator app. Its large buttons and clear display ensure ease of use, supporting both portrait and landscape orientations.

**Highlights:** Basic four functions, Clear display, Large buttons, Portrait and landscape modes, iPad compatible

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 👍 Large, clear buttons
- 👍 Straightforward, basic functionality
- 👍 No ads or in-app purchases
- 👍 Works well on iPad

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inconsistent click volume
- 🐛 Ads can be intrusive or disruptive
- 🐛 Missing backspace/delete function

**Reported bugs**

- Incorrect calculation results
- Ads covering the screen

**Requested features**

- Add fraction button
- Implement order of operations
- Include memory function


### Simple Notes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simple-notes-noted-memo/id563351488)

Capture your thoughts and ideas with ease using this versatile note-taking app. Create text, audio, or video notes, organize them into categories, and set reminders. Share your creations and customize their appearance with various font options.

**Highlights:** Multiple note types (Text, Audio, Video, Photo, List), Add multiple pages per note, Set reminders for notes, Customize font (color, size, type), Share notes, High-quality audio recordings, Pause and continue recordings

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| More BackGounds | Free | one-time |
| Unlock Pro Version! | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Basic Calculator+ free?

Basic Calculator+ is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Simple Notes free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Basic Calculator+ or Simple Notes?

Basic Calculator+ is rated higher. Basic Calculator+ averages 4.9 out of 5 from 260K ratings, while Simple Notes averages 2.6 from 8 ratings.

### Do Basic Calculator+ or Simple Notes have ads?

Basic Calculator+ shows ads; Simple Notes does not.

### Which is updated more often, Basic Calculator+ or Simple Notes?

Basic Calculator+ ships an update every 4 months, and Simple Notes every 2 months. Most recently, Basic Calculator+ was updated on October 14, 2026 and Simple Notes on October 6, 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.*