Basic Calculator+ vs CalAI
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Basic Calculator+
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.
- Basic four functions
- Clear display
- Large buttons
- Portrait and landscape modes
- iPad compatible
Read full descriptionHide full description
This simple calculator with a clear display and large buttons makes calculations easy. Portrait and landscape modes both available on iPad. This app uses the basic functions of the calculator to make the simplest, best, free calculator in the app store.
CalAI
Easily track your food intake with AI-powered photo analysis and barcode scanning. Set personalized macro targets and monitor your progress towards weight goals. Features include meal logging, progress charts, and health integrations.
- AI photo food analysis
- Barcode scanner
- Personalized macro targets
- Weight loss/gain tracking
- Progress charts and reports
- Apple Health integration
- Meal reminders
Read full descriptionHide full description
Calorie counter and food diary that fits into a busy day. Snap your plate, scan a barcode or search the food database, and see the macros of every meal in seconds. Most people stop tracking because logging takes too long. Here a meal takes a few taps, your daily goal is worked out for you, and the main screen shows at a glance how much is left for dinner. PHOTO AI AND BARCODE SCANNER • Take a picture of your meal and AI estimates calories, protein, fat and carbs • Check the estimate and correct any number before saving • Barcode scanner for packaged products • Large database with search, plus items you add yourself YOUR PERSONAL PLAN • Daily target from your goal, weight, height, age and activity • Choose a pace: slow, steady or fast, and see the date you reach your goal weight • Macro targets that follow your diet: vegetarian, vegan, keto or Mediterranean • Works for losing, maintaining or gaining MEAL LOG AND MACRO TRACKER • Breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks, each with its own total • Protein, fat and carbs against your targets for the day • Day score with short tips: too little protein, over the goal or right on target • Export your diary to a CSV file PROGRESS YOU CAN SEE • Weight log with a chart and a forecast for your goal date • BMI and body measurements • Weekly report that compares this week with the last one • Streaks and achievements for days in a row • Steps from Apple Health ON YOUR PHONE • Widgets for the Home Screen and Lock Screen • Meals saved to Apple Health with calories and macros • Daily backup of your diary to iCloud REMINDERS THAT HELP • Meal reminders at the times you usually eat • A morning weigh-in reminder WHO IT'S FOR • You want to lose weight with a calorie deficit and need one simple number a day • You count macros for the gym and want protein in plain sight • You eat keto, vegan or vegetarian and want targets that match • You tried other diet apps and gave up because logging was slow FREE AND PREMIUM The diary, barcode scanner, search, personal plan, weigh-ins, reports and reminders are free. You also get three photo estimates to try the AI. Premium adds more photo estimates, the water tracker with reminders, and workouts with burned energy added to your daily budget. Photo estimates are approximate and depend on the picture. This app is not a medical device and does not replace advice from a doctor or dietitian.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Basic Calculator+ at 4.9 against CalAI's 3.7. Basic Calculator+ also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 5) and ratings volume (261K vs 3). CalAI's advantage is update cadence (every 5 days vs every 4 months). On price, ads, monetization model and iOS requirement 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
Both are free to download. CalAI sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month. Basic Calculator+ asks for nothing beyond the download.
Basic Calculator+ holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Basic Calculator+ has 261K ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two.
Basic Calculator+ ships an update every 4 months, CalAI every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on November 10, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Basic Calculator+ | CalAI |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.9 (261K ratings) — better | 3.7 (3 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 87.5% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 261K — better | 3 |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | Every 5 days — better |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 16.4 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 50 MB | 73 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Best Free Apps | FlashSoft OU |
Customer experience
Basic Calculator+
CalAI
Bugs and requests
Basic Calculator+
Reported bugs
2 issues- Incorrect calculation results
- Ads covering the screen
Requested features
3 requests- Add fraction button
- Implement order of operations
- Include memory function
CalAI
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Basic Calculator+
No in-app purchases
CalAI
- Meal Tracker - 1 month premium$7.991 Month
- Meal Tracker - 1 week premium$7.997 Days
- Meal Tracker - 1 week premium3 Days trial$7.997 Days
Show 2 moreShow fewer
- Meal Tracker -6 months premium$24.996 Months
- Meal Tracker - 1 year premium$34.991 Year









