Retro 15C vs bcRPN
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Retro 15C
This app emulates a classic RPN scientific calculator, offering advanced features like complex number arithmetic, matrix calculations, and programmability. It provides a functional and complex tool reminiscent of 1980s calculators.
- Complex number arithmetic
- Matrix calculations
- Numerical root finder
- Numerical integration
- Statistical functions
- Programmable
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Students and scientists from the 1980s will remember the classic RPN scientific calculators. These calculators strike a perfect balance between functionality and complexity. * Complex number arithmetic and trig functions * Matrix calculations * Numerical root finder * Numerical integration * Statistical functions, linear regression * Fully programmable This app is completely free, no ads or extra bits to buy. I love this calculator and I like to share.
bcRPN
This utility app functions as a Reverse Polish Notation calculator. It handles complex numbers and utilizes extended precision for all calculations, offering an unlimited stack depth and an undo feature for up to 10 operations.
- Reverse Polish Notation (RPN) input
- Complex number calculations
- Extended precision math
- Unlimited stack depth
- Undo functionality (up to 10 operations)
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This is a RPN (Reverse Polish Notation) Calculator. It supports complex numbers and uses extended precision math for all operations. The stack depth is unlimited. In case a mistake was made, up to 10 operations can be undone. RPN calculators work by entering the numbers on the stack first, then selecting the operation. For example to add 3 + 4, press: 3 Enter 4 +
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: bcRPN at 4.8 against Retro 15C's 4.3. bcRPN also leads on update cadence (every 22 months vs every 53 months). Retro 15C's advantage is ratings volume (212 vs 4) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 15.0). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
bcRPN holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Retro 15C has 212 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 76% of Retro 15C's written reviews are positive against 80% of bcRPN's.
Retro 15C ships an update every 53 months, bcRPN every 22 months. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Retro 15C | bcRPN |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.3 (212 ratings) | 4.8 (4 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 76.1% of reviews | 80.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 212 — better | 4 |
| Update frequency | Every 53 months | Every 22 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 8.0 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 5 MB | 0 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Greg Hewgill | Paul Wilkins |
Customer experience
Retro 15C
bcRPN
Bugs and requests
Retro 15C
Reported bugs
4 issues- Blinking display with large calculations
- Bugs with HMS conversions
- Inability to close app on newer iPhones
- Stopped working with iOS 14 updates
Requested features
5 requests- Add haptic feedback on key presses
- Implement continuous memory to save settings and programs
- Add portrait mode option
- Improve compatibility with newer iOS versions
- Add copy/paste functionality for stack and registers
bcRPN
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Retro 15C
No in-app purchases
bcRPN
No in-app purchases
