Comparison

Calca vs iHP48

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

Head to head
About

Calca

This app is an advanced symbolic calculator and text editor. It solves equations, simplifies expressions, and allows you to explain your work alongside calculations. Calculations update instantly as you type, and all data is stored as plain text for easy sharing and device syncing.

Highlights
  • Symbolic calculation
  • Equation solving
  • Expression simplification
  • Markdown text editor
  • Real-time updates
  • Unit and currency conversion
  • Matrix operations
Features
Read full description

Calca is a powerful symbolic calculator that gives you instant answers as you type. It solves equations and simplifies complex expressions - it's a computer algebra system in your pocket! It's also a rich Markdown text editor so that you can explain your ideas alongside your calculations. Calca is perfect for professionals and students - anyone who works with numbers and equations. Variables and functions can be created with only a few keystrokes and can be manipulated with a rich library of operators and functions. Calca updates as you type - just like a spreadsheet. You can declare variables, edit their values and watch everything update before your eyes. Since everything is calculated on the device - no network needed - you get answers instantaneously. All calculations are stored as plain text so you can easily share them with other editors and move them from device to device. Calca has been designed to work with iCloud documents so all your devices can access your calculations - you'll always have the latest files ready for viewing and editing. Calca comes with a suite of examples to help you get started covering topics from home mortgages to kinetics. All these examples are fully explained within Calca itself. Are you still using a desktop calculator? Are you using the calculator with the giant buttons that came with your OS? Computers are much more capable than doing simple one-line arithmetic - put your machine to work with Calca! Calculation Features: • Variables `x = 42` • Functions `f(c) = 9/5*c + 32` and even recursive functions • Units `42 mph in kmph` and currency `¥599 in $` • Solves equations (`x + 2x + 4x = 42`, what is x?) • Matrices with inverses so you can solve linear equations • Sum, prod, map, and reduce operations on lists, matrices, and ranges • Trigonometry and complex numbers • Derivatives of functions • Logic operations and if statements • Binary math (& and |) and support for binary and hex number (`0xA9` and `0b1010`) • Keeps track of units (m, s, m/s, m/s^2, etc.) so you can verify your equations as you compute Please visit http://calca.io to see lots of examples. Thank you for looking!

About

iHP48

This app brings the powerful HP48 calculator experience to your mobile device. It offers enhanced performance, seamless file management, and a customizable interface with support for various HP calculator models. Enjoy a familiar and convenient calculator solution without needing extra hardware.

Highlights
  • Supports HP38, HP39, HP48, HP49, HP50 calculators
  • Haptic feedback and customizable zoom options
  • Seamless file transfer via iTunes and Files app
  • Cloud storage integration (iCloud, OneDrive, Dropbox)
  • Object saving/loading and copy/paste functionality
  • Access to calculator packages, skins, and ROMs
  • Internal file manager and extensible settings
Features
Read full description

Introducing iHP48 - Your Ultimate Calculator Companion iHP48 emerges from the necessity to revive the unparalleled calculator experience cherished by university students and engineers across various disciplines. Reviving the legacy of the original calculator, iHP48 delivers enhanced performance without the burden of carrying an additional device in your bag. Experience the simplicity and convenience of having the powerful HP48 at your fingertips once again. Key Features: Wide Compatibility: iHP48 supports HP38, HP39, HP48, HP49, and HP50 calculators. Easily configure your preferred calculator with the Fetch options. Enhanced User Experience: Enjoy Haptic feedback on keypress and customizable haptic styles via Settings. Zoom options tailored to your iPhone and preferences, including a new lift zoom for XS devices. Seamless File Management: Transfer files effortlessly from your computer using iTunes on both PC's and MacOS. Access iHP48 files directly from your device using the Files app and share them with any compatible iOS app. Copy files to and from your favorite cloud providers supported by the Files app, such as iCloud Drive, OneDrive, and Dropbox. Convenient Object Handling: Save or Load objects to/from your device using Files, ensuring your favorite .lib is readily available on your iHP48 stack. Copy and Paste supported objects seamlessly between iOS and the iHP48 Stack. Comprehensive Library: Access a rich library of Calculator Packages, Skin Collections, ROM's, and useful libraries like Meta Kernel and QPI. Intuitive Interface: Benefit from an internal File Manager for simplified file management and an extensible Settings administration accessible directly from the Settings app or via a shortcut from the iHP48 menu. Customizable Experience: Save your current calculator configuration for easy access. Explore special features embedded in various skins, including screen swipes, sounds, and orientation options. No Hidden Costs: iHP48 is completely free, devoid of any enterprise, professional, plus, or ultimate versions. There are no hidden features or payments required. We greatly appreciate any support you offer as we continue to enhance and refine iHP48. For additional information, visit https://www.thinkchile.com/iHP48. Experience the power of the legendary HP48, reinvented for the modern era with iHP48.

Screenshots

Calca4 screens
iHP484 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: iHP48 at Free against Calca's $9.99. iHP48 also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2) and update cadence (monthly vs every 5 months). On rating, ratings volume, ads and device support 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

iHP48 is free to download; Calca costs $9.99 up front. Calca sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. iHP48 asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

iHP48 holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 153 and 270 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 76% of Calca's written reviews are positive against 88% of iHP48's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Calca ships an update every 5 months, iHP48 monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Calca versus iHP48: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCalcaiHP48
Price$9.99Free — better
Rating4.5 (153 ratings)4.7 (270 ratings) — better
Positive reviews76.5% of reviews88.2% of reviews — better
Number of ratings153270 — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size78 MB6 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperKrueger Systems, Inc.Alexis Lorca

Customer experience

Calca

All ratings153 ratings
Positive87.6%
Neutral4.6%
Negative7.8%
Written reviews170 reviews
Positive76.5%
Neutral7.1%
Negative16.5%

iHP48

All ratings270 ratings
Positive90.7%
Neutral3.0%
Negative6.3%
Written reviews195 reviews
Positive88.2%
Neutral4.1%
Negative7.7%

User reviews

Calca

From 153 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 💡 Unique blend of text editor and calculator
  • 📝 Markdown support for documentation
  • 🔄 Dynamic recalculation of all values
  • ⚙️ Powerful mathematical and algebraic capabilities
  • 📊 Unit conversion and unit-aware calculations

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Magic Keyboard input bugs on iPad
  • ⚠️ Appears abandoned or poorly maintained
  • 🐛 Text selection issues with external keyboards
  • 📱 iPad landscape mode problems
  • 🐛 Cursor jumping and screen jumping during editing

iHP48

From 270 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Excellent emulation of HP48
  • 👍 Familiar and nostalgic feel
  • 👍 Comprehensive functionality
  • 👍 Customizable skins
  • 👍 Haptic feedback

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional crashes or freezes
  • 🐛 Missed keystrokes when typing quickly
  • 🐛 Blank or flickering display
  • 🐛 Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions

Bugs and requests

Calca

Reported bugs

12 issues
  • Magic Keyboard causes number input to overwrite instead of append
  • Text selection before numbers triggers increment/decrement instead of selecting
  • Cursor jumps forward and backward with external keyboards
  • iPad Pro keyboard truncation in portrait mode
  • Arrow key (=>) doesn't work in landscape mode
Show 7 more
  • App crashes on startup on some devices
  • File saving is temperamental and causes data loss
  • Folders don't persist unless calculations created within them
  • Large number calculations lose precision (10^100 + 1 - 10^100 returns 0 instead of 1)
  • Keyboard focus issues on iPad with Magic Keyboard
  • iOS 13+ button adaptation issues
  • Spinning beach ball on very large calculations

Requested features

15 requests
  • Files app and document browser integration
  • Dropbox and Google Drive support
  • Date calculation functionality
  • Looping and iteration support
  • User-defined function storage in separate files
Show 10 more
  • Temperature unit support (Celsius, Fahrenheit)
  • Logarithmic and non-proportional unit definitions
  • Multiple parametric plots simultaneously
  • Landscape mode optimization
  • Tabular data and multi-row markdown table support
  • Dark mode (now implemented)
  • Subscription model option for ongoing development
  • Decimal place formatting control
  • Charting and financial functions
  • Better document management interface

iHP48

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Crashes on startup
  • Inability to save state across sessions
  • Incompatibility with certain iOS devices

Requested features

4 requests
  • Dark mode option
  • Ability to disable haptic feedback
  • Support for HP50G emulation
  • Improved keyboard mapping and arrow key functionality

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Calca

One-time2
  • 6-Month Optional Patronage$4.99
  • 12-Month Optional Patronage$7.99
None

iHP48

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Calca free?
Calca costs $9.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is iHP48 free?
iHP48 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Calca or iHP48?
iHP48 is rated higher. Calca averages 4.5 out of 5 from 153 ratings, while iHP48 averages 4.7 from 270 ratings.
Do Calca or iHP48 have ads?
Neither Calca nor iHP48 shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Calca or iHP48?
Calca ships an update every 5 months, and iHP48 monthly. Most recently, Calca was updated on September 25, 2026 and iHP48 on September 19, 2026.

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