RLM vs HP16C
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
RLM
This scientific calculator offers a comprehensive suite of tools for finance, business, statistics, and complex scientific calculations. It emulates a classic calculator while leveraging modern iOS device capabilities for ease of use and advanced functions.
- Finance and Business calculations
- Date and Time interval calculations
- Advanced Statistics and Curve Fitting
- Complex Numbers and 3D Vectors
- Unit and Currency Conversions
- Equation Solver
- Programmable functions
Read full descriptionHide full description
The RLM-10CX is a programmable RPN calculator with a special focus on science and engineering. It is based in the Hewlett-Packard HP-10C calculator. It keeps the classic scientific keyboard you already know and its keystroke programming, and adds a complete set of menus and worksheets designed to bring up the most of your iOS devices and , at the same time, conserving the easy of use and all functions originally provided by the real calculator. >Keyboard: •RPN entry with a four-level stack, LAST X and 20 storage registers with register arithmetic. •Trigonometric, logarithmic and power functions, polar-rectangular and hours conversions, statistics with linear regression and estimates directly from the keys. •Keystroke programs of up to 1000 lines with conditional tests and branches, written in a full-screen editor and saved and loaded by name. >Finance Worksheets: •Account Balance: Calculates the balance of cash transactions and interest applied at arbitrary dates. •Loan Amortization: Amortization schedule for a single payment or several payments at once. •Bonds Price & Yield: Calculates the price, yield and effective duration of a bond. •Black-Scholes Options: Calculates the CALL, PUT and “Greeks” values of a Black-Scholes European option. •Cash Flows: NPV, IRR and related answers for equal periods or for cash flows occurring at arbitrary dates. •Depreciation: Calculates depreciation with SL, SOYD, DB, DBX or MACRS methods. •Interest Conversion: Nominal and effective interest conversion. •Time Value of Money: Calculates compound interest problems. >Business Worksheets: •Bill-Tip-Split: Calculates the sharing of a bill with tip. •Break Even: Analyzes the relation Profit = (Price - Var.Cost) • Units - Fix.Cost •Currency Exchange with manual or on-line rates. •Inventory Turn Over. •Percents & Margins: Calculates %Change, %Total and business margins. •Return on Investment. >Date / Time: •Calculates days between dates with Actual, 360 or 365 day calendars, and time intervals between different times. >Statistics Worksheets: •Probability: 16 probability distributions. •(X,N)-List Statistics: One and two variable statistics and curve fitting. •(X,Y)-List Statistics: Two-variable statistics and curve fitting with six regression models. >Scientific Worksheets: •Angles & Polar-Rectangular conversions. •Complex Numbers: Arithmetic and functions of complex numbers in cartesian or polar form. •Combination & Permutation. •Logarithms, Trigonometric, Hyperbolic and Number Alteration functions. •Quadratic Equation solver. •Triangle Solution: Solves plane and spherical triangles. •Universal Constants: The CODATA physical constants values and descriptions. •3D Vectors: Operations with vectors in cartesian, spherical or cylindrical coordinates. >Convert Worksheets: •Angles & Polar, Currency Exchange, Interest Conversion and Units Conversion: physical units conversion, completely customizable. >General Worksheets: •Solver: Solves arbitrary equations entered as text for any of the variables, knowing the others. •Storage Registers: Store and perform operations directly on the calculator's storage registers. •Memory Content: Clear, back up or restore part or all of the calculator's memory. •General Settings: Customize display format, decimals, date format, angle unit, left-handed layout, sounds, haptics and more. •Help Documents: Description and examples of all the calculator worksheets and features. >Editors: To create or edit data •(Date,Trx) and (Date,CF) Lists: Dated transactions and cash flows. •(X,N) and (X,Y) Lists: Data for cash flows and statistics. •Program, Solver Equation and Units Database. System requirements: iOS 26.0 or above. 30-day free trial, then a single one-time Lifetime Purchase of $9.99 USD. No subscription. License Agreement: http://www.apple.com/legal/itunes/appstore/dev/stdeula Disclaimer: THIS IS NOT A HEWLETT PACKARD CALCULATOR, AND IS NOT SPONSORED IN ANYWAY BY HEWLETT PACKARD OR ANY OF ITS SUBSIDIARIES.
HP16C
This app faithfully recreates the legendary HP 16C Computer Scientist calculator, offering advanced hex arithmetic, bit manipulation, and base conversion. It features RPN, keystroke programming, and modern enhancements like a two-line display and haptic feedback.
- Full RPN calculator
- Integer arithmetic (HEX, DEC, OCT, BIN)
- Configurable word size (1-64 bits)
- Complete bit operations
- Keystroke programming
- Two-line display
- Haptic feedback
Read full descriptionHide full description
A faithful recreation of the legendary HP 16C Computer Scientist calculator for iPhone, with a few modern upgrades. If you've ever needed to perform hex arithmetic, bit manipulation, or base conversion on your phone and been frustrated by the available options, this is for you. RPN-16C gives you the full power of the original HP 16C in your pocket. WHAT IT DOES - Full RPN (Reverse Polish Notation) calculator - Integer arithmetic in HEX, DEC, OCT, and BIN - Configurable word size from 1 to 64 bits - Unsigned, one's complement, and two's complement modes - Complete bit operations: shift, rotate, rotate through carry, AND, OR, XOR, NOT, mask, bit set/clear/test, count bits, left justify - Float mode with configurable precision (FLOAT 0-9) - Keystroke programming with labels, subroutines, loops, and conditionals - Storage registers with direct and indirect addressing - Programs can be imported from text (long-press the display to paste) ENHANCEMENTS OVER THE ORIGINAL - Two-line display: see both X and Y registers at once. No more guessing what's on the stack. - Wider LCD: displays all 32 bits in binary without scrolling. The original could only show 8 at a time. - Haptic feedback on every key press - State persistence: pick up right where you left off - SHOW function to peek at values in other bases FAIR WARNING This is a quirky calculator. It uses Reverse Polish Notation, has no equals key, and expects you to know what two's complement means. If you're looking for a simple calculator, this is not it. If you've ever wished you could do a bitwise rotate through carry on your phone, welcome home. DESIGNED FOR PROGRAMMERS The key layout matches the physical HP 16C exactly, including the f (gold) and g (blue) shift labels. If you know the original, you already know this one. The original HP 16C Owner's Handbook is freely available on the Internet Archive: https://archive.org/details/hp-16c_handbook
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: RLM at 5.0 against HP16C's 4.3. HP16C's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and update cadence (weekly vs monthly). On price, ads, monetization model 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
Both are free to download. RLM sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. HP16C asks for nothing beyond the download.
RLM holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 4 respectively.
RLM ships an update monthly, HP16C weekly. The most recent releases landed on November 13, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | RLM | HP16C |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better | 4.3 (4 ratings) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 4 — better |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Weekly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | 17.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 7 MB | 1 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | R.L.M. Software | Michael Doornbos |
Customer experience
RLM
HP16C
In-app purchases
RLM
- Lifetime Purchase$9.99
HP16C
No in-app purchases








