Comparison

x vs pocket BASIC

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

Head to head
About

x

Features
Read full description

x-Cal is an ergonomic scientific calculator, in both portrait and landscape orientations, using RPN (c) Great for professional and educational use, it allows to quickly develop an understanding of register operations and basic programming Features fixed, scientific or engineer number formats, trigonometric and hyperbolic calculations in radians, degrees or grades, basic statistical computations, linear correlations, combinations, etc. Swipe on the top result display area to view the arithmetic register stack, tap on the top to display other registers such as storage register, statistical registers and program steps Record programs such as a quadratic equation solver, or display graphs to visualize functions y = f(x) At any time look, copy and paste text style computations into e-Mails, notes, etc.

About

pocket BASIC

Features
Read full description

Pocket BASIC brings back the simplicity and charm of classic BASIC, reimagined for modern iOS and macOS devices. Write code, perform calculations, and visualize functions instantly β€” all in one lightweight environment. Why Pocket BASIC? - Instant coding - Write and run BASIC programs in seconds β€” no compilation, no friction. - Clean and focused interface - Designed for clarity, with an integrated editor, console, and tools. - Perfect for learning and experimenting - Great for understanding programming fundamentals or building small utilities. - Works offline. No internet connection required. Your programs stay on your device. Features - Full BASIC interpreter inspired by classic systems - Built-in editor with immediate execution - Console, calculator, and simple graphics modes - Powerful scientific calculator for quick calculations and everyday use - Function graphing with interactive visualization - Import/export programs easily - QR code support for sharing code - Integration with iOS Shortcuts (run scripts directly) - Lightweight and fast Who is it for? - Beginners learning programming - Developers who love retro computing - Students - Anyone who wants quick, practical scripts on their device A modern take on a classic Pocket BASIC is not just nostalgia β€” it’s a practical tool for today. From simple calculations to small utilities, it’s like having a tiny programmable assistant in your pocket.

Screenshots

x4 screens
pocket BASIC4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is device support: pocket BASIC at 4 against x's 1. pocket BASIC also leads on iOS requirement (15.6 vs 18.0). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price Β· Rating Β· Positive reviews Β· Number of ratings Β· Update frequency Β· Ads Β· In-app purchases Β· Monetization Β· Best chart rank Β· Devices Β· Requires iOS

CostPrice Β· In-app purchases Β· Ads Β· Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

x ships an update fortnightly, pocket BASIC monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 10, 2026 and September 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences Β· 4 level
x versus pocket BASIC: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
Parameterxpocket BASIC
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyFortnightly β€” betterMonthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac β€” better
Requires iOS18.015.6 β€” better
Further details β€” not scored
Size1 MB2 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperFMILLETLeonardo Del Nonno

In-app purchases

None

x

No in-app purchases

None

pocket BASIC

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is x free?
x is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is pocket BASIC free?
pocket BASIC is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do x or pocket BASIC have ads?
Neither x nor pocket BASIC shows ads.
Which is updated more often, x or pocket BASIC?
x ships an update fortnightly, and pocket BASIC monthly. Most recently, x was updated on September 10, 2026 and pocket BASIC on September 8, 2026.

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