CalcNotes vs Jotsum
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
CalcNotes
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A powerful notepad that calculates each line and shows the results instantly. Quickly handle addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and more in real time. Perfect for household budgets, balance tracking, revenue calculations, or splitting bills whenever you need to compute. ■ Calculation + Notepad Write an expression and it calculates automatically, displaying the result on the right. ■ No Equal Sign Needed You never need an '=' in your formulas. The app calculates automatically and shows the result in real time. ■ Tolerant of Extra Characters Expressions like "1,000 + 2,000" work perfectly even with commas or other characters. The app ignores what it doesn't need and still calculates correctly. ■ Copy Results Instantly Copy the calculation result with a single tap and paste it wherever you need it. ■ Unlimited Tab Management Create unlimited tabs for each category. ■ Flexible Tab Reordering Reorder tabs freely with intuitive drag-and-drop. ■ Notifications Schedule reminders with any message at the time you choose. ■ Automatic Backup & Restore Automatic backups keep your important data fully protected, even when switching devices. ■ Rich Theme Options Customize the app with a wide variety of color themes. ■ Biometric Authentication Boost app security with biometric authentication. ■ Full Offline Support Use the app anytime without an internet connection. ■ Full Dark Mode Support Switch freely between system-linked, light, and dark modes. ■ No Login Required Start using the app immediately without any login. ■ Robust Security We never send your data outside the device. All data stays securely stored on your device. No password input or storage is required. ■ Fast Support We respond quickly to your inquiries. Feel free to contact us at info@naokiotsu.com ■ Privacy Policy https://naokiotsu.com/privacy-policy ■ Terms of service https://naokiotsu.com/term-of-use
Jotsum
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Jotsum is a calculator you write in plain words. Type your math and notes on the left; the answers appear on the right, live, as you type — no equals key, no buttons, no fuss. It’s the everyday calculations you actually do: splitting a bill, converting currencies at today’s rate, working out a percentage off, adding up a trip budget, or checking how many days until a deadline. Name your values and reuse them down the page, and Jotsum keeps the whole sheet in sync. SYNCS WITH YOUR MAC Your calculations sync over iCloud, so the sheet you start on your Mac is on your iPhone — and the other way around. No account, no sign-in; it uses your own iCloud. WHAT IT DOES • Plain-language math with variables — name a number, reuse it anywhere • Live currency conversion (160+ currencies + Bitcoin/Ethereum, no API key, no login) • Units — length, mass, time, volume, data, temperature, area, speed • Percentages done the human way — “20% off 80”, “12 is what % of 60” • Dates & durations — “3 days + 5 hours”, “days until christmas”, time zones • Scientific functions — sqrt, sin/cos/tan, logs, exp, powers, plus pi, e, tau • Finance — compound interest and mortgage payments • Multiple notes, organised in a tidy list PRIVATE BY DESIGN Everything stays on your devices and your own iCloud. No account, no analytics, no tracking. Currency rates are the only network request, and the app works offline too. Light and dark, with a warm editorial look that’s easy on the eyes all day. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Jotsum at every 3 days against CalcNotes's weekly. CalcNotes's advantage is iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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. CalcNotes sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Jotsum sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
CalcNotes ships an update weekly, Jotsum every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on September 20, 2026 and September 13, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | CalcNotes | Jotsum |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Weekly | Every 3 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 51 MB | 2 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | naoki otsu | Hrvoje Matosic |
In-app purchases
CalcNotes
- Premium$1.991 Month
- Premium (Pay Once)$4.99
Jotsum
- Jotsum Pro14 Days trial$0.991 Month
- Jotsum Pro$29.00









