Comparison

RPN vs Archivist Browser

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

Head to head
About

RPN

Features
Read full description

This is a calculator app using Reversed Polish Notation (RPN) In Portrait mode, this app provides a basic calculator with the four arithmetic disciplines +, -, x, and /. In Landscape mode, 30 extra buttons are available providing most functions found on a scientific calculator. You can do trigonometry, logarithms, roots, probability, and more. RPN is neat because you can do fancy calculations without having to worry about parenthesis. Putting the operator after the operands allow the operator to infer which are its operands without the clarification offered by paranthesis. The built-in help function (?) provides a short description of each function. The settings page allows you to set the number format, number of decimals displayed, decimal separator and more.

About

Archivist Browser

Stream millions of films, audiobooks, music, and digital texts directly from the Internet Archive. This media player offers enhanced playback, universal TV casting, and organized file management for researchers and enthusiasts.

Highlights
  • Stream films, audiobooks, music, and texts
  • Universal TV Casting (AirPlay)
  • High-resolution image viewer
  • Optimized audio with background support
  • Topic Chips for content filtering
  • Folder sharing via URL or QR code
  • On-the-fly renaming and text file cleanup
Features
Read full description

Archivist Browser: Your Portal to Digital History Archivist Browser is the ultimate media player, transforming your device into a comprehensive portal for streaming content directly from the Internet Archive's vast collections. Built specifically for researchers and enthusiasts of historical media, our app provides the fastest, most reliable way to stream millions of films, audiobooks, music and digital texts. Stop struggling with browser playback. Download Archivist Browser and experience the past, optimised for seamless, modern streaming. What the Critics Say "A really cool piece of software... I've never seen anything like this before... Highly recommend." — WILL SMITH, BRAD AND WILL MADE A TECH POD "A great idea for a very niche utility – my favourite kind these days." — FEDERICO VITICCI, MACSTORIES As featured in Cory Doctorow's Pluralistic blog. Enhanced Media Playback & Visuals Experience history in high definition with a UI designed for modern enthusiasts. Custom Themes: Personalise your experience with the new Alt Indigo Theme, a variation specifically for Dark Mode enthusiasts. Universal TV Casting: Watch films and video on your big screen! Archivist Browser supports AirPlay (on iOS) for instant, seamless video streaming to any compatible TV or streaming device. High-Res Image Viewer: Enjoy smoother navigation and better rendering when viewing high-resolution assets. Improved Subtitles: Expanded support for subtitles across more titles and languages. Optimised Audio: Enjoy full background audio support and media controls right from your lock screen, perfect for listening to historical audiobooks or music collections. Polished UI: Refined thumbnail badges offer better clarity and a more professional look. Discovery & Integration Navigate the Archive’s millions of items with ease. Topic Chips: Quickly filter and find what you want with Topic Chips now appearing on Collections. Uploader Profiles: Explore more from your favourite contributors by clicking an uploader’s name to see their full gallery. Internet Archive (IA) Integration: Seamlessly import your lists directly from your IA account for a seamless transition. Fast Content Discovery: Easily find media by title, keyword or creator, or access curated "Popular Queries" to jump straight into trending collections. File & Folder Management Organise and share your research effortlessly. Folder Sharing: Share your favourite folders with other users via URL or QR code. Smart Store Linking: If a recipient doesn’t have the app installed, shared links will automatically direct them to the store page. On-the-Fly Renaming: Keep your library organised by renaming your folders instantly. Text File Clean Up: Use a dedicated button to instantly tidy up messy OCR text files. Rapid Text Access: Cached text fetching retrieves PDFs and documents rapidly (note: cache is purged on app closure). Privacy & Reliability We prioritise your privacy: No user accounts, no mandatory login and absolutely no personal details are stored. Experience the Archive with total peace of mind.

Screenshots

RPN4 screens
Archivist Browser4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Archivist Browser at every 3 days against RPN's every 6 months. 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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

UpkeepUpdate frequency

RPN ships an update every 6 months, Archivist Browser every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
RPN versus Archivist Browser: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRPNArchivist Browser
PriceFreeFree
Rating—4.9 (62 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—87.5% of reviews
Number of ratings—62 — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 monthsEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS15.615.6
Further details — not scored
Size1 MB79 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperJoachim Seland GraffRobert Lothian

In-app purchases

None

RPN

No in-app purchases

None

Archivist Browser

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is RPN free?
RPN is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Archivist Browser free?
Archivist Browser is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do RPN or Archivist Browser have ads?
Neither RPN nor Archivist Browser shows ads.
Which is updated more often, RPN or Archivist Browser?
RPN ships an update every 6 months, and Archivist Browser every 3 days. Most recently, RPN was updated on October 12, 2026 and Archivist Browser on October 22, 2026.

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