Comparison

SimplyRead vs PandaCalc

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

Head to head
About

SimplyRead

Transform any text file into an audiobook using natural-sounding voices. Organize your library with folders, import files, and edit text directly within the app. Securely back up your collection with iCloud.

Highlights
  • Text-to-audiobook conversion
  • Natural voice reading
  • Adjustable speech rate
  • Integrated book search and download
  • Smart library with folders
  • Built-in text editor
  • iCloud Drive backup
Features
Read full description

A book you can read — and listen to. SimplyRead opens your TXT, EPUB and Markdown files as real books, with covers, chapters and a page worth reading, then reads them aloud in natural iOS voices whenever you would rather listen. READ - A reading page set in a proper serif, with five paper themes that follow your phone's Light or Dark mode - Page by page, or one continuous scroll — whichever you prefer - Chapters found automatically, including Chinese numeral titles, with a panel to jump anywhere in the book - Bookmarks, find-in-book with highlighted matches, and a Continue Reading card that puts you back where you stopped - Every mark and label scales with your text size LISTEN - High-quality iOS system voices, at a speed you set - The sentence being spoken is highlighted, and the page follows along - Sleep timer, plus Lock Screen, Control Center and CarPlay controls — keep listening with the screen off BUILD YOUR LIBRARY - Import from the Files app, create a file straight from your clipboard, or download from a URL and watch it arrive - Built-in search to find and download books directly to your shelf - Folders to keep a long shelf tidy EDIT AND KEEP - A built-in editor with Find & Replace and a Fix New Lines tool for text files that arrived badly wrapped - iCloud Drive backup and restore for the whole library, reading positions included FREE AND PRO Your own files, the entire reader, themes, chapters, bookmarks and backup are unlimited and free. Pro lifts the daily listening allowance and the download limit.

About

PandaCalc

Features
Read full description

PandaCalc is a calculator with notes and calculation history, designed for users who need to track, save, and understand their numbers. Perfect for expense tracking, budgeting, work calculations, and any situation where calculation records matter. Key Features Add Notes to Every Calculation Attach text notes to each calculation record, such as expenses, rent, materials, or project names, so every number has clear context. Calculation History with Auto Save All calculations are automatically saved, allowing you to review your full calculation history anytime. Archive Important Results Save and archive key calculations with one tap for future reference, ideal for budgeting, reimbursements, and project work. Trash & Recovery Deleted calculation records are moved to a recycle bin, so you can restore them anytime and avoid accidental loss. More Features • Supports large numbers and readable formatting • Copy, delete, sum, and subtotal calculation history • Custom decimal precision from 0 to 10 places • Optional thousand separators • Adjustable font size • Optional key sounds and haptic feedback • Dark Mode support • Multilingual support: English, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, and Japanese

Screenshots

SimplyRead4 screens
PandaCalc4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: PandaCalc at none against SimplyRead's 1. PandaCalc also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.0). On price, update cadence, 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

Both are free to download. SimplyRead sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. PandaCalc asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 15, 2026 and September 2, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
SimplyRead versus PandaCalc: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSimplyReadPandaCalc
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyWeeklyWeekly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationPaid—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS16.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size141 MB25 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer阳 张友 周

In-app purchases

1 purchases

SimplyRead

One-time1
  • Pro User$0.99
None

PandaCalc

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SimplyRead free?
SimplyRead is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is PandaCalc free?
PandaCalc is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do SimplyRead or PandaCalc have ads?
Neither SimplyRead nor PandaCalc shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SimplyRead or PandaCalc?
SimplyRead ships an update weekly, and PandaCalc weekly. Most recently, SimplyRead was updated on September 15, 2026 and PandaCalc on September 2, 2026.

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