Comparison

Calc vs MDB

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

Head to head
About

Calc

This app emulates the classic TI-59, TI-58, and TI-58C calculators with cycle-accurate precision. It includes virtual magnetic cards, a printer, software modules, and a CPU-level debugger for in-depth analysis. Bring your old programs back to life or explore the inner workings of these vintage machines.

Highlights
  • Cycle-accurate TI-59, TI-58, TI-58C emulation
  • Virtual magnetic card reader/writer
  • PC-100C printer emulation
  • CPU-level debugger
  • Solid State Software module support
  • iCloud syncing for state files
Features
Read full description

Calc-U-59 is a TI-59, TI-58, and TI-58C emulator for iPhone, iPad, and Mac. It runs the original ROM, so every program, module, and quirk works exactly as it did on the real hardware — with virtual magnetic cards, a PC-100C printer, all fourteen Solid State Software modules, and a CPU-level debugger for anyone who wants to look under the hood. CYCLE-ACCURATE EMULATION The TMC0501 processor is emulated at the cycle level, reproducing the exact behaviour of the original hardware — including the TI-58C's constant memory, preserved across restarts. The Master Library ROM and many more modules are included. INTEGRATED DEBUGGER Inspect program memory, data registers, CPU state, and internal SCOM registers live as the machine runs. Step through instructions one at a time, or let the emulator run and freeze it at any point. You can even run your own assembly programs! On iPad in landscape and on the Mac it sits beside the calculator; on iPhone and in portrait, turn on the debugger page in Settings. PAPER TAPE PRINTER A functional recreation of the PC-100C thermal printer with dot-matrix font rendering. Trace exactly what programs print and why. Copy output as plain text or as a high-resolution bitmap. MAGNETIC CARD READER Load and save programs and data registers as card files, stored on your device and synced via iCloud. Bring old listings back to life and run them under the debugger. STATE FILES Load .ti59 and .ti58(c) state files to instantly configure the machine with a program, registers, and flags — ideal for sharing reproducible scenarios or revisiting known machine states. SOLID STATE MODULES Select a Solid State Module and run programs from there. Whether you're bringing an old program back to life, running the Master Library modules, or exploring how these machines actually worked under the hood, Calc-U-59 gives you a faithful TI-59 in your pocket. Calc-U-59 is free software under the GPLv3; the source code is on GitHub.

About

MDB

Access and view Microsoft Access database files directly on your iPhone. Browse tables, inspect data, and export it to CSV format without needing a desktop application. Ideal for field work and quick data access.

Highlights
  • Open .mdb and .accdb files
  • Browse table names
  • Preview row data
  • Export rows to CSV
  • No ads or subscriptions
Features
Read full description

MDB-Viewer is a lightweight iPhone utility for opening common Microsoft Access database table data on the go. Import .mdb or .accdb files, browse tables, inspect rows, and export loaded rows to CSV when you need a quick view without using a desktop app. Built for operations, field work, support, legacy-system users, and anyone who needs a direct way to open Access database files on iPhone. Key features: - Open .mdb files from the Files app - Browse table names and preview row data - Export loaded rows to CSV - No ads - No subscription Important: MDB-Viewer is an unofficial compatibility utility and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Microsoft. Encrypted databases, forms, reports, macros, and some complex fields may be unsupported. Always verify critical workflows with your primary desktop database tools.

Screenshots

Calc4 screens
MDB4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Calc at Free against MDB's $3.99. Calc also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.0). MDB's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 18.0). On ratings volume, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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

Calc is free to download; MDB costs $3.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Calc holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 1 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Calc ships an update every 2 weeks, MDB every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on November 5, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Calc versus MDB: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCalcMDB
PriceFree — better$3.99
Rating5.0 (2 ratings) — better3.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings2 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS18.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB22 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMartin Erzberger久燕 王

Customer experience

Calc

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

MDB

All ratings1 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral100.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Calc

No in-app purchases

None

MDB

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Calc free?
Calc is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is MDB free?
MDB costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Calc or MDB?
Calc is rated higher. Calc averages 5.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while MDB averages 3.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Calc or MDB have ads?
Neither Calc nor MDB shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Calc or MDB?
Calc ships an update every 2 weeks, and MDB every 3 weeks. Most recently, Calc was updated on November 5, 2026 and MDB on November 5, 2026.

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