# CALC Prime vs Desmos Test Mode

The clearest difference is review sentiment: CALC Prime at 74% against Desmos Test Mode's 17%. CALC Prime also leads on rating (4.3 vs 1.6) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 4 months). Desmos Test Mode's advantage is price (Free vs $8.99) and ratings volume (369 vs 4). On ads, in-app purchases and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Desmos Test Mode is free to download; CALC Prime costs $8.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

CALC Prime holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 1.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Desmos Test Mode has 369 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 74% of CALC Prime's written reviews are positive against 17% of Desmos Test Mode's.

CALC Prime ships an update every 2 months, Desmos Test Mode every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on August 28, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | CALC Prime | Desmos Test Mode |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $8.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.3 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/calc-prime/id842563364/reviews)** | [1.6 (369 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/desmos-test-mode/id977381005/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 4 | **369** |
| Positive reviews | **73.7% of reviews** | 16.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free** |
| Size | 9 MB | 6 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.5** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [QApps LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/395652397) | [Desmos](https://appshunter.io/developer/653517543) |

## What reviewers say

### CALC Prime

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/calc-prime/id842563364)

This advanced scientific calculator is designed for professionals and students, offering a wide range of functions, live conversions, and graphing capabilities. It features a history log, customizable themes, and easy expression editing, making complex calculations intuitive and visually appealing.

**Highlights:** Advanced scientific calculation, Smart Basic Graphing, Live currency and custom conversions, History log with aggregate functions, Customizable themes and layout, Native watchOS app and custom keyboard

**Features:** Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases:** none


### Desmos Test Mode

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/desmos-test-mode/id977381005)

This app provides restricted versions of graphing and scientific calculators designed to meet exam requirements. It allows users to practice for specific state or national assessments by selecting the appropriate test mode. Full, unrestricted calculator features are available in separate applications.

**Highlights:** Exam-compliant calculator modes, Graphing capabilities, Scientific calculator functions, Data tables and statistics, Interactive sliders, Points of interest on graphs

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Useful app for tests
- 🔒 Secure calculator mode
- 👍 Free alternative to expensive calculators

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and unstable
- 🔒 Overly restrictive app lock
- 👎 Poor user interface and usability

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes and freezes during use
- Unexpected phone behavior and lockouts
- Compatibility issues across different devices and OS versions

**Requested features**

- Add customization options for the calculator interface
- Improve compatibility with older devices
- Provide more flexible calculator modes during tests


## Frequently asked questions

### Is CALC Prime free?

CALC Prime costs $8.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Desmos Test Mode free?

Desmos Test Mode is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, CALC Prime or Desmos Test Mode?

CALC Prime is rated higher. CALC Prime averages 4.3 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while Desmos Test Mode averages 1.6 from 369 ratings.

### Do CALC Prime or Desmos Test Mode have ads?

Neither CALC Prime nor Desmos Test Mode shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, CALC Prime or Desmos Test Mode?

CALC Prime ships an update every 2 months, and Desmos Test Mode every 4 months. Most recently, CALC Prime was updated on August 28, 2026 and Desmos Test Mode on October 14, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*