# RPN vs Nixie Calculator

The clearest difference is price: Nixie Calculator at Free against RPN's $1.99. Nixie Calculator also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.4) and update cadence (monthly vs every 6 months). RPN's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). On review sentiment, ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Nixie Calculator is free to download; RPN costs $1.99 up front. Nixie Calculator sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. RPN asks for nothing beyond the download.

Nixie Calculator holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 14 and 15 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 71% of RPN's written reviews are positive against 67% of Nixie Calculator's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

RPN ships an update every 6 months, Nixie Calculator monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 4, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | RPN | Nixie Calculator |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $1.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.4 (14 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rpn-35-sd/id956224485/reviews) | **[4.9 (15 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nixie-calculator/id1489019109/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 14 | **15** |
| Positive reviews | **71.4% of reviews** | 66.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 14 MB | 36 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [CuVee Software](https://appshunter.io/developer/424873503) | [UNB SYSTEMS PTY LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1514057763) |

## What reviewers say

### RPN

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rpn-35-sd/id956224485)

This app emulates the first pocket scientific calculator, offering a photo-realistic vintage experience. It simulates original operating speeds and unique arithmetic bugs, with optional modern enhancements like non-volatile registers.

**Highlights:** Photo-realistic look-and-feel, Multiple vintage skins, Vintage and Enhanced modes, Optional key-click and key-glow, Swipe to correct input, Display stack and memory registers

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Nixie Calculator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nixie-calculator/id1489019109)

This calculator app features a digital paper tape to display entries, which can be copied or shared. It offers various customization options like color schemes, rounding, and display modes, blending retro aesthetics with modern device technology.

**Highlights:** Paper tape for entry display, Copy and paste functionality, Customizable color schemes, Adjustable rounding and exponential modes, Classic Nixie font option, Thousand separator styles

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Color Layouts | $2.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is RPN free?

RPN costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Nixie Calculator free?

Nixie Calculator is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, RPN or Nixie Calculator?

Nixie Calculator is rated higher. RPN averages 4.4 out of 5 from 14 ratings, while Nixie Calculator averages 4.9 from 15 ratings.

### Do RPN or Nixie Calculator have ads?

Neither RPN nor Nixie Calculator shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, RPN or Nixie Calculator?

RPN ships an update every 6 months, and Nixie Calculator monthly. Most recently, RPN was updated on November 4, 2026 and Nixie Calculator on November 3, 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.*