Notes and writing3 picks
The best calculator apps for Mac and iPhone
Soulver is the calculator app most Mac and iPhone users should buy, and Numi is the best free one on the Mac.
SoulverPick it if you plan budgets or trip costs and want every step visible and easy to change.$59 onceSoulver is a notepad calculator where you write sums in plain words and every answer updates when you change a number, for $59 once across Mac, iPad and iPhone. Numi is free to download on the Mac, with currencies, units and time zones built in. PCalc is the scientific pick, with RPN and binary modes on iPhone and Apple Watch.
How we chose
- 1Math written in plain words
- 2Units, currencies and time zones
- 3Scientific and RPN modes
Compare at a glance
Tap a name to jump to its write-up.
| App | Price | How you pay | Mac | iPhone | iPad | Watch | App Store | Developer | Setapp | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soulver | $59 once | Pay once | 4.9 | |||||||
 Numi | Free to start | Free, with paid upgrades | Too few ratings | |||||||
 PCalc | $9.99 once | Pay once | 4.7 |
Swipe the table sideways to see more
The picks, in order
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Pick it if you plan budgets or trip costs and want every step visible and easy to change.
Every line in a Soulver sheet can use an earlier answer, so changing your rent figure updates the whole monthly budget beneath it. You write sums in plain words, convert currencies and units as you type, and version 4 adds trip planning and hashtag totals. At $59 for Mac, iPad and iPhone it is a serious purchase, so use the 60-day trial or get it through Setapp; Numi handles lighter math free.
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Pick this if you convert currencies, units and time zones on your Mac several times a day.
Spotlight converts one thing at a time and forgets it the moment you close it. Numi keeps a running page of math written as plain text, like $40 in euros or today plus 3 weeks, with an answer on every line, plus time zones, crypto and named variables. The download is free, but unlimited notes and iCloud sync need the $29.99 license; Soulver costs $59 and adds iPhone and iPad versions.
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Pick it if you need RPN, hex or binary math on your iPhone and Apple Watch.
If you are an engineer, programmer or student who needs RPN, hex and binary modes or a real paper tape, PCalc has been the answer on Apple devices for over 30 years. Apple's built-in Calculator can't match its button layout editor, long list of constants or menu bar mode on the Mac. You do pay twice, $9.99 for iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch and another $9.99 for the Mac.
Head to head
Stuck between 2 of these? Each comparison lines up price, devices and who should pick which.
