Android calculator apps - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: John B
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2025, 10:38:42 pm
content: I'm looking for recommendations on Android calculator apps. I'm using the inbuilt app that comes with GrapheneOS, and have tried several alternatives on Droidify, however they all operate in much the same way.Mainly I am looking for a recall history of previous calculations. All the ones I've used can only recall the calculated value, not the expression in order to edit them. Even though they store the expression that gave the value.Generally speaking as well, I don't like these apps that are emulating 40 year old calculators.On Linux I quite like KAlgebra because even as a basic calculator, it allows you to write and edit code-like algebraic expressions, and recall previous calculations. Supposedly it is available for Android, but on the Play Store, it says it's unavailable for my device. I think that is because the last version is from 2017 and is too out of date for later Android versions.https://apps.kde.org/en-gb/kalgebramobile/

author: MarkF
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2025, 10:55:41 pm
content: I've been using the free version ofHiPER Scientifice Calculator.I did a skin that makes it look close to one of my old HP Calculators.It has automatic switching between vertical and horizontal display when rotating the phone.The free version has ads. A bit of a pain.Haven't checked the price of the Pro version.Attached is my theme for HiPER Calc if anyone wants to import it and try it out.

author: radiolistener
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2025, 11:57:56 pm
content: I think RealCalc Scientific Calculator is the best one for android

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2025, 12:18:22 am
content: Quote from: radiolistener on July 21, 2025, 11:57:56 pmSeconded, especially since you can stop it being a half-RPN calculator and turn it into an RPN calculator. tan(45) has to be entered as 45 tan, i.e. RPN style.

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2025, 01:08:07 am
content: Quote from: John B on July 21, 2025, 10:38:42 pmThis is interesting, because I am facing the opposite dilemma. Apple has just done a complete revamp of the calculator app in iOS 18, turning it from a basic 80's-like calculator to a new design with algebraic formula entry, a calculation history, and even an optional notebook like feature with graphs and things.I don't like it, and would prefer the old one back, at least as an option. For most quick calculations I use a phone for, I prefer the simple UI and economy of keystrokes found in a basic key entry calculator. So now I'm looking for a good calculator app that has just the basic key functions, with large clear buttons and display. It beats me why Apple does not allow you to have both old and new apps side-by-side and let you choose. Very annoying. They could easily put the old app on the App Store.

author: abeyer
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2025, 05:19:54 pm
content: https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.jherkenhoff.qalculate/

author: BeBuLamar
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2025, 07:19:17 pm
content: The kind of calculator apps I use are those that emulate old calculator namely the HP-41 and HP-48 series. I don't like to enter an algebraic expression into a phone app or hand held calculator. If I want to do that I prefer the computer with keyboard.

author: John B
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2025, 07:54:17 am
content: Quote from: abeyer on July 22, 2025, 05:19:54 pmIt looks promising, but is in very early development. I will keep it installed because it looks quite interesting.I found one that was basically the same as the AOSP standard calculator but with the ability to recall previous expressions to edit, not just the answerhttps://github.com/clementwzk/OpenCalc

author: Sideways
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2025, 12:12:44 pm
content: I also like HiPER for android. Enough that I paid the few pounds to make the ads disappear.There are varied skins so it can be modern if you want.Expressions of a line or two are displayed and you can scroll back and edit them.The feature that I most like is that it allows some control over the precedence of operators in addition to "normal".Screenshot of some random expression to show another format option ...

author: Tation
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2025, 04:31:01 pm
content: Quote from: abeyer on July 22, 2025, 05:19:54 pmI use Qalculate on Linux. It can be configured to work in RPN, but definitely in a sub-optimal way. Not used the Android app, though.

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2025, 04:58:02 pm
content: Quote from: Tation on July 23, 2025, 04:31:01 pmI use a spreadsheet when operating in a linux desktop. I can configure it to do most things I wantAlternatively there's the windows HP15 emulator, which runs just fine under WINE.

author: dnparadice
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 31, 2025, 07:06:34 pm
content: No android version yet but making an android port of PyCalc is in the works. PyCalc brings the ecosystem of python libraries and tools to an RPN calculator style UI.https://github.com/dnparadice/PyCalc

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 31, 2025, 07:16:27 pm
content: Good luck typing those expressions on a fondleslab "keyless keyboard"When I started computing, it was a real pain constantly using letter-shift figure-shift to encode ~60 characters onto 5 channel paper tape. I was relieved and delighted not to have to do that when 10cps ASR33 teletypes arrived.Now it is back to one of the worse aspects of the past, with added symbol-shift and no tactile feedbackTL;DR: use a proper keyboard and a spreadsheet (or similar).

author: radiolistener
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2025, 06:00:44 am
content: Quote from: dnparadice on July 31, 2025, 07:06:34 pmIn my opinion, for tasks like plotting functions and evaluating expressions, Octave combined with the Geany editor is a much better and more convenient option - though that may be because I don’t use Python and personally find C, C++, C#, JS, etc more comfortable to work with.However, as I understand it, the original question was more about a convenient calculator with buttons - essentially a software replacement for a physical calculator.

author: dnparadice
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2025, 03:33:55 pm
content: Quote from: radiolistener on August 01, 2025, 06:00:44 amYes, I agree there are better apps out there for plotting and I guess how well PyCalc evaluates expressions depends on if you use RPN or not. The Point of PyCalc is to have a modern FOSS RPN calculator that is infinitely extensible from existing and future libraries.PyCalc fulfils the requirement "Generally speaking as well, I don't like these apps that are emulating 40 year old calculators." but not the adnroid requirement (yet).

author: John B
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2025, 09:25:05 pm
content: The biggest thing was the ability to recall and modify previous expressions. The one I linked above, Opencalc, seems to be going OK, but there's odd crashes when flipping the screen.Pycalc looks interesting and is reminiscent of KAlgebra. The useful thing about a program like that is the ability to add specialised tabs/pages.When I was building recently, I had to make a whole lot of triangle measurements using the law of sines/cosines in order to trim 2.4x1.2m sheets to fit. I ended up usinghttps://www.calculator.net/triangle-calculator.htmlquite a lot to same time and make very accurate cuts. Something like that would be great in a local program.

author: Zucca
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 01, 2025, 09:31:54 pm
content: Free42

author: geralds
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 02, 2025, 12:12:18 am
content: Desmos can be helpful, though best use on tablets rather phones, otherwise the keypad may be considered very small (at least on iPhones). IIRC there is also an Android version, as well as Desmos online (https://www.desmos.com/).

author: batpuncher
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: August 07, 2025, 04:42:29 am
content: Another vote for HiPER Calc Pro. I don't really use my proper Casio's at home or work any more, only when I need to dual-wield.

author: radiolistener
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 04, 2025, 01:59:33 am
content: self made calculator for Linux

author: SteveThackery
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 18, 2025, 08:45:41 pm
content: I strongly recommend HiPER Calc Pro.