Ratio vs PCalc
Compared on by Adrian Viziteu. PCalc details are from pcalc.com; check it for current pricing.
PCalc is a classic scientific calculator with buttons, RPN and a programmer mode. Ratio has no keypad: you type each calculation as a line of text, and every line and its answer stays on the page.
| Ratio | PCalc | |
|---|---|---|
| How you use it | Type lines of text, answers appear beside them | Keypad and display, like a hardware calculator |
| Price | $9.99 once (1 Mac), updates included | See pcalc.com |
| Platforms | Mac | Mac, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Vision Pro |
| RPN | No | Yes |
| Hex, binary, bitwise | Yes (“255 in hex”, “0xF0 & 0x3C”) | Yes |
| Unit conversions | 150+ units, typed in words | Yes |
| Live currencies and crypto | Yes, 160+ currencies | See pcalc.com |
| Keeps your working | Yes, sheets with every line, synced via iCloud | A tape of past results |
| Dates, time zones, VAT, loans | Yes, in plain words | Not its focus |
What a Ratio sheet looks like
| rent = 1450 eur | €1,450 |
| rent * 12 | €17,400 |
| prev in usd | $19,520.54 |
| 255 in hex | 0xFF |
| 1 << 4 | 16 |
| sin(30°) | 0.5 |
Choose Ratio if
You want to see your working: a budget, a quote or a conversion you can read back later, change one number in and watch the rest update. Ratio also knows currencies, dates, time zones and VAT.
Choose PCalc if
You think in RPN, prefer pressing keys to typing, or want the same calculator on your iPhone and Apple Watch.
Try Ratio free for 7 days · $9.99 once, updates included
Questions
Is Ratio a replacement for PCalc? If you like typing your calculations as text, yes. If you rely on RPN or a keypad, keep PCalc; the two work well side by side.
Does Ratio have a programmer mode? There is no separate mode. Type “255 in hex”, “10 in binary”, “300 in u8” or “0xF0 & 0x3C” on any line.