# Ratio vs PCalc

Compared on 15 October 2026 by Ratio. 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 | $14.99 once (1 computer), updates included | See pcalc.com |
| Platforms | Mac, Windows, Linux | 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 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](https://useratio.app/download) · $14.99 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.

Source: https://useratio.app/ratio-vs-pcalc