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As I reviewed this category, like my predecessor I discovered there are a lot of free calculator programs available. Some have specific purposes, some are mixed use or what I call multi-purpose calculators. Trying to pick a best calculator that fits everyone is difficult, but I’ll do my best. Please leave any comments and suggestions you may have or calculators you use that you would like to see reviewed.
Discussion
SpeedCrunch is the best scientific calculator. I like the lists of constants, functions and variables available along with the math book. The math book gives useful information such as how to get the volume of a cube. Other cool features are customizable result format, angle format, behavior and radix character. The features are a little complicated for someone wanting to perform simple math.
CalcTape (formerly known as SFR Calculator) I like this calculator because of all the calculators so far, it has a modern, clean, Windows 7 look to it. CalcTape uses a menu ribbon that functions like MS-Office menus as you can see from the screenshot. Work can be saved as file. The installer gives you 3 options; 1) use the free version, 2) the Pro version for 30 days, or 3) register the program. The calculator is best for simple calculations however it will perform some advanced operations, exponential and percentage calculations.
Windows 7 Calculator I rate the Windows 7 calculator as the best all-around multipurpose calculator. The calculator includes a tape called history that can be edited or copied to the clipboard. Various modes include standard, scientific, programmer and statistics. It also offers unit conversion, date calculation and various worksheets for calculating things like fuel economy and mortgages. Product rating docked for only being available with Windows 7.
CalcCute is amazingly simple but powerful software. I like the small in file size, and small footprint. The lack of a typical menu bar confused me at first. I found the menu by right clicking the icon in the upper right corner of the window. CalcCute does have a help file, unlike many of the other calculator programs. The tape can be expanded, and allows for live edits. The keypad has a back button, clear button and undo button. CalcCute performs basic or scientific calculations.
SuperbCalc is a great desktop calculator. This program runs using Java so it does require Java 5 or above to work. To download save the Java app to your computer, don’t run the download or the calculator will open but not stay saved to your computer. I saved the file to my desktop. Execute the app to open the calculator. The buttons on the calculator utilize the buttons on the right of the letter keys of a standard keyboard (see image). SuperbCalc uses a tape that can be cut into a text window multiple times. The tape can be printed, saved and uses unlimited length. I really liked being able to customize the size and appearance. Customizing the tape output is a really nice feature often missing with calculators of this type. SuperbCalc is considered a financial calculator, not scientific.
Quick Selection Guide
SpeedCrunch
10
Gizmo's Freeware award as the best product in its class!
Runs as a stand-alone program on a user's computer
Formula friendly for scientific calculations, math book
There is no portable version of this product available.
Windows 7
Editor
This software category is maintained by volunteer editor joeguru. Registered members can contact the editor with any comments or questions they might have by clicking here.
For the RPN addicted ones like me (maybe not so many ones...?) I would suggest Free42, the total rewrite of an HP-42S hand-held simulator.
http://thomasokken.com/free42/
I install it on every PC I use, and assign it to a short-key, to pop it up quickly. It's multi platform as well, so you can run it on the OS of your choice.
Thanks, you're not alone in preferring RPN logic. Other good RPN ones for Windows are XCalc which is RPN only and Calc98 which can be set to use RPN logic in the options.
I wonder why these fine programs allways imitate cheap pocket calculators.
Try Pc-Calculator at http://pc-calculator.sourceforge.net/index.html
to see, why I think it is superb. And look at its size. It is smaller than the image of its screenshot.
by beagle17 (not verified) on 19. December 2010 - 17:42(62937)
MyCalc was flagged by my firewall for trying to connect to the internet the first time it was run. Otherwise, it's pretty and nicely functional software. I'll just let my firewall control it and keep using it I think.
RedCrab is a comprehensive scientifical calculator with full screen formula editor.
The mathematical expressions are not typed in a typical command line, but can be enter in an editor window similar to a piece of paper. The calculator's editor supports the entry of complex algebraic equations like fractions, square roots, exponents, etc.
http://www.redchillicrab.com/calculator/redcrab.html
Those who need to do complex mathematics occasionally can checkout www.wolframalpha.com
It is really very great. It is called a Knowledge engine.
For eg. entering 5, 12, 13 triangle will return its shape, area, perimeter, interior angle and many other information.
It can also solve equations with ease.
Just see a few examples on the site and you'll get stick to it. NOTE: IT IS A WEB APPLICATION AND CAN'T BE RUN OFFLINE.
If you like it so much, there is also a browser addon and a taskbar gadget
Wolfram Alpha site is quite good and is actually a free interface to Mathematica software which is used for the calculations. The only other way to use Mathematica as far as I know is to buy the program which is pretty expensive.
Another vote for Console Calculator. Advanced enough for engineers, but simple enough for every day tasks. Love the minimalist interface that stays out of the way.
Thank you for recommending SFR. It has an excellent interface & being able to save calculations is a plus. I have been using Speed Crunch for a while and more recently Karen's Calculator: http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptcalc.asp
In office I have to do simple calculations only.
So I started looking for a calculator which takes less amount of desktop area as my office monitor is small CRT.
As I am given only 150 MB space to use I also wanted it to be of smallest size.
I want to do my work fast so I required a simple calculator.
SpeedCrunch 2.5 MB
Sage 17 MB
Calc 98 :very dull interface.
Most of them above occupy much of desktop area.
I found two which appealed me:
TheCalcMan and Calcute
Of them TheCalcMan has a much better user interface (with visual effects), is small (20 KB) as compared to calcute(170 KB).
Also TheCalcMan offers "Constant Operator". This is feature that caught my interest as I have to many additions.
In this feature, you just have to select addition operator and just enter numbers. Like this:
23
24
and so on
and you'll get results.
TheCalcMan is best for me and I am going to keep it.
I use it since 2008 after a lot of time lost on searching a good tape calculator. It's really great (simple, fast, always on top if you want, any kind of calculation in a human way ()*^/.
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Comments
For the RPN addicted ones like me (maybe not so many ones...?) I would suggest Free42, the total rewrite of an HP-42S hand-held simulator.
http://thomasokken.com/free42/
I install it on every PC I use, and assign it to a short-key, to pop it up quickly. It's multi platform as well, so you can run it on the OS of your choice.
~Lou
Free42 rocks! I use it several times a week!
Thanks, you're not alone in preferring RPN logic. Other good RPN ones for Windows are XCalc which is RPN only and Calc98 which can be set to use RPN logic in the options.
XCalc http://www.tordivel.no/xcalc
Calc98 http://www.calculator.org/download.aspx
Moderators comment:
Calc98 link changed to point to the free version and not the download page for the latest commercial product.
Thanks to everyone for this very helpful article. I've enjoyed using Java Scientific Calculator: http://jscicalc.sourceforge.net/
I wonder why these fine programs allways imitate cheap pocket calculators.
Try Pc-Calculator at
http://pc-calculator.sourceforge.net/index.html
to see, why I think it is superb. And look at its size. It is smaller than the image of its screenshot.
MyCalc2 at http://homeproduction.free.fr/mycalc2/index.htm is a pretty good free calculator. Download the latest version at Freeware Files - http://www.freewarefiles.com/MyCalc2_program_54312.html
zubina
MyCalc was flagged by my firewall for trying to connect to the internet the first time it was run. Otherwise, it's pretty and nicely functional software. I'll just let my firewall control it and keep using it I think.
SpeedCrunch is also available in a Portable version:
http://portableapps.com/apps
I've been using WiseCalc for a long time now and have been very happy with it.
http://www.wisecalc.com/
RedCrab is a comprehensive scientifical calculator with full screen formula editor.
The mathematical expressions are not typed in a typical command line, but can be enter in an editor window similar to a piece of paper. The calculator's editor supports the entry of complex algebraic equations like fractions, square roots, exponents, etc.
http://www.redchillicrab.com/calculator/redcrab.html
Those who need to do complex mathematics occasionally can checkout www.wolframalpha.com
It is really very great. It is called a Knowledge engine.
For eg. entering 5, 12, 13 triangle will return its shape, area, perimeter, interior angle and many other information.
It can also solve equations with ease.
Just see a few examples on the site and you'll get stick to it.
NOTE: IT IS A WEB APPLICATION AND CAN'T BE RUN OFFLINE.
If you like it so much, there is also a browser addon and a taskbar gadget
Wolfram Alpha site is quite good and is actually a free interface to Mathematica software which is used for the calculations. The only other way to use Mathematica as far as I know is to buy the program which is pretty expensive.
Another vote for Console Calculator. Advanced enough for engineers, but simple enough for every day tasks. Love the minimalist interface that stays out of the way.
Better than this: Command Line Calculator. It can also plot functions in a very easy way.
I corrected all the link problems and made a revision. If you are the admin please accept the revision.
thanks for fixing the problems
Check out SFR Calculator. Pretty nice with editable tape and everything.
http://www.sfr-software.de/cms/XX/windows/sfr-calculator/index.html
Thank you for recommending SFR. It has an excellent interface & being able to save calculations is a plus. I have been using Speed Crunch for a while and more recently Karen's Calculator: http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptcalc.asp
ok i tried to compile all of them contributed so far into one list - hopefully someone else can take it from here...
1) The CalcMan - http://venussoftcorporation.blogspot.com/2009/07/thecalcman.html
2) XCalc - http://www.tordivel.no/xcalc/
3) Calcute - http://calcute.com/
4) pmaCalc - http://www.pmasoft.net/englisch/pmacalc.htm
5) Sicyon Lite - http://www.sicyon.com/
6) SpeQ - http://www.speqmath.com/index.php?id=1
7) ESBCalc - http://www.esbconsult.com/esbcalc/esbcalc.htm
8) SpeedCrunch - http://speedcrunch.org/en_US/index.html
9) Moffsoft FreeCalc - http://www.moffsoft.com/freecalc.htm
10) Sage - http://www.sagemath.org/index.html
11) Graphcalc - http://www.graphcalc.com/
12) Calc 98 - http://www.calculator.org/download.html
13) Mark's Adding Mach.- http://mwganson.freeyellow.com/MAM/
14) HEXelon - http://www.hexelon.com/kalkulator/index_en.php
15) Console Calculator - http://ccalc.shanebweb.com/
16) Text Calc - http://www.atomixbuttons.com/textcalc/
also 2 Microsoft calculators:
18) MS PowerToy Calc - http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/Downloads/powertoys/Xppowertoys.mspx
19) MS Calculator Plus - http://www.microsoft.com/downloads
also a Taskbar Calculator:
Taskbar Calculator - http://www.marcomaroni.it/TaskbarCalculator.aspx
also a variety of Firefox add-on calculators: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/search?q=status-bar+calculator&...
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/1194
Your list was very helpful, I've tested each program and put together the top 3 recommendations above.
good job...
i was using Moffsoft, will have to check out the other two...
In office I have to do simple calculations only.
So I started looking for a calculator which takes less amount of desktop area as my office monitor is small CRT.
As I am given only 150 MB space to use I also wanted it to be of smallest size.
I want to do my work fast so I required a simple calculator.
SpeedCrunch 2.5 MB
Sage 17 MB
Calc 98 :very dull interface.
Most of them above occupy much of desktop area.
I found two which appealed me:
TheCalcMan and Calcute
Of them TheCalcMan has a much better user interface (with visual effects), is small (20 KB) as compared to calcute(170 KB).
Also TheCalcMan offers "Constant Operator". This is feature that caught my interest as I have to many additions.
In this feature, you just have to select addition operator and just enter numbers. Like this:
23
24
and so on
and you'll get results.
TheCalcMan is best for me and I am going to keep it.
Have you tried TheCalcMan?
Its good.
You need only the keyboard to operate.
Its nice.
The above link is wrong, here is the right one:
http://venussoftcorporation.blogspot.com/2009/07/thecalcman.html
thanks buddy.
XCalc shrinks down to a tiny stay on top window and is always handy.
Easy but smart calculator:
Calcute
I use it since 2008 after a lot of time lost on searching a good tape calculator. It's really great (simple, fast, always on top if you want, any kind of calculation in a human way ()*^/.
Really thanks to the author
Daniele from Italy
I use pmaCalc a lot. It is freeware, very handy, have almost all necessary functions and converters and it is very light.
http://www.pmasoft.net/englisch/pmacalc.htm
XCalc is what I use when I need a calculator.
For repetitive stuff like adding a column of numbers, I use an excel spreadsheet.