Whether you’re double-checking homework, figuring out your finances or converting currency, a great calculator makes the task easier. Each of these standout apps takes a different approach to working with numbers, but any one of them will be a welcome addition to your mathematical toolbox.

This customisable, programmable calculator can be as simple or full-featured as you need it to be, handling everything from scientific, engineering and programming functions to conversions to macros. It also supports reverse Polish notation (RPN), as any scientific calculator worth its salt should.

You could call Calca a mathematical word processor: it’s a capable text editor, but one optimised for creating documents that centre around – and solve – calculations. It also offers a simple programming language that lets you assign names to numbers and formulas, referencing them elsewhere in your document.

Soulver lets you work with numbers the way you’d talk about them, providing context to your calculations. You can even drag results from one part of a document to another to insert the value there – or assign a name to an equation and use that name in other calculations.