Soulver vs Numi: Features, Syntax and Price (2026)

Soulver vs Numi comes down to platform and depth. Soulver is the deeper notepad calculator for Mac, iPhone and iPad, sold as a $59 one-time purchase with a 60-day free trial. Numi runs on macOS, Windows and Linux, has a free version with a limited number of notes, and costs less to unlock according to third-party listings (prices as of November 2026). If you only need quick sums and conversions while you write, you may not need either.

We make Gubb, a notes app with a basic math mode, so weigh our view accordingly. Neither Soulver nor Numi is ours, and we've tried to be fair to both. All prices and versions below are as of November 2026.

Soulver vs Numi: which one to pick

• Pick Soulver if you stay on Apple devices and want the bigger feature set of the two: multi-word variables, references to earlier answers, subtotals, tags, Wolfram Alpha integration, iCloud sync and export to PDF.
• Pick Numi if you use Windows or Linux, want to start free, or like having an open-source terminal version.
• Pick neither if you mostly add up a few numbers while writing. Apple Notes (free) or a notes app with inline math may be enough. See the section on math inside your notes below.

Soulver vs Numi at a glance

Features

Both apps do the same core job: you type calculations mixed with plain words, and the app works them out line by line. The differences are in how far each one goes past that.

Variables, references and longer sheets

Soulver has more here. Its makers list multi-word variables (so you can name something like "monthly rent" and reuse it), references to earlier answers, subtotals and tags. That suits longer sheets such as a budget, a quote or a trip plan, where later lines depend on earlier ones.

Numi supports variables too, and adds time zones and numeral systems (useful if you work in binary or hex). For long, interlinked calculations, Soulver gives you more tools to keep them organized.

Units, currency and time

Both convert units and currencies inline, so this is close to a tie. Numi also lists time zones. Soulver's own examples include currency ($100 in EUR) and distance (240 km in miles), and it advertises trip planning.

Sync and export

Soulver syncs through iCloud and exports to PDF, plain text or HTML email, which helps if you send calculations to someone else. Numi syncs through iCloud once you buy the license. Its official page lists export without naming formats.

Extras

Soulver 4 launched in June 2026 with an agent-friendly command-line tool and more than 50 improvements, and version 4.0.3 followed in September. The App Store also lists an optional "AI Assistant, Stocks & Weather" purchase, but we couldn't confirm it applies to Soulver 4, so check before buying it.

Numi has a notification widget and a terminal version that is open source on GitHub. The latest version we found is 3.34 (July 2026), listed on a third-party download site rather than the official one.

Syntax: how you type a calculation

Both apps let you write calculations in plain text instead of a strict formula language. That is the point of a notepad calculator.

Soulver's own examples show the style, with the answer it gives:

20% of $1,480     answer: $296
$100 in EUR       answer: €86
240 km in miles

You write the line roughly the way you'd say it. The euro figure depends on the exchange rate, so yours will differ.

Numi describes itself as a calculator that "blends math with text", with support for currencies, units, time zones, numeral systems and variables. We haven't reproduced its exact syntax here. The free version is the easiest way to check whether its phrasing feels natural before you pay.

If you already know which syntax you prefer, that should outweigh most rows in the table above.

Platforms

This is the clearest split between the two.

• Soulver: Mac, iPhone and iPad. Soulver 4 needs macOS 14.6 or later and iOS 17.6 or later. We found no Windows version.
• Numi: macOS, Windows and Linux, plus the terminal version. We found no iPhone app.

If you move between a Mac at home and a Windows PC at work, Numi is the only one of the two that follows you. If you want the same sheets on your iPhone, Soulver is the fit.

Price

Before you pay:

• Soulver upgrades are paid. Its makers describe a tradition of a major paid update about every 7 years. On the App Store, the upgrade from Soulver 3 is listed at $29.
• Soulver on iPhone: one purchase is described as covering Mac, iPad and iPhone, but the App Store also lists a separate "Soulver 4 for iPhone" in-app purchase at $15. Check soulver.app for how this applies to you.
• Numi's price: the official site doesn't show it clearly and third-party figures disagree, so check numi.app before you buy. If you already pay for Setapp, Numi is included.

A simpler option: math inside your notes

If what you actually need is to add up a grocery bill, split a dinner or convert a recipe while you write, a dedicated notepad calculator can be more than the job requires.

Apple Notes on recent macOS versions works out a line like 5 * 3 = inline. It's free and already on your Mac, and for occasional sums that may be all you need.

Gubb, our app, has three type-to-trigger modes inside a note. They sit in the same window as your notes, checklists, clipboard history and timers, so they suit you if you want quick sums next to what you're writing.

Math mode

1. In a note, type gubb@math, or type gubb@ and choose Math from the menu.
2. Check that the Math Mode Active badge appears in the bottom-left corner.
3. Type an expression and end the line with =. Gubb appends the result.
4. Press Esc to leave math mode.

12*3 = 36
1480 * 0.2 = 296

Math mode handles + - * / ^ ( ), decimals, x as multiply and ÷ as divide. It ignores $, €, £ and thousands commas.

Currency and unit conversions

• Type gubb@currency, then a line like 100 USD to EUR (3-letter codes) and press Return. Gubb appends the converted amount and the rate it used. Rates come from the Frankfurter API, so this needs an internet connection; offline, nothing is inserted.
• Type gubb@conversions, then a line like 10 ft to m and press Return. Gubb replaces the line with 10 ft to m = 3.05 m. This works offline and covers distance, area, volume, mass and temperature.

What Gubb's math can't do

Gubb's math mode is far simpler than Soulver or Numi:

• No percentages, functions or constants. %, sqrt(), pi and similar are stripped before evaluating, even though the mode's help popover lists them. Write 1480 * 0.2 instead of 20% of 1480.
• No variables.
• Single-word units only. Use sqft, not sq ft.
• Conversions replace the whole line, so keep other text on a separate line.
• Modes aren't saved. After you restart Gubb, type gubb@math again.

If you need variables, subtotals or long linked calculations, Soulver or Numi is the right tool. For setup details, see the math and conversions section of the Gubb help center. Gubb costs $59 one-time as of November 2026, and the Mac trial download runs free for 7 days.

FAQ

Is Numi free?

Numi is free to download, but the free version limits how many notes you can keep. A paid license unlocks unlimited notes and iCloud sync, and Numi is also included in Setapp.

Does Soulver work on Windows?

We found no Windows version as of November 2026. Soulver runs on Mac, iPhone and iPad. If you need Windows or Linux, Numi supports both.

Is the upgrade from Soulver 3 to Soulver 4 free?

No. The App Store lists the upgrade from Soulver 3 at $29. Soulver's makers release a major paid version roughly every 7 years.

Do I need either app for quick everyday sums?

Not always. If your sums are short and live inside other notes, Apple Notes or a notes app with inline math may cover them, and you can skip a separate calculator app.

For more options, see our list of Soulver and Numi alternatives and our guide to doing math inside your notes with a notepad calculator.