FormulaCalculator 3 for macOS and Windows

FormulaCalculator is a flexible formula-based calculator for macOS. Originally developed in 2012, it has now been renewed for modern versions of macOS with support for both Apple Silicon and Intel Macs.

Version 3 introduces a major new feature: Calculation Sheets.

Version 3.1 (current) introduces images in worksheets. Making documentation and final documents clearer. An image could be a drawing, screenshot for some diagrams, etc. See example at the bottom of the article.

Instead of calculating one expression at a time, you can create a complete sheet of related formulas, define your own variables, add explanatory comments, and calculate everything from top to bottom.

Write calculations naturally

A Calculation Sheet can contain simple assignments, formulas and comments:

# FormulaCalculator sheet
km = 3.5
time = 0.1
speed = km / time
x = 4
y = cbrt(2x / 3)

Variables are created simply by assigning values to them. They can have descriptive names such as totalRise, riserHeight or tipToTipDistance.

When you press Run, FormulaCalculator evaluates every line in order. Earlier results are immediately available to formulas farther down the sheet.

FormulaCalculator evaluates the editable source on the left and presents properly typeset formulas and results on the right.

Proper mathematical presentation

The calculated sheet presents formulas using mathematical notation rather than plain calculator text.

Fractions, powers, square roots and cubic roots are rendered in their familiar mathematical forms. You can select how many decimal places to display and adjust the zoom level without changing the underlying calculated values.

The divider between the editor and calculated view can also be moved, giving more room to whichever side you are currently working with.

Create PDF calculation reports

A Calculation Sheet can be exported as a professionally formatted PDF report.

Before saving, you can provide a report title and a short description. Comments become ordinary explanatory text, while formulas are rendered mathematically and aligned around their equality signs.

PDF reports combine descriptions, comments, formulas and calculated results in a clean document suitable for sharing or archiving.

Save and reopen your work

Calculation Sheets can be saved as JSON documents and opened again later. The saved document contains:

• The sheet title
• Its description
• All editable equations and comments

Only the editable source is stored. Results are recalculated when the sheet is opened and run again.

Optional OpenAI assistance

FormulaCalculator 3 can optionally connect to the OpenAI API.

With an API key configured in Preferences, OpenAI can help you:

• Simplify the current formula
• Rearrange a formula to calculate a selected variable
• Create calculations from a written description
• Answer follow-up questions using the variables and calculations already present in the sheet
• Use images to support Ask AI, with a drawing or a circuit diagram.

For example, if the sheet contains:

y = 2*x/3

you can select x and ask FormulaCalculator to rearrange the expression. The resulting formula can then be inserted directly into the sheet.

OpenAI support is optional. FormulaCalculator’s normal calculations do not require an account or an internet connection.

The API key is stored securely in the macOS Keychain. If you do not already have an OpenAI Platform account, you must create one and add a small prepaid balance. A starting balance of around USD/EUR 10 should be more than sufficient for initial use. API requests for ordinary formula assistance generally cost very little, and usage can be monitored from the OpenAI Platform.

Function Library

FormulaCalculator includes an extensive Function Library covering areas such as:

• Geometry
• Finance and loans
• Savings and future values
• Areas, volumes and circumferences
• Unit conversions
• General mathematical operations

Library functions can be used directly or expanded into their underlying formulas. Expanding a function is useful when you want to document precisely how a result is calculated or adapt the formula for a particular project.

Modern macOS / Windows application

FormulaCalculator 3.0 Mac is:

• Compatible with Apple Silicon and Intel Macs
• Signed with a Developer ID certificate
• Notarized by Apple
• Designed for current macOS releases
• Available as a free DMG download

FormulaCalculator 3.0 Windows is:

• Compatible with Windows 11 and Windows-10, Intel
• Signed with our CodeSigning Certificate
• Application is self-contained, so no extra dependency libs are needed. Just one File.
• Available as a free ZIP-file download

Download FormulaCalculator 3

FormulaCalculator is completely free. Download it, create a Calculation Sheet, and try it with a real project—from a quick conversion to a complete staircase calculation.

Have fun with the FormulaCalculator 3.1

Examples and screenshots

Calculation of the load capacitors for an external crystal on a STM32 Microcontroller.