A talking calculator for iPhone

Two kinds of talking calculator

"Talking calculator" usually means one of two things. The classic kind has normal buttons and says each key out loud as you press it: "seven, plus, four, equals, eleven". They've been around since the 1970s, mostly for blind and low-vision users and for classrooms.

The newer kind listens. You say "seven plus four" and it works out the answer. Simple Voice Calculator is this kind, and it can also read the answer back, so the whole calculation can happen without looking at the screen. If you also want every button announced, turn on VoiceOver in iOS. VoiceOver reads the controls, and the app reads the result.

Turning the voice on

Spoken answers are free, but they're off by default, so the app stays quiet if you use it in a meeting or a library.

1. Open Simple Voice Calculator and go to Settings.
2. Turn on Announce Total.
3. Tap the microphone, say your calculation, then say stop. You'll hear "Total equals…" followed by the answer.
4. Tap the total any time to hear it again. Press and hold it to copy the number.

The voice speaks in the same language the app listens in: English, German, Spanish, Italian, Korean or Hindi, whichever your iPhone is set to. The Apple Watch app has its own Announce Total switch.

When hearing the answer helps

Checking figures on paper

Bank statements, tax forms, inventory sheets. You read each number out, the app keeps the total, and your finger never leaves the line you're on. People who do this say it's where the app is most useful:

Now I can calculate long sequences without taking my eyes off the data.KGRoberts, App Store review

In the kitchen

Scaling a recipe for more people means a handful of multiplications. With sticky hands, it helps when the phone says "Total equals 375" while you're already reaching for the flour. There's more in the cooking guide.

Low vision

Speaking replaces finding small keys, and hearing replaces reading the result. With VoiceOver on as well, every block of the equation can be read and edited. See the accessibility guide for the full setup.

Classic talking calculator vs. Simple Voice Calculator

If you want to hear each key as you press it, say for teaching times tables, a classic talking calculator is the right tool. If you'd rather not press keys at all, a voice calculator is.

Try it before you install anything

The online voice calculator on this site listens and talks back in Chrome, Edge and Safari. It's a quick way to see whether doing math out loud works for you. The phrasing that works in the app is listed in what to say.

Questions people ask