Comparison

K vs Number Rack, by MLC

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

K

This app provides a collection of interactive math tools for kindergarten through second-grade classrooms. It includes manipulatives like base 10 blocks, counters, and number lines, along with grids and a basic calculator to aid in problem-solving.

Highlights
  • Marker board
  • Base 10 blocks (1s & 10s)
  • Counters
  • 10 frames
  • Number line
  • Addition grids
  • 100s chart
  • Basic calculator
Features
Read full description

K-2 Math Tools A set of math tools to use in K-2 classrooms. No math problems are presented. Use the tools to solve problems from other contexts. The Tools include: marker board, base 10 blocks (1s & 10s), counters in several configuations, 10 frames, 10 bead rows, number line with 10-25 tick marks, 5x5 and 10x10 addition grids, a 100s chart, and a calculator with addition and subtraction only. You may choose to enlarge the size of the 5x5 Grid, the 10x10 Addition Grid, and the Calculator. When selecting a number in the grid 10x10 Addition and 5x5 Addtion charts highlight the number and its addends. The 10 Beads can be set to reverse or alternate the red/white beads. It’s not feasible to use all of the tools at one time, but the tools are draggable so multiple tools may be used at once. For example, the base 10 blocks and the marker board to illustate numbers to 99. The square counters may be shown in sets of 10, 20, or 30. As they are tapped, the center changes to a white square. The number line may be set to begin at any number (including negatives). You may show 10, 12, 15, 20, or 25 tick marks.

About

Number Rack, by MLC

This virtual manipulative tool helps children develop number sense through interactive bead groupings. It supports exploration of addition and subtraction strategies with customizable rows and colors. Ideal for elementary classrooms, it includes annotation and sharing features.

Highlights
  • 1-10 rows of 10 beads
  • Resizable bead covers for subtraction
  • Color-coded bead rows
  • Annotation and drawing tools
  • Math text and writing tools
  • Shareable work via image or code
Features
Read full description

Number Rack facilitates the natural development of children’s number sense. The movable, colored beads encourage learners to think in groups of fives and tens, helping them to explore and discover a variety of addition and subtraction strategies. This virtual version of the manipulative is an open-ended educational tool, ideal for elementary classrooms and other learning environments. FEATURES • Display 1 to 10 rows of beads, 10 beads per row. • Hide beads with resizable covers, which allows teachers or learners to model subtraction or difference problems. • Reverse the colors of rows 6 to 10 to distinguish (or not) groupings of 25 beads. • Use the drawing tools to annotate work and show understanding. • Add equations, expressions, and descriptions with the math text and writing tools. • Share work by saving an image or providing a share code to others. Great for creating the initial setup of an activity, then sharing it with students so they can explore it further.

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: K at 5.0 against Number Rack, by MLC's 3.2. K also leads on update cadence (every 4 months vs every 25 months) and iOS requirement (10.0 vs 14.7). Number Rack, by MLC's advantage is ratings volume (9 vs 1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

K holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Number Rack, by MLC has 9 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

K ships an update every 4 months, Number Rack, by MLC every 25 months. The most recent releases landed on June 25, 2026 and June 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
K versus Number Rack, by MLC: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterKNumber Rack, by MLC
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better3.2 (9 ratings)
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings19 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 months — betterEvery 25 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPadiPad
Requires iOS10.0 — better14.7
Further details — not scored
Size35 MB4 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperClassroom Focused SoftwareThe Math Learning Center

Customer experience

K

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Number Rack, by MLC

All ratings9 ratings
Positive55.6%
Neutral0.0%
Negative44.4%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

K

No in-app purchases

None

Number Rack, by MLC

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is K free?
K is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Number Rack, by MLC free?
Number Rack, by MLC is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, K or Number Rack, by MLC?
K is rated higher. K averages 5.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Number Rack, by MLC averages 3.2 from 9 ratings.
Do K or Number Rack, by MLC have ads?
Neither K nor Number Rack, by MLC shows ads.
Which is updated more often, K or Number Rack, by MLC?
K ships an update every 4 months, and Number Rack, by MLC every 25 months. Most recently, K was updated on June 25, 2026 and Number Rack, by MLC on June 24, 2026.

Other comparisons