Comparison

Napier's Bones Simulation vs Roughness

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

Head to head
About

Napier's Bones Simulation

Features
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John Napier's contribution to mathematics was truly significant. Born in Scotland, Napier studied as a mathematician, physicist and astronomer. He is best known as the inventor of logarithms, but he also invented one of the first computing devices. The device, known as Napier's Bones, is manually operated and can be used to find the products and quotients of numbers. Napier's device was based on Arab mathematics and used the lattice method of multiplication. Each of the rods are inscribed with the multiplication tables for a specific number. By arranging the rods on the board, the product of two numbers can be found by performing addition operations. Use the Napier's Bones app to learn how one of the earliest calculating devices worked. More than 400 years ago, people used Napier's Bones to find the product of large numbers. In using this simulation you will discover a new way to multiply. Have fun!

About

Roughness

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When it comes to the surface of workpieces, a large number of surface parameters are required in design and manufacture. Before installation or delivery, the workpieces are also verified in quality management. The roughness app from ZEISS provides information on the most common surface parameters with related formulas and graphs.

Screenshots

Napier's Bones Simulation4 screens
Roughness4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Roughness at Free against Napier's Bones Simulation's $1.99. Napier's Bones Simulation's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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

Roughness is free to download; Napier's Bones Simulation costs $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Napier's Bones Simulation ships an update every 25 months, Roughness every 14 months. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 4 level
Napier's Bones Simulation versus Roughness: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNapier's Bones SimulationRoughness
Price$1.99Free — better
Update frequencyEvery 25 monthsEvery 14 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size29 MB26 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperVentura Educational SystemsCarl Zeiss AG

In-app purchases

None

Napier's Bones Simulation

No in-app purchases

None

Roughness

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Napier's Bones Simulation free?
Napier's Bones Simulation costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Roughness free?
Roughness is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Napier's Bones Simulation or Roughness have ads?
Neither Napier's Bones Simulation nor Roughness shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Napier's Bones Simulation or Roughness?
Napier's Bones Simulation ships an update every 25 months, and Roughness every 14 months. Most recently, Napier's Bones Simulation was updated on October 9, 2026 and Roughness on October 6, 2026.

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