# MathCal vs Mental Calculation & Abacus

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Mental Calculation & Abacus at 100% against MathCal's 55%. Mental Calculation & Abacus also leads on rating (4.8 vs 1.0) and in-app purchases (none vs 4). MathCal's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 6 months). On price, ratings volume and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. MathCal sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Mental Calculation & Abacus asks for nothing beyond the download.

Mental Calculation & Abacus holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 1.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 4 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 55% of MathCal's written reviews are positive against 100% of Mental Calculation & Abacus's.

MathCal ships an update every 2 weeks, Mental Calculation & Abacus every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | MathCal | Mental Calculation & Abacus |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mathcal-one-math-challenge-every-week/id1115615372/reviews) | **[4.8 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mental-calculation-and-abacus/id1582407909/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 3 | **4** |
| Positive reviews | 54.5% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 6 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 41 MB | 143 MB |
| Requires iOS | **6.0** | 12.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Université Strasbourg](https://appshunter.io/developer/390935863) | [Park Jisang](https://appshunter.io/developer/995438886) |

## What reviewers say

### MathCal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mathcal-one-math-challenge-every-week/id1115615372)

Engage in weekly mathematical challenges covering trigonometry, geometry, and algebra. Solve puzzles alone or with friends, compare results with a global community, and train your mind with fun, cerebral exercises.

**Highlights:** Weekly math challenges, Trigonometry, geometry, algebra, Solve challenges alone or with friends, Compare results with community, Cerebral training, Global player competition

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pack of coins | $0.99 | one-time |
| Pack of coins | $2.99 | one-time |
| Pack of coins | $4.99 | one-time |
| Pack of coins | $9.99 | one-time |


### Mental Calculation & Abacus

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mental-calculation-and-abacus/id1582407909)

Engage in a fun and educational game designed to enhance mental calculation skills. Learn to use an abacus with an easy-to-follow tutorial and practice with diverse question types.

**Highlights:** Mental calculation practice, Abacus learning tutorial, Variety of practice questions, Suitable for all ages

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is MathCal free?

MathCal is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Mental Calculation & Abacus free?

Mental Calculation & Abacus is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, MathCal or Mental Calculation & Abacus?

Mental Calculation & Abacus is rated higher. MathCal averages 1.0 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Mental Calculation & Abacus averages 4.8 from 4 ratings.

### Do MathCal or Mental Calculation & Abacus have ads?

Mental Calculation & Abacus shows ads; MathCal does not.

### Which is updated more often, MathCal or Mental Calculation & Abacus?

MathCal ships an update every 2 weeks, and Mental Calculation & Abacus every 6 months. Most recently, MathCal was updated on October 10, 2026 and Mental Calculation & Abacus on October 27, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*