Matsy Abacus vs Soroban
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Matsy Abacus
This educational app helps children master mental arithmetic through engaging games and adaptive trainers. It utilizes abacus techniques, flash cards, and proven methods to boost calculation speed, focus, and memory. Suitable for students, parents, and teachers seeking effective mental math tools.
- Abacus flash cards
- Multiplication and division trainers
- Mental math exercises
- Brother/Friend techniques
- 5050 mode
- Speed & accuracy games
- Adaptive difficulty
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Matsy Abacus – Mental Math Trainers for Boost mental calculation, focus, and memory through play! Matsy Abacus is an educational app that helps children master mental arithmetic with engaging exercises and adaptive trainers. Mental math, abacus techniques, flash cards, and proven methods like “Brother” and “Friend” — all in one app. Inside the app: * Flash cards for learning the abacus * Trainers for multiplication and division — including times tables * Mental math exercises: addition and subtraction with multiple levels * “Brother”, “Friend”, and “Brother + Friend” techniques — simple explanations and practice * 5050 mode — count from 1 to 100 and back * Speed & accuracy games — improve results daily * Flexible difficulty settings — adapts to your level What is mental arithmetic? Mental arithmetic is a method of mental calculation based on abacus practice. It develops: * Fast mental math * Concentration and attention * Logical and visual thinking * Memory and observation skills Who is it for? * Students in mental arithmetic schools * Math competition participants * Elementary school students (Grades 1–4) * Parents and teachers looking for effective mental math tools Why choose Matsy Abacus? * Simple and clear abacus learning * Fun mini-games and trainers * Suitable for both beginners and advanced users * Train anytime — even short sessions bring results Help your child grow mathematically — Download Matsy Abacus and start exploring the world of mental math today! Terms of Use: https://mental-workout.github.io/terms_of_use.html Privacy Policy: https://mental-workout.github.io/privacy_policy.html
Soroban
Learn the Japanese abacus (soroban) with short video lessons and interactive practice on a virtual abacus. Suitable for children as young as 3, this app helps build strong math skills in addition, subtraction, and multiplication, complementing classroom learning or serving as a fun home activity.
- Short, easy-to-follow video lessons
- Virtual soroban practice
- Addition, subtraction, and times tables
- Timed tests
- Flash Anzan mental math challenges
- Times tables with music
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Learn the soroban step by step from lesson videos by soroban teachers, starting with how to move the beads, then move on to mental calculation. For beginners, Flash Anzan learners and teachers. WHAT MAKES THIS APP DIFFERENT Lesson videos from soroban teachers The Abacus lessons include videos by soroban teachers, available in English. Watch the beads move, then do Practice and a timed Test. Four dojos Climb the Dictation of Sums, Dictation of Mental Sums, Sums (column addition and subtraction) and Flash Anzan dojos one level at a time: a run of correct answers moves you up, and a run of misses moves you back one level. The Dictation of Sums dojo alone has 444 levels, and both dictation dojos begin with an AI level check. Earn ranks as you go. Create Dictation of Sums (Monthly Subscription) Set your own numbers, choose the reading language (Japanese, English or Chinese), the speed and whether to include the opening phrase ("Start with." in English), then share the audio of each problem. MAIN FEATURES Abacus Addition and subtraction, then multiplication and division, step by step, with Review lessons along the way. Mental Calculation and Flash Anzan Picture the abacus in your head and practice Flash Anzan, Mental Sums, Mental Multiplication and Mental Division. In Flash Anzan, numbers appear one after another and you add them up. Dictation of Sums Listen to numbers read aloud in English. In the unit you answer from your head; the Dictation of Sums dojo is done on your own real abacus. Receipts Calculate while flipping through a pad of receipts. Times Tables Learn with the chart and song, then check each table with "In order", "Random" and "Fill in the blank". Number Play "Spot the Number", "Trace the Number", "Friends of 10" and more help young children get familiar with numbers, with the numbers read aloud. Create Worksheets Create practice worksheets based on the exam guidelines of three Japanese exam bodies: The League of Japan Abacus Associations (Nisshuren), The League for Soroban Education of Japan (Zenshuren) and Zenkoku Shuzan Gakko Renmei (Zenshugakuren). Grades run from 15 Kyu to Dan, with abacus and mental calculation subjects plus Receipts, Roots and Applied Calculation; grades and subjects vary by exam body. Print or share them as PDF, with or without answers. You can also create practice sheets for carrying and borrowing, negative answers, times tables, quotient revision and rounding. WHO IT SUITS • Children starting the abacus, and parents considering it as an activity • Students who practice at home after abacus classes • Abacus teachers who need worksheets • Adults who want to practice mental math FREE FEATURES AND THE MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION Number Play is free. The first few items of each unit and part of each dojo are free (the 4–6 digit Flash Anzan dojos need the subscription). You can create one worksheet of each type per day for free. The Monthly Subscription unlocks the rest, Create Dictation of Sums, and adding your school name and the number of sets to worksheets. There are no ads. FAQ Q. What age is it for? A. Number Play from about age 2, and Times Tables from about age 5. Q. Can I practice only mental calculation? A. Yes, with the Mental Calculation units and the Flash Anzan dojos. Q. Can I continue on another device? A. Sign in to use your data on another device. Q. Can my child buy something by accident? A. Purchases and external links first ask a math question meant for parents. This Parental gate is on by default and can be turned off in Settings. LANGUAGES English, Japanese (hiragana / kanji), Chinese, Korean, Portuguese, Hindi, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Arabic. * These practice problems are created independently by this app, based on the exam guidelines published by each exam body. They are not actual exam papers, and the app is not affiliated with these exam bodies. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Soroban at every 4 days against Matsy Abacus's monthly. Matsy Abacus's advantage is rating (4.9 vs 4.5) and iOS requirement (13.4 vs 15.0). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and ads 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
Both are free to download. Matsy Abacus sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Soroban sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $5.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Matsy Abacus holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 30 and 21 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.
Matsy Abacus ships an update monthly, Soroban every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Matsy Abacus | Soroban |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.9 (30 ratings) — better | 4.5 (21 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 30 — better | 21 |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Every 4 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 13.4 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 66 MB | 125 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | IGOR ILIN | SIC Company Limited |
Customer experience
Matsy Abacus
Soroban
In-app purchases
Matsy Abacus
- Mental Workout Premium Month7 Days trial$2.991 Month
- Premium (6 months)7 Days trial$8.996 Months
- Matsy Premium Year$9.991 Year
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- Mental Workout Premium Year7 Days trial$14.991 Year
- Mental Workout Premium$7.99
Soroban
- Monthly Subscription$5.991 Month
Questions
Is Matsy Abacus free?
Is Soroban free?
Which has better reviews, Matsy Abacus or Soroban?
Do Matsy Abacus or Soroban have ads?
Which is updated more often, Matsy Abacus or Soroban?
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