Column Subtraction vs Subitize This!
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Column Subtraction
This educational app teaches and reinforces the column subtraction method. It offers an interactive interface with customizable settings for solving random or custom problems. The app includes a puzzle feature that unlocks as users solve math problems.
- Column subtraction method teaching
- Interactive and customizable interface
- Random and custom problem solving
- Adjustable number of digits
- Step-by-step renaming animation
- Picture puzzle reward system
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Column Subtraction helps students learn and practice the column subtraction method step by step. The app aligns the numbers automatically so students can focus on solving each column. Renaming is animated visually, helping students understand how values are moved between columns. Renaming can be done automatically or manually, and renaming over several columns is supported. Students can solve randomly generated problems or enter their own subtraction problems. The number of digits can be adjusted, making the app useful for different skill levels. Column subtraction is also known as columnar subtraction, long subtraction, or longhand subtraction. Renaming is also known as regrouping, trading, or borrowing. Features: - Subtract 2 or 3 numbers - Each number can have 1–5 digits - Randomly generated or manually entered problems - Automatic number alignment - Manual or automatic renaming/regrouping - Supports renaming over several columns - Current operation for each column can be hidden - Operands of the current operation can be highlighted - Adjustable animation speed - Different interfaces for iPhone and iPad - 25 six-piece animal jigsaw puzzles - Puzzle feature can be turned on or off Reviews and Endorsements: Professor Tim Pelton, assistant professor of Mathematics Education at the University of Victoria: “If your goal is to help your child to master the traditional subtraction algorithm then Column Subtraction may be the ideal App.” “With the ‘show current operation’ option turned on, they are constantly reminded of the next step, which can lead to efficient practice of the procedure. Then by turning off the current operation your child is able to practice remembering the steps on his/her own.” Teacher endorsement: “The Math apps by Esa Helttula allow students to practice and reinforce the specific computation strategies taught in class, with as much or as little scaffolding as necessary. They also provide individualized feedback to each student, with an immediacy that is not always possible through pencil and paper practice.” — Rita Zeni, Ecole Sandy Hill Elementary, Abbotsford, BC, Canada Other iDevBooks Math Apps: Other iDevBooks math apps include Column Addition, Long Division, Long Multiplication, Lattice Multiplication, Visual Multiplication Table, Fraction Math, Partial Differences Subtraction, Partial Quotients Division, Partial Sums Addition, and more. Feedback: New ideas to make this app better are welcome. Please visit idevbooks.com to give feedback. Privacy: This app has no ads, no in-app purchases, and does not transmit user data during operation. The app also does not contain links to other apps or to the web.
Subitize This!
This app helps young children aged 4-7 develop their subitizing skills by practicing recognizing quantities from 1 to 5. It offers options for showing patterns in sets of 4, 6, or 8, with a timer and feedback for responses.
- Subitizing practice 1-5 elements
- Options for sets of 4, 6, or 8
- Includes a timer
- Provides feedback on responses
- Designed for ages 4-7
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Subtilize This! v1.0.0 Designed simply for 4-7 year olds to practice subitizing 1 to 5 elements. • Options include showing patterns in sets of 4, 6 or 8 and setting a timer. Feedback is provided for correct and incorrect responses.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Column Subtraction at 67% against Subitize This!'s 0%. Column Subtraction also leads on rating (4.3 vs 1.0) and ratings volume (6 vs 1). Subitize This!'s advantage is price (Free vs $3.99) and iOS requirement (10.0 vs 17.6). 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
Subitize This! is free to download; Column Subtraction costs $3.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Column Subtraction holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Column Subtraction has 6 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 67% of Column Subtraction's written reviews are positive against 0% of Subitize This!'s.
Column Subtraction ships an update every 8 months, Subitize This! every 7 months. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Column Subtraction | Subitize This! |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $3.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 4.3 (6 ratings) — better | 1.0 (1 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 66.7% of reviews — better | 0.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 6 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 8 months | Every 7 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad — better | iPad |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | 10.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 19 MB | 36 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Esa Helttula | Classroom Focused Software |
Customer experience
Column Subtraction
Subitize This!
In-app purchases
Column Subtraction
No in-app purchases
Subitize This!
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Column Subtraction free?
Is Subitize This! free?
Which has better reviews, Column Subtraction or Subitize This!?
Do Column Subtraction or Subitize This! have ads?
Which is updated more often, Column Subtraction or Subitize This!?
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