Comparison

Column Subtraction vs Math Loops Add & Subtract

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
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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.

About

Math Loops Add & Subtract

Practice addition and subtraction with interactive exercises. Write numbers by hand on screen, and the app will identify and correct your mistakes. Unlock animal images as you progress through different difficulty levels.

Highlights
  • Handwrite numbers on screen
  • Automatic error detection and correction
  • Multiple difficulty levels
  • Unlockable animal images
  • Practice with or without carrying/borrowing
Features
Read full description

To practice addition and subtraction in column. Write the numbers by hand! 1200 pages full of exercises. Handwrite the numbers, one by one, as if it were a real sheet of paper. Even better: you can use the entire screen to write each number! Math Loops will identify and verify your numbers as you write them by hand. It will highlight your mistakes while you solve the exercise. It will show and correct up to two errors in each addition or subtraction. One more mistake ... and you have to start over;) Three levels of increasing difficulty and more than 80 pages with exercises. With / without carry. It allows different methods of carrying / borrowing. Each resolved page uncovers a tab of the impressive image of an animal. Enjoy and learn!

Screenshots

Column Subtraction4 screens
Math Loops Add & Subtract4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Column Subtraction at 67% against Math Loops Add & Subtract's 0%. Math Loops Add & Subtract's advantage is update cadence (every 4 weeks vs every 8 months) and price ($0.99 vs $3.99). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model 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

Column Subtraction costs $3.99 and Math Loops Add & Subtract $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Column Subtraction ships an update every 8 months, Math Loops Add & Subtract every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Column Subtraction versus Math Loops Add & Subtract: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterColumn SubtractionMath Loops Add & Subtract
Price$3.99$0.99 — better
Rating4.3 (6 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews66.7% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings6 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 8 monthsEvery 4 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.612.2 — better
Further details — not scored
Size19 MB89 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperEsa HelttulaJaime C. Carriedo

Customer experience

Column Subtraction

All ratings6 ratings
Positive83.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative16.7%
Written reviews6 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%

Math Loops Add & Subtract

Written reviews2 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

In-app purchases

None

Column Subtraction

No in-app purchases

None

Math Loops Add & Subtract

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Column Subtraction free?
Column Subtraction costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Math Loops Add & Subtract free?
Math Loops Add & Subtract costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do Column Subtraction or Math Loops Add & Subtract have ads?
Neither Column Subtraction nor Math Loops Add & Subtract shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Column Subtraction or Math Loops Add & Subtract?
Column Subtraction ships an update every 8 months, and Math Loops Add & Subtract every 4 weeks. Most recently, Column Subtraction was updated on October 23, 2026 and Math Loops Add & Subtract on October 21, 2026.

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