Column Subtraction vs Mnemonics Maker
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
Read full descriptionHide full description
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.
Mnemonics Maker
Read full descriptionHide full description
This app is for taking a list of ordered words and making a mnemonic sentence for remembering them. For example, "My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Noodles" can be used to remember the first 8 planets of the solar system. In its Combinations Page, It can make sentences using prebuilt parts of speech combinations. In its Table Page, it just simply lists out similar words for each part of speech, so you can choose your own combination. In both pages the word list is show across at the top with the words to choose from below. After selecting each word, the sentence auto-formats and turn green. The words selected are editable and there is a copy button to copy the sentence at any time. There is also an example list of mnemonics sorted by category pulled from the website. Hope this helps some of you avid learners out there improve your studying!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Mnemonics Maker at Free against Column Subtraction's $3.99. Mnemonics Maker also leads on update cadence (every 2 months vs every 8 months) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.6). Column Subtraction's advantage is rating (4.3 vs 2.0) and in-app purchases (none vs 1). On ads 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
Mnemonics Maker is free to download; Column Subtraction costs $3.99 up front. Mnemonics Maker sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Column Subtraction asks for nothing beyond the download.
Column Subtraction holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 2.0. 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.
Column Subtraction ships an update every 8 months, Mnemonics Maker every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Column Subtraction | Mnemonics Maker |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $3.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 4.3 (6 ratings) — better | 2.0 (1 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 66.7% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 6 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 8 months | Every 2 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 19 MB | 53 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Esa Helttula | Keith Harryman |
In-app purchases
Column Subtraction
No in-app purchases
Mnemonics Maker
- Remove ads on Mnemonics Maker$0.99
Questions
Is Column Subtraction free?
Is Mnemonics Maker free?
Which has better reviews, Column Subtraction or Mnemonics Maker?
Do Column Subtraction or Mnemonics Maker have ads?
Which is updated more often, Column Subtraction or Mnemonics Maker?
Other comparisons















