Comparison

Partial Sums Addition vs Hands

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

Head to head
About

Partial Sums Addition

This app teaches and reinforces the partial sums addition method. It offers an interactive interface with customizable settings, allowing users to solve random or custom addition problems with varying numbers of digits and addends. The app provides immediate feedback and aligns numbers automatically for focused learning.

Highlights
  • Partial sums addition method teaching
  • Interactive and customizable interface
  • Random and custom addition problems
  • Adjustable number of digits and addends
  • Automatic number alignment
  • Immediate feedback on answers
  • Color and animation speed customization
Features
Read full description

Partial Sums Addition helps students learn and practice the partial sums addition method step by step. The app gives students a visual way to add numbers by working with each place value separately. The partial sums are then combined to find the final answer. Students can solve randomly generated problems or enter their own addition problems. The number of digits can be adjusted for different skill levels. The Partial Sums Method: In the partial sums method, each place value is added separately from left to right. For example, in 764 + 340, the partial sums are 1000, 100, and 4. These are then added together to get the final answer: 1104. Wired.com: “Esa Helttula’s apps are all fantastic for math learning and practice, and aren’t cluttered with mini-games, incentives, or annoying music.” 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.” — R. Zeni, Ecole Sandy Hill Elementary, Abbotsford, BC, Canada Easy to Use: The numbers are aligned automatically so students can focus on solving each column. After the student solves the operation for each column, the correct answer moves into the right place. If the student presses the wrong button, the answer appears above the keyboard but does not move. Features: - Step-by-step partial sums addition practice - Add 2 or 3 numbers - Each number can have 2–3 digits - Randomly generated or manually entered problems - Current operation for each column can be hidden - Operands of the current operation can be highlighted - Customizable interface colors - Adjustable animation speed - Custom interfaces for iPhone and iPad Other iDevBooks Math Apps: Other iDevBooks math apps include Column Addition, Long Multiplication, Long Division, Column Subtraction, Visual Multiplication Table, Partial Differences Subtraction, Partial Products Multiplication, Partial Quotients Division, Decimal Rounding, 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

Hands

This app introduces algebra concepts for students who have completed Level 1. It teaches how to solve equations involving a white pawn representing an unknown value and its opposite. Engaging video lessons and interactive exercises enhance understanding and build confidence in solving algebraic problems.

Highlights
  • Solve equations with unknown values
  • Learn about opposite values
  • Interactive video introductions
  • Practice with examples and exercises
  • Visual representation of algebraic concepts
  • Build confidence in algebra
Features
Read full description

Hands-On Equations® Level 2 Continue the Fun Way to Learn Algebra! You've mastered the fundamentals. Now it's time for the next exciting step in your algebra journey! Hands-On Equations® Level 2 introduces an innovative new game piece—the white pawn, which represents the opposite of x. Using the white pawn together with the familiar blue pawn and numbered cubes, students learn elegant new strategies for solving increasingly sophisticated equations. Watch students confidently solve equations such as: 3x = –x + 4 and x – 3(–x) + 2 = 8 – 2x while enjoying the same highly visual, intuitive approach that has helped more than one million students better understand algebra. Discover More Advanced Algebra Naturally As students solve increasingly challenging equations, they intuitively apply important mathematical ideas, including: • Additive inverses • The additive property of zero • The addition property of equality As they solve these Level 2 equations, students discover how to add positive and negative numbers—without formal instruction. Rather than memorizing procedures, students develop a genuine understanding of why algebra works. Who Should Use Level 2? Hands-On Equations Level 2 is the natural continuation for students who have completed Level 1, including: • Gifted students in Grades 2 and above • Elementary students in Grades 4 and above • Middle school students • High school students who would benefit from a clearer, more visual approach to algebra • Adults who wish they had learned algebra this way the first time Experience Success. Build Confidence. As students experience continued success solving increasingly challenging equations, they develop greater confidence, deeper understanding, and an appreciation for the beauty and simplicity of algebra. If you enjoyed Hands-On Equations Level 1, you'll love discovering what you can accomplish in Level 2. For more information about Hands-On Equations, visit www.borenson.com. For app support, contact: info@borenson.com.

Screenshots

Partial Sums Addition4 screens
Hands4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Hands at 87% against Partial Sums Addition's 50%. Hands also leads on ratings volume (78 vs 2) and iOS requirement (13 vs 17.6). Partial Sums Addition's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.6) and price ($3.99 vs $7.99). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

Partial Sums Addition costs $3.99 and Hands $7.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Partial Sums Addition holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Hands has 78 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 50% of Partial Sums Addition's written reviews are positive against 87% of Hands's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Partial Sums Addition ships an update every 9 months, Hands every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and November 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Partial Sums Addition versus Hands: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPartial Sums AdditionHands
Price$3.99 — better$7.99
Rating5.0 (2 ratings) — better4.6 (78 ratings)
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews87.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings278 — better
Update frequencyEvery 9 monthsEvery 5 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.613 — better
Further details — not scored
Size1 MB231 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperEsa HelttulaHands On Equations

Customer experience

Partial Sums Addition

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

Hands

All ratings78 ratings
Positive89.7%
Neutral2.6%
Negative7.7%
Written reviews54 reviews
Positive87.0%
Neutral3.7%
Negative9.3%

Bugs and requests

Partial Sums Addition

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Hands

Reported bugs

9 issues
  • Bug in number wheel slows completion streaks
  • Tutorials have too much jargon
  • Lesson 12 equations too hard
  • Lesson 8 tutorials have too much jargon
  • Lesson 9 glitch, won't accept correct answer
Show 4 more
  • App not working for iOS 9, crashes when clicking 'value'
  • Paid version has advertising
  • Paid version doesn't work, crashes when entering value of x
  • Volume does not work on the app, videos of little value

Requested features

4 requests
  • Make lessons harder
  • Add more challenges
  • Add video explanation after each problem
  • More advanced concepts

In-app purchases

None

Partial Sums Addition

No in-app purchases

None

Hands

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Partial Sums Addition free?
Partial Sums Addition costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Hands free?
Hands costs $7.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Partial Sums Addition or Hands?
Partial Sums Addition is rated higher. Partial Sums Addition averages 5.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Hands averages 4.6 from 78 ratings.
Do Partial Sums Addition or Hands have ads?
Neither Partial Sums Addition nor Hands shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Partial Sums Addition or Hands?
Partial Sums Addition ships an update every 9 months, and Hands every 5 months. Most recently, Partial Sums Addition was updated on October 29, 2026 and Hands on November 1, 2026.

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