# MathBoard vs Brilliant

The clearest difference is price: Brilliant at Free against MathBoard's $4.99. Brilliant also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 2 months) and ratings volume (33K vs 448). MathBoard's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 19) and ads (none vs shown). On review sentiment and device support there is nothing between them.

Brilliant is free to download; MathBoard costs $4.99 up front. Brilliant sells 16 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per month. MathBoard asks for nothing beyond the download.

Brilliant holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Brilliant has 33K ratings behind it against 448, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 73% of MathBoard's written reviews are positive against 79% of Brilliant's.

MathBoard ships an update every 2 months, Brilliant weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 30, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | MathBoard | Brilliant |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $4.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.4 (448 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mathboard/id373909837/reviews) | **[4.7 (33K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brilliant-learn-math-and-coding/id913335252/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 448 | **33K** |
| Positive reviews | 72.7% of reviews | **79.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | — | **#75** |
| Size | 11 MB | 102 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [PalaSoftware Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/282914457) | [Brilliant.org](https://appshunter.io/developer/913335255) |

## What reviewers say

### MathBoard

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mathboard/id373909837)

This app offers a customizable math learning experience for children, adapting to various skill levels from basic arithmetic to algebra. It provides interactive tools like a scratchboard and a problem solver to teach problem-solving logic, not just memorization.

**Highlights:** Step-by-step problem solver, Random equation generation, Customizable number ranges, Intelligent wrong-answer generation, Built-in scratchboard, Multiple student profiles, Progress tracking

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great way to keep up math skills
- 👍 Customizable quizzes
- 👍 Chalkboard feature for working out problems
- 👍 Tracks progress and results
- 👍 Flexible settings to target specific skills

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes
- 🔍 Limited options for restricting problem types
- 🔍 Clunky number input method
- 🔍 Voice/audio can be annoying
- 🔍 Lack of handwriting recognition

**Reported bugs**

- Problems with saving quiz settings
- Incorrect answers marked as wrong
- App crashes when interrupted by other apps

**Requested features**

- Add fractions, decimals, and more advanced math concepts
- Improve number input with keypad
- Allow creating custom quizzes
- Provide more detailed progress tracking and analytics
- Add parental controls to lock settings


### Brilliant

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brilliant-learn-math-and-coding/id913335252)

**Currently charting:** #75 Top Grossing · Education, #172 Top Free · Education (US App Store)

Master math and computer science through interactive, visual lessons. This app focuses on active problem-solving and personalized practice to build critical thinking and STEM skills. Ideal for students and lifelong learners seeking to deepen their understanding and confidence.

**Highlights:** Interactive problem-solving lessons, Personalized practice sets, Visual explanations of concepts, Expert-crafted STEM courses, Real-time feedback, Builds critical thinking skills

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (16)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Brilliant Premium - Personal stats & exclusive problems | $19.99 | per month |
| Brilliant Premium: Fun, challenging problems in math and science by experts | $24.99 | per month |
| Brilliant Premium | $24.99 | per month |
| Brilliant Premium with Tutor | $30.00 | per month |
| Brilliant Premium: Fun, challenging problems in math and science by experts | $74.99 | per year |
| Brilliant Premium: Fun, challenging problems in math and science by experts | $96.99 | per year |
| Brilliant Premium: Fun, challenging problems in math and science by experts | $111.99 | per year |
| Brilliant Premium | $111.99 | per year |
| Brilliant Premium: Fun, challenging problems in math and science by experts | $119.99 | per year |
| Brilliant Premium | $127.99 | per year |
| Brilliant Premium | $127.99 | per year |
| Brilliant Premium: Fun, challenging problems in math and science by experts | $149.99 | per year |
| Brilliant Premium | $149.99 | per year |
| Brilliant Premium | $159.99 | per year |
| Brilliant Premium with Tutor | $167.99 | per year |
| Brilliant Premium with Tutor | $191.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Quick exercises, fast improvement
- 👍 Engaging and easy learning
- 👍 Effective learning of complex topics
- 👍 Intuitive and challenging but not intimidating
- 👍 Wonderful learning tool

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 🐛 Bugs and glitches
- 🔍 Limited variety of learning methods
- 🔍 Limited course selection
- 🔍 Inconsistent explanations and unclear wording

**Reported bugs**

- Progress not saving correctly
- Explanations not loading properly
- Home page not loading
- Difficulty cancelling subscription

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Offline mode
- Spaced repetition practice
- Ability to bookmark/save difficult problems
- More detailed explanations


## Frequently asked questions

### Is MathBoard free?

MathBoard costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Brilliant free?

Brilliant is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, MathBoard or Brilliant?

Brilliant is rated higher. MathBoard averages 4.4 out of 5 from 448 ratings, while Brilliant averages 4.7 from 33K ratings.

### Do MathBoard or Brilliant have ads?

Brilliant shows ads; MathBoard does not.

### Which is updated more often, MathBoard or Brilliant?

MathBoard ships an update every 2 months, and Brilliant weekly. Most recently, MathBoard was updated on September 30, 2026 and Brilliant on October 2, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*