Cotter AL Abacus vs Musical Multiplication
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Cotter AL Abacus
This educational tool uses a unique double-sided abacus to teach arithmetic concepts through visualization and quantity recognition. It helps learners develop mental strategies for faster mastery of basic math skills.
- Double-sided abacus design
- Grouped in fives and tens
- Focuses on quantity recognition
- Develops mental math strategies
- Supports visual learning
- Includes sample lessons
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Cotter AL Abacus, used with the RightStart™ Mathematics program, now available on your iPhone and iPad! This abacus will teach, not calculate like the Japanese and Chinese abacus, while using subitizing (quantity recognition) and visual strategies to support learning and understanding. Perfect for visual learners! This unique double-sided abacus is grouped in fives and tens for quick recognition of quantities. The second side of the abacus focuses on trading to the thousands. Learn the facts easily by: * visualizing quantities, * minimizing counting, and * developing mental strategies. Those learning arithmetic with the Cotter AL Abacus have a better understanding of basic concepts and need less time to master arithmetic. Although children do enjoy using the abacus, it does not become a crutch. Stan, age 5, was asked how much is 11 plus 6. He replied, “17!” When he was asked how he knew, he replied with a grin, “I’ve got the abacus in my mind.” App has links to sample addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division lessons as well as detailed use information.
Musical Multiplication
Master multiplication with catchy, original songs designed for elementary-aged children. This app uses the power of music to make memorization fun and effective, with interactive learning and progress tracking to keep kids motivated.
- 42 original multiplication songs
- Music-based learning for faster memorization
- Interactive learning with progress tracking
- Mastery tracking for individual progress
- Multiple student profiles
- Offline accessibility
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Introducing the Musical Multiplication app from The Good and the Beautiful! Music makes learning stick—and now your kids can master multiplication through fun, catchy songs! With 42 entirely original songs, this app turns essential math skills into unforgettable tunes, making memorization easy and enjoyable. Research shows that music activates several brain centers at once, helping children memorize faster and retain information longer. Sing along, learn faster, and remember longer! With mastery tracking, your child can see their progress and celebrate every milestone, making learning interactive and motivating. This all-in-one app combines the power of music to help your child master multiplication—wherever you go! Main Features: 42 Original Songs: Catchy tunes that turn multiplication into something your child will never forget. Music-Based Learning: Proven to help kids memorize faster and retain information longer. Interactive Learning: Your child doesn’t just listen—they actively engage with the songs and track their progress. Mastery Tracking: Celebrate progress and identify learning gaps as your child advances. Multiple Student Profiles: Create up to 6 unique student profiles, so each child can have their own personalized progress tracking. Accessible Anywhere: Learn at home or on the go, with offline capabilities. Perfect for Ages 6-12: Designed to help elementary-aged kids master multiplication. Download Musical Multiplication today and watch your child’s math skills soar! Standard Apple End User License Agreement (EULA) applies: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Musical Multiplication at Free against Cotter AL Abacus's $1.99. Musical Multiplication also leads on rating (4.3 vs 3.5) and review sentiment (75% vs 47%). Cotter AL Abacus's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and chart position (#175 vs unranked). On ads, device support and iOS requirement 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
Musical Multiplication is free to download; Cotter AL Abacus costs $1.99 up front. Musical Multiplication sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Cotter AL Abacus asks for nothing beyond the download.
Musical Multiplication holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Musical Multiplication has 161 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 47% of Cotter AL Abacus's written reviews are positive against 75% of Musical Multiplication's.
Cotter AL Abacus ships an update every 9 months, Musical Multiplication every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Cotter AL Abacus | Musical Multiplication |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 3.5 (6 ratings) | 4.3 (161 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 47.1% of reviews | 75.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 6 | 161 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 9 months | Every 2 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | Free with in-app purchases — better |
| Best chart rank | #175 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 13.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 76 MB | 230 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Activities for Learning inc. | The Good and the Beautiful LLC |
Customer experience
Cotter AL Abacus
Musical Multiplication
Bugs and requests
Cotter AL Abacus
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
Musical Multiplication
Reported bugs
2 issues- Login issues and inability to save student profiles
- Restrictions on retrying questions
Requested features
2 requests- Ability to create custom playlists of specific multiplication facts
- More content and features beyond just the songs
In-app purchases
Cotter AL Abacus
No in-app purchases
Musical Multiplication
- Monthly Subscription$2.991 Month
- Annual subscription$26.991 Year
- Unlimited one-time purchase$35.99
Questions
Is Cotter AL Abacus free?
Is Musical Multiplication free?
Which has better reviews, Cotter AL Abacus or Musical Multiplication?
Do Cotter AL Abacus or Musical Multiplication have ads?
Which is updated more often, Cotter AL Abacus or Musical Multiplication?
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