Comparison

Pattern Sets vs Number Line, by MLC

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

Head to head
About

Pattern Sets

This app helps young learners develop number sense by practicing subitizing, the ability to quickly recognize quantities without counting. It features various dot patterns, dice patterns, and 10-frames for practice, with adjustable settings for exposure time and quantity range.

Highlights
  • Subitizing practice
  • Dot patterns
  • Dice patterns
  • 10-frames
  • Adjustable time and quantity
  • Two-color patterns
Features
Read full description

Subitizing, or quickly recognizing the quantity of objects in a group without having to count, is an important number sense skill. Practice recognizing the number of dots in a variety of pattern types including from 1 to 10 dots. Dice patterns and patterns based on 10-frames are included. Patterns are made with one or two colors. Set the length of time a pattern is shown and the range of dots displayed. The iPad version also incorporates up to 20 dots and two 10 Frames Pattern Sets is one app in the NumberSense series designed at Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois for K-2 grade students. In addition to the support website, see www.augustana.edu/numbersense for information about the project. Pattern Sets is one app in the NumberSense series designed at Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois for K-2 grade students. In addition to the support website, see www.augustana.edu/numbersense for information about the project.

About

Number Line, by MLC

This app allows students to visualize number sequences and demonstrate mathematical strategies. It supports various number types and offers tools for annotation, problem-solving, and sharing work. Ideal for elementary classrooms and iPad learning environments.

Highlights
  • Visualize number sequences
  • Demonstrate counting, adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing
  • Use whole numbers, fractions, decimals, or negative numbers
  • Add custom tick marks and labels
  • Hide and reveal numbers and jumps
  • Annotation and drawing tools
  • Save and share work
Features
Read full description

Number Line helps students visualize number sequences and demonstrate strategies for counting, comparing, adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing. Choose number lines labelled with whole numbers, fractions, decimals, or negative numbers. Or use a blank number line, with or without tick marks. Describe intervals between points on the line using forward or backward jumps above and below the line. Jumps can be labelled with their values or left blank. Add custom tick marks to the number line to show equivalence or compare number values. Show strategies with drawing and annotation tools. Hide elements of the sequence shown on the number line, which challenges students to use what they know about number relationships and computation to identify those missing elements. This virtual number line is an open-ended educational tool, ideal for elementary classrooms and other learning environments that use iPads. For more Number Line resources and other apps, visit: www.mathlearningcenter.org/apps FEATURES • Mark the number line with multiples of whole numbers, fractions, or decimals. In addition, set the starting value of the line, including using negative values. • Add and manipulate forward and backward jumps, above or below the line. • Label jump bars, manually or automatically, to show intervals or hide labels altogether. • Add custom tick marks and values to blank number lines. • Hide and reveal numbers on the number line. • Hide and reveal jumps, numbers, and other elements with resizable covers to create your own problems and model strategies. • Use the drawing tools to annotate work and show understanding. • Add equations, expressions, and descriptions with the math text and writing tools. • Share your work by saving an image or providing a share code to others. MORE APPS For more Number Line resources and other apps, visit: www.mathlearningcenter.org/apps LEARN MORE To learn about Bridges in Mathematics, an elementary curriculum that employs visual models like number line, visit: www.mathlearningcenter.org/bridges/overview ABOUT US This resource is brought to you by The Math Learning Center, a nonprofit organization dedicated to K-12 education since 1976. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This app was crafted by Clarity Innovations. We help improve teaching and learning by creating solutions that match promising technologies with the needs of education. Visit us: www.clarity-innovations.com

Screenshots

Pattern Sets4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Pattern Sets at 5.0 against Number Line, by MLC's 4.4. Pattern Sets also leads on device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (10.0 vs 16.1). Number Line, by MLC's advantage is ratings volume (15 vs 1). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Pattern Sets holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Number Line, by MLC has 15 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Pattern Sets ships an update every 7 months, Number Line, by MLC every 13 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Pattern Sets versus Number Line, by MLC: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPattern SetsNumber Line, by MLC
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better4.4 (15 ratings)
Positive reviews—66.7% of reviews
Number of ratings115 — better
Update frequencyEvery 7 months — betterEvery 13 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPad
Requires iOS10.0 — better16.1
Further details — not scored
Size38 MB7 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperClassroom Focused SoftwareThe Math Learning Center

Customer experience

Pattern Sets

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Number Line, by MLC

All ratings15 ratings
Positive86.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative13.3%
Written reviews12 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral16.7%
Negative16.7%

In-app purchases

None

Pattern Sets

No in-app purchases

None

Number Line, by MLC

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Pattern Sets free?
Pattern Sets is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Number Line, by MLC free?
Number Line, by MLC is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Pattern Sets or Number Line, by MLC?
Pattern Sets is rated higher. Pattern Sets averages 5.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Number Line, by MLC averages 4.4 from 15 ratings.
Do Pattern Sets or Number Line, by MLC have ads?
Neither Pattern Sets nor Number Line, by MLC shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Pattern Sets or Number Line, by MLC?
Pattern Sets ships an update every 7 months, and Number Line, by MLC every 13 months. Most recently, Pattern Sets was updated on September 24, 2026 and Number Line, by MLC on September 23, 2026.

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