Pre vs Hands
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Pre
Access a comprehensive Pre-Algebra curriculum with video lessons, guided practice, and assessments. Track your learning progress and reinforce knowledge with chapter reviews and a final exam. A free trial is available.
- Video instruction
- Guided practice
- Tests and quizzes
- Worksheets and notes
- Progress tracking
- Chapter reviews
- Final exam
Read full descriptionHide full description
YourTeacher provides a complete Pre-Algebra curriculum with a personal math teacher. Search for the exact lesson you need or simply take the course from start to finish. Every lesson features video instruction, guided practice, tests, background modules, diagnostic quizzes, worksheets, notes, and more. Track your progress with our dynamic grade report and use the chapter reviews and final exam to solidify your knowledge. 3-Day Free Trial! Cancel at any time during the first 3 days after you’ve purchased the program and you will not be charged for the purchase! Terms of use: https://storage.googleapis.com/mathhelp/content/license/license-terms-and-conditions.pdf Privacy Policy https://storage.googleapis.com/mathhelp/content/license/privacy.pdf
Hands
This app teaches algebra to children aged 8 and up using a visual, game-like approach. It guides users through solving equations with interactive digital manipulatives and instructional videos, building confidence and understanding.
- Interactive digital manipulatives
- Expert instructional videos
- Step-by-step equation solving
- Visual balance scale representation
- Practice and lesson exercises
- Multiple user support
- Equation checking feature
Read full descriptionHide full description
Hands-On Equations is the fun way to learn algebra for kids age 8 and up. 1. Imagine your child CONFIDENTIALLY solving algebra equations after just three lessons! Using blue pawns, numbered cubes, and a visual balance model, students quickly discover that algebra can be clear, intuitive, and enjoyable. Instead of memorizing rules, they develop a genuine understanding of the mathematical concepts they are learning. The Hands-On Equations math app transforms algebra into an engaging math learning experience. Along the way, they experience the excitement and satisfaction of solving equations such as 4x + 3 = 3x + 9 in just three lessons, and equations such as 2(2x + 1) = 3x + 10 in just six lessons. These equations are typically not introduced to students until middle school. Yet, your child, age 8 and up, can experience success and joy in solving these algebra equations! These equations are typically not introduced to students until middle school. Yet, your child, age 8 and up, can experience success and joy in solving these algebra equations! ________________________________________ 2. Why children love Hands-On Equations Every lesson builds on previous success through carefully sequenced activities that make abstract algebra visual and easy to understand. Students don't simply learn procedures—they understand why each step works. The elegant instructional design and intuitive app experience make learning algebra both rapid and enjoyable. Students find that this visual learning enables them to solve algebra equations in a few short lessons. Students love the ease with which they can manipulate the blue pawns and numbered cubes, sliding them on and off the balance scale as they solve increasingly challenging equations. The app's elegant simplicity creates a pleasant, intuitive, and highly satisfying learning experience. ________________________________________ 3. What Students Learn in the Hands-On Equations Level 1 App Throughout the six carefully sequenced lessons and one review lesson, students learn: • the meaning of equivalence • algebraic notation • how to check solutions • legal moves with pawns and cubes • equations involving subtraction • equations involving parentheses • confidence that lasts long after the lessons are completed ________________________________________ 4. Proven Success More than one million students have experienced success with the Hands-On Equations Learning System. Originally developed using physical game pieces and classroom instruction, this proven educational approach is now available in an app that makes learning algebra both intuitive and enjoyable. ________________________________________ 5. Who Should Use It? • Gifted children age 6+ • Elementary students ages 8 and above • Middle school students • Struggling high school students • Adults who never really understood algebra ________________________________________ 6. Give Your Child the Confidence to Succeed Whether your child is discovering algebra for the first time or you are finally returning to a subject that once seemed impossible, Hands-On Equations will give your child a memorable, enjoyable, and confidence-building experience with algebra. ________________________________________ 7. Questions or Support? Email: info@borenson.com Visit: www.borenson.com
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Pre at Free against Hands's $7.99. Pre also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.5) and ratings volume (357 vs 102). Hands's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and review sentiment (88% vs 67%). On update cadence, 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
Pre is free to download; Hands costs $7.99 up front. Pre sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $9.99 per month. Hands asks for nothing beyond the download.
Pre holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 357 and 102 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 67% of Pre's written reviews are positive against 88% of Hands's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Pre ships an update every 6 months, Hands every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 8, 2026 and September 10, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Pre | Hands |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $7.99 |
| Rating | 4.7 (357 ratings) — better | 4.5 (102 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 66.7% of reviews | 88.2% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 357 — better | 102 |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | Every 3 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases — better | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 12 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 15 MB | 572 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | YourTeacher.com | Hands On Equations |
Customer experience
Pre
Hands
User reviews
Pre
From 357 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Easy to learn from
- 👍 Short videos make learning easy
- 👍 Simple and good layout
- 👍 Outstanding app
- 👍 Helps significantly with pre-algebra
Room to improve
- 🐛 App freezes and needs reinstallation
- 🐛 Opening app requires charger plugged in
- 🐛 Multiple choice answers don't show up
- 🐛 Doesn't explain commutative and associative properties well
- 🐛 Describing alternative PEMDAS methods as wrong is not ideal
Hands
From 102 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🎓 Effective hands-on visual learning method for algebra concepts
- 👍 Intuitive and user-friendly interface
- 🎯 Clear, well-paced progression through lessons
- 💡 Innovative balance scale approach makes abstract concepts concrete
- 🎬 Helpful instructional video tutorials included
Room to improve
- 🎬 Video playback issues (no sound or won't play)
- 🐛 App crashes on certain iOS versions
- 📺 Poor video quality in some lessons
- 🎨 UI glitch with pieces displaying below scale
- ⏱️ Limited content - lessons complete too quickly
Bugs and requests
Pre
Reported bugs
5 issues- App freezes
- Opening app without charger plugged in displays blank page
- Multiple choice answers don't show up on screen
- Daughter's progress and grades disappeared
- App is blank and not working
Requested features
5 requests- Algebra 2 content
- Better explanation of commutative and associative properties
- Side-by-side comparison of properties
- Allow writing on the screen
- More fraction problems
Hands
Reported bugs
9 issues- Video audio not working despite system audio functioning
- Videos won't play or load
- App crashes on iOS 9 and later versions
- App crashes when entering answers
- Video lesson loops infinitely blocking progress
Show 4 moreShow fewer
- UI elements (pieces) display in wrong location
- Number wheel difficult to control and stop on correct value
- Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions
- Interface not intuitive for answer entry
Requested features
10 requests- More advanced levels and lessons beyond current content
- Text-based teaching materials as alternative to videos
- Ability to input custom equations
- Audio sound effects for user interactions
- Scales that visually move to show equation imbalance
Show 5 moreShow fewer
- Continuation app for more complex algebra
- Diverse user profile icons
- Faster auto-check functionality
- Offline functionality
- Support for additional math subjects
In-app purchases
Pre
- Get full access to Pre-Algebra3 Days trial$9.991 Month
Hands
No in-app purchases









