Comparison

Pre vs Hands

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • Video instruction
  • Guided practice
  • Tests and quizzes
  • Worksheets and notes
  • Progress tracking
  • Chapter reviews
  • Final exam
Features
Read 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

About

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.

Highlights
  • 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 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

Pre4 screens
Hands4 screens

Verdict

The call

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

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.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Pre versus Hands: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPreHands
PriceFree — better$7.99
Rating4.7 (357 ratings) — better4.5 (102 ratings)
Positive reviews66.7% of reviews88.2% of reviews — better
Number of ratings357 — better102
Update frequencyEvery 6 monthsEvery 3 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.012 — better
Further details — not scored
Size15 MB572 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperYourTeacher.comHands On Equations

Customer experience

Pre

All ratings357 ratings
Positive90.8%
Neutral3.4%
Negative5.9%
Written reviews33 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral9.1%
Negative24.2%

Hands

All ratings102 ratings
Positive87.3%
Neutral2.9%
Negative9.8%
Written reviews102 reviews
Positive88.2%
Neutral2.0%
Negative9.8%

User reviews

Pre

From 357 App Store ratings

What 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 ratings

What 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 more
  • 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 more
  • Continuation app for more complex algebra
  • Diverse user profile icons
  • Faster auto-check functionality
  • Offline functionality
  • Support for additional math subjects

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Pre

Subscriptions1
  • Get full access to Pre-Algebra3 Days trial$9.991 Month
None

Hands

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Pre free?
Pre is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Hands free?
Hands costs $7.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Pre or Hands?
Pre is rated higher. Pre averages 4.7 out of 5 from 357 ratings, while Hands averages 4.5 from 102 ratings.
Do Pre or Hands have ads?
Neither Pre nor Hands shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Pre or Hands?
Pre ships an update every 6 months, and Hands every 3 months. Most recently, Pre was updated on September 8, 2026 and Hands on September 10, 2026.

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