Comparison

Monkey Drum vs First Grade Math Challenge

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

Head to head
About

Monkey Drum

Create music by drawing or playing instruments, then watch jungle animals react to your tunes. Customize characters and unlock new instruments and items by playing or using in-app currency.

Highlights
  • Create music by drawing
  • Play instruments with mini-keyboard
  • Customize characters
  • Save and remix songs
  • Unlock new instruments and items
  • True 3D graphics
Features
Read full description

ATTENTION: Some users have experienced problems with Monkey Drum on devices running iOS 8. "…no reason not to try this one out: it’s free!" - GEEKDAD (By Wired.com) "It’s a really great way to use creativity and rhythm and wrap it into a whole lot of fun." - MusiciansWithApps.com Featured by Apple in Apps For Learning Music! ------------------------- Making music has never been so fun, or so easy! Play realistic instruments and watch as little jungle animals copy your tunes. See their funny reactions as you feed them bananas, spin them, or bop them on the head! Make them happy and see them reward you with a special song! Create real music just by drawing and watch as the creatures play your creation. Get creative and re-mix your songs with different instruments, or accessorize your characters with a hat and sunglasses. Use Heart Coins to unlock new instruments and other fun items. Features: * Create songs by drawing on the screen * Play cool instruments with a mini-keyboard * Customize your characters with a hat or sunglasses * Save and name your songs * Remix songs - change instruments and tempo * True 3D graphics with tons of surprises! * Djembe drum, marimba, and kalimba included * Earn Heart Coins and bananas just by playing! * Unlock new instruments and other fun items! Items you can unlock: * Microphone * Acoustic Guitar * Congas * Girl Monkey * Panda * Sunglasses * Baseball Hat * Bunches of Bananas Note: This app is completely free to play and all items can be unlocked simply by playing. We also offer the option to buy additional Heart Coins with real money - if you'd like to disable this option, see the settings on your device.

About

First Grade Math Challenge

Practice addition and subtraction skills with a barnyard theme. Collect and learn about animals by completing timed math challenges, unlocking fun facts and sounds. An in-app upgrade offers more levels and animals permanently.

Highlights
  • Addition & Subtraction practice
  • Barnyard animal collection
  • Timed math challenges
  • Learn animal facts
  • Animal sounds
  • Gradually increasing difficulty
Features
Read full description

Practice math skills and learn about animals around the barn! * Addition & Subtraction Edition is perfect for grades K-3 but still challenging and fun for everyone, even adults! * Collect and learn about barnyard animals by completing timed math challenges * Innovative dual learning opportunity, learn interesting facts about different animals while practicing math skills! * Tons of fun facts about each animal to learn and share with your friends! * Listen to each animal! * No annoying ads to distract from game play! This game is perfect for a First Grade, Second Grade, or Third Grade student! The levels gradually increase in difficulty as the game progresses.

Screenshots

Monkey Drum4 screens
First Grade Math Challenge4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: First Grade Math Challenge at none against Monkey Drum's 3. Monkey Drum's advantage is rating (4.4 vs 4.0) and ratings volume (116 vs 4). On price, update cadence, ads and monetization model 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. Monkey Drum sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. First Grade Math Challenge asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Monkey Drum holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Monkey Drum has 116 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 92% of Monkey Drum's written reviews are positive against 80% of First Grade Math Challenge's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Monkey Drum ships an update every 3 weeks, First Grade Math Challenge every 2 months. Both last shipped on November 1, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Monkey Drum versus First Grade Math Challenge: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMonkey DrumFirst Grade Math Challenge
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (116 ratings) — better4.0 (4 ratings)
Positive reviews92.1% of reviews — better80.0% of reviews
Number of ratings116 — better4
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS4.3 — better13.0
Further details — not scored
Size14 MB41 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperFlippfly, LLCEric Marschner

Customer experience

Monkey Drum

All ratings116 ratings
Positive82.8%
Neutral8.6%
Negative8.6%
Written reviews63 reviews
Positive92.1%
Neutral4.8%
Negative3.2%

First Grade Math Challenge

All ratings4 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%
Written reviews15 reviews
Positive80.0%
Neutral6.7%
Negative13.3%

Bugs and requests

Monkey Drum

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Screen goes black after filling hearts/coins
  • Game sounds can be heard but screen is black
  • App not letting phone go into sleep mode
  • No sound reported
  • Repeated glitches

Requested features

8 requests
  • Update Monkey Drum
  • Update for latest iOS
  • More instruments
  • Button to record
  • Clear all / start new song option
Show 3 more
  • Fix xylophone (backwards notes)
  • Add legs to animals
  • Dark mode option

First Grade Math Challenge

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Monkey Drum

One-time3
  • Small Chest (300 Heart Coins)$0.99
  • Medium Chest (1000 Heart Coins)$1.99
  • Large Chest (3500 Heart Coins)$5.99
None

First Grade Math Challenge

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Monkey Drum free?
Monkey Drum is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is First Grade Math Challenge free?
First Grade Math Challenge is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Monkey Drum or First Grade Math Challenge?
Monkey Drum is rated higher. Monkey Drum averages 4.4 out of 5 from 116 ratings, while First Grade Math Challenge averages 4.0 from 4 ratings.
Do Monkey Drum or First Grade Math Challenge have ads?
Neither Monkey Drum nor First Grade Math Challenge shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Monkey Drum or First Grade Math Challenge?
Monkey Drum ships an update every 3 weeks, and First Grade Math Challenge every 2 months. Most recently, Monkey Drum was updated on November 1, 2026 and First Grade Math Challenge on November 1, 2026.

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