# Mathemagics vs Algebra 1

The clearest difference is price: Algebra 1 at Free against Mathemagics's $2.99. Algebra 1 also leads on iOS requirement (8.0 vs 12.0). Mathemagics's advantage is review sentiment (86% vs 50%) and in-app purchases (none vs 1). On update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Algebra 1 is free to download; Mathemagics costs $2.99 up front. Algebra 1 sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Mathemagics asks for nothing beyond the download.

Mathemagics holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Mathemagics has 79 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 86% of Mathemagics's written reviews are positive against 50% of Algebra 1's.

Mathemagics ships an update every 5 months, Algebra 1 every 4 months. Both last shipped on October 23, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Mathemagics | Algebra 1 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $2.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.7 (79 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mathemagics-algebra-practice/id500955086/reviews)** | [4.3 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/algebra-1-formulas/id1236663232/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **79** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | **85.6% of reviews** | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Every 4 months** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free** |
| Size | 29 MB | 28 MB |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 | **8.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Blue Lightning Labs](https://appshunter.io/developer/306586850) | [AppCrab](https://appshunter.io/developer/1227198215) |

## What reviewers say

### Mathemagics

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mathemagics-algebra-practice/id500955086)

Master algebra with rare, lightning-fast calculation techniques. Learn through animated lessons and practice with endless, randomly generated problems. Prepare for standardized tests and improve mental math skills.

**Highlights:** Learn rare algebra techniques, Animated step-by-step lessons, Practice with random questions, Gain achievements, Improve calculation speed, Test preparation for SAT, ACT, GRE, GMAT

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🧠 Effective mental math tricks and shortcuts
- 📚 Clear, easy-to-follow step-by-step lessons
- ⚡ Helps improve calculation speed significantly
- 🎓 Great for test prep (GMAT, SAT, MCAT)
- 🎮 Fun and engaging learning experience

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔤 Font too small and hard to read
- 🎨 Poor color contrast (light grey on grid paper)
- 🐛 Crashes on older devices (iPhone 4S)
- ⚠️ Limited content - only about 10 tricks
- 📖 Not suitable for complete beginners

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on iPhone 4S after update
- Lesson steps disappear after updates
- Lessons fail to load or load incompletely
- Incorrect answers in practice problems (10% and 1% calculations)
- Wrong answer choices for basic calculations

**Requested features**

- Explanations of why tricks work mathematically
- More advanced equation types and variations
- Scrap paper or writing area for practice problems
- Ability to input custom numbers for real-life practice
- iCloud sync across devices


### Algebra 1

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/algebra-1-formulas/id1236663232)

This app serves as a personal algebra 1 tutor, offering formulas, video lessons, and a comprehensive textbook. It aims to make learning algebra 1 accessible and understandable through visual explanations and structured content.

**Highlights:** Basic formulas and theorems, 34 video lessons, Comprehensive textbook, Visual explanations, Structured learning topics

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Algebra 1 Premium | $0.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Mathemagics free?

Mathemagics costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Algebra 1 free?

Algebra 1 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Mathemagics or Algebra 1?

Mathemagics is rated higher. Mathemagics averages 4.7 out of 5 from 79 ratings, while Algebra 1 averages 4.3 from 4 ratings.

### Do Mathemagics or Algebra 1 have ads?

Neither Mathemagics nor Algebra 1 shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Mathemagics or Algebra 1?

Mathemagics ships an update every 5 months, and Algebra 1 every 4 months. Most recently, Mathemagics was updated on October 23, 2026 and Algebra 1 on October 23, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*