# Hands vs Stack the States® 2

The clearest difference is price: Stack the States® 2 at $2.99 against Hands's $7.99. Stack the States® 2 also leads on ratings volume (1.1K vs 102) and chart position (#34 vs unranked). Hands's advantage is update cadence (every 3 months vs every 9 months). On rating, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Hands costs $7.99 and Stack the States® 2 $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for Hands against 4.5 for Stack the States® 2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Stack the States® 2 has 1.1K ratings behind it against 102, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 88% of Hands's written reviews are positive against 86% of Stack the States® 2's.

Hands ships an update every 3 months, Stack the States® 2 every 9 months. The most recent releases landed on September 10, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Hands | Stack the States® 2 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $7.99 | **$2.99** |
| Rating | [4.5 (102 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hands-on-equations-level-1/id505948222/reviews) | [4.5 (1.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stack-the-states-2/id1080767538/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 102 | **1.1K** |
| Positive reviews | **88.2% of reviews** | 86.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 months** | Every 9 months |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | **#34** |
| Size | 572 MB | 140 MB |
| Requires iOS | 12 | 12.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Hands On Equations](https://appshunter.io/developer/505948225) | [Freecloud Design, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/324355664) |

## What reviewers say

### Hands

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hands-on-equations-level-1/id505948222)

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🎓 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

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🎬 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

**Reported bugs**

- 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

**Requested features**

- 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


### Stack the States® 2

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stack-the-states-2/id1080767538)

**Currently charting:** #34 Top Paid · Education (US App Store)

Learn US geography by stacking animated states to win levels. Collect all 50 states to unlock bonus games and explore an interactive 3D map with detailed information about capitals, cities, and landmarks. Designed for fun and educational play for all ages.

**Highlights:** Interactive 3D map, Learn state capitals, cities, shapes, landmarks, and flags, Collect all 50 states, Unlock bonus games (Map It, Connect 2, Capital Tap), Voice mode for independent play, Hundreds of unique questions, Multiple player profiles

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Hands free?

Hands costs $7.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Stack the States® 2 free?

Stack the States® 2 costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Hands or Stack the States® 2?

Hands and Stack the States® 2 are both rated 4.5 out of 5 on the App Store, from 102 and 1.1K ratings respectively.

### Do Hands or Stack the States® 2 have ads?

Neither Hands nor Stack the States® 2 shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Hands or Stack the States® 2?

Hands ships an update every 3 months, and Stack the States® 2 every 9 months. Most recently, Hands was updated on September 10, 2026 and Stack the States® 2 on September 24, 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.*