Place Value MAB vs NAP Locked down browser
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Place Value MAB
This app provides a digital tool for teaching and learning place value using virtual blocks. It offers interactive activities to help children build, model, and read numbers, supporting various learning levels and ideal for educators and tutors.
- Virtual MAB blocks for number modeling
- Interactive place value chart
- Activities for building, modeling, and reading numbers
- Three difficulty levels per activity
- Teaching module with number generator
- Supports educator-led and independent learning
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Place Value compliments the use of hands on experiences for modelling numbers using MAB blocks. It is beneficial in instances when using real blocks is not practical. MAB or Multibase Arithmetic Blocks are wooden blocks used to help children understand the base ten properties of the numerical system. MAB encourages students physically manipulate blocks to create, build, model and explain the place value of a number. Depending on which school, educational system, state or country you belong to MAB blocks or base ten blocks have various names. 1 short, mini, unit, U= one (1) 1 long, stick, T = 1 ten (10) 1 flat, H = 1 hundred (100) MAB can also be placed on a place value chart to aid with visualising and correctly aligning the place of each number. Place value materials sequence MAB is one way of teaching place value and should not be the only equipment used in teaching place value. For early counters real world materials should be used such as toys, teddies, marbles and beans. This should be followed by more abstract means like counters and unifix to model REAL worded problems. Before commencing with MAB, students should use icy pole sticks, straws, pencils or joined unifix with which bundles of ten can be made. Through use of variety of equipment, students will come to establish that a bundle is always ten and ten bundles of ten are one hundred. MAB is more abstract and should be introduced as students are ready. Little Monkey Apps MAB is separated into a teaching module and three corresponding activities to aid children in building, modelling and reading numbers. There are three levels within each area to provide for a range of abilities. The app is designed to be used with an educator or tutor in individual or small group teaching situations followed by independent work by the student. Teaching Module This section provides MAB, a removable place value chart, removable number display and removable random number generator for playing games. The teaching module is to be used with a teacher or tutor with interaction to discuss or investigate real problems. Make the number Read the numerical number given and use the MAB at the bottom of the screen to model the number given, pressing the answer button when finished. Three levels, Level 1 to 30, Level 2 to 99, Level 3 to 999. What is that number? MAB is at the bottom of the screen, students must unjumble the MAB, placing in the correct position on the Place value chart. They then key in the correct number or the keypad (promoting calculator skills). Three Levels of increasing difficulty. Listen and Make Attempts to address numbers in which students make place value errors such as reversals 15 for 51, or omissions 520, 52 for 502 ,3009 for 309 and mishearing 13 for 30. Students listen to the number then drag the MAB onto the place value chart in the correct position, pressing answer when complete. Three levels of increasing complexity. Just a hint The most important thing about place value is the language you use. For example 56 has 5 tens, which is really 50 ones, 590 has 59 tens (not 9), but if you model 590, you might ask, what is the digit in the tens place? There are many ways to make numbers from MAB, for example 23 could be two longs, three units or one long, thirteen units, or twenty three units. ALL of these are correct and important when addition with regrouping or subtraction with trading begins; however, two longs and three units could make it easier to count or read the number quickly. Little Monkey Apps Place Value compliments the use of hands on experiences for modelling using MAB blocks it does not and should not replace physical manipulation of real MAB blocks, unifix, sticks, beans or pencils.
NAP Locked down browser
This secure browser is designed for students taking standardized online assessments. It locks down the device to prevent cheating by restricting access to other apps and system functions during tests.
- Secure testing environment
- Restricts app switching
- Blocks unauthorized utilities
- Prevents access to device resources
- Facilitates NAPLAN and NAP Sample tests
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The NAP Locked down browser allows students to securely participate in NAPLAN and NAP Sample tests on the Online National Assessment Platform. The application regulates access to utilities and system functions, prevents application switching and unauthorised device resources being used during an assessment.
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Place Value MAB at 71% against NAP Locked down browser's 14%. Place Value MAB also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17.0). NAP Locked down browser's advantage is price (Free vs $1.99) and update cadence (every 7 months vs every 34 months). On ads, in-app purchases and device support 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
NAP Locked down browser is free to download; Place Value MAB costs $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Place Value MAB ships an update every 34 months, NAP Locked down browser every 7 months. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Place Value MAB | NAP Locked down browser |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 4.8 (4 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 71.4% of reviews — better | 13.8% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 4 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 34 months | Every 7 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Free — better |
| Devices | iPad | iPad |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 20 MB | 67 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Aleesha Kondys | Education Services Australia Ltd. |
Customer experience
Place Value MAB
NAP Locked down browser
In-app purchases
Place Value MAB
No in-app purchases
NAP Locked down browser
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Place Value MAB free?
Is NAP Locked down browser free?
Do Place Value MAB or NAP Locked down browser have ads?
Which is updated more often, Place Value MAB or NAP Locked down browser?
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