Comparison

Hands vs Cretapedia

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

Head to head
About

Hands

This app introduces algebra concepts for students who have completed Level 1. It teaches how to solve equations involving a white pawn representing an unknown value and its opposite. Engaging video lessons and interactive exercises enhance understanding and build confidence in solving algebraic problems.

Highlights
  • Solve equations with unknown values
  • Learn about opposite values
  • Interactive video introductions
  • Practice with examples and exercises
  • Visual representation of algebraic concepts
  • Build confidence in algebra
Features
Read full description

Hands-On Equations® Level 2 Continue the Fun Way to Learn Algebra! You've mastered the fundamentals. Now it's time for the next exciting step in your algebra journey! Hands-On Equations® Level 2 introduces an innovative new game piece—the white pawn, which represents the opposite of x. Using the white pawn together with the familiar blue pawn and numbered cubes, students learn elegant new strategies for solving increasingly sophisticated equations. Watch students confidently solve equations such as: 3x = –x + 4 and x – 3(–x) + 2 = 8 – 2x while enjoying the same highly visual, intuitive approach that has helped more than one million students better understand algebra. Discover More Advanced Algebra Naturally As students solve increasingly challenging equations, they intuitively apply important mathematical ideas, including: • Additive inverses • The additive property of zero • The addition property of equality As they solve these Level 2 equations, students discover how to add positive and negative numbers—without formal instruction. Rather than memorizing procedures, students develop a genuine understanding of why algebra works. Who Should Use Level 2? Hands-On Equations Level 2 is the natural continuation for students who have completed Level 1, including: • Gifted students in Grades 2 and above • Elementary students in Grades 4 and above • Middle school students • High school students who would benefit from a clearer, more visual approach to algebra • Adults who wish they had learned algebra this way the first time Experience Success. Build Confidence. As students experience continued success solving increasingly challenging equations, they develop greater confidence, deeper understanding, and an appreciation for the beauty and simplicity of algebra. If you enjoyed Hands-On Equations Level 1, you'll love discovering what you can accomplish in Level 2. For more information about Hands-On Equations, visit www.borenson.com. For app support, contact: info@borenson.com.

About

Cretapedia

An ad-free educational app for children aged 5-12, offering engaging science lessons through interactive 3D animations and fun quizzes. It covers over 20 topics, fostering curiosity and developing critical thinking skills in a playful, story-driven environment.

Highlights
  • 20+ science topics
  • Bite-sized lessons
  • Fun quizzes
  • 3D animations
  • Interactive models
  • Develops critical thinking
  • Story-driven content
Features
Read full description

Smarter screen time! A safe, ad-free space where kids 5–12 can explore science with confidence. 1. Discover Fascinating Topics From animals to space, 20+ fascinating topics that spark curiosity Bite-sized lessons make even complex ideas easy to grasp Fun quizzes keep kids motivated and proud of progress 2. See Learning Come Alive Stunning 3D animations bring abstract concepts to life Interactive models let kids zoom, rotate, and explore in detail 3. Grow Future-Ready Skills Boost focus, memory, and observation through exploration Develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity Strengthen imagination and curiosity—the foundation of lifelong learning 4. Learning that Feels Like Play Story-driven content keeps kids engaged start to finish Gamified progress makes learning fun, not forced Every session feels like an adventure, not a lecture Current Courses Available: Biology & Health: Human Body, Microorganisms Earth & Space Sciences: Rocks and Minerals, Weather and Climate, Space, Landforms Physical Sciences: Physics, Chemistry Animals & Plants: Dinosaurs, Fish, Insects, Birds, Plants, Marine Animals, Mammals, Amphibians, African Animals, Paleozoic Animals Engineering & Technology: Great Inventions, Machines History & Social Sciences: Ancient Civilizations, European Civilization, Chinese Architecture Coming Soon: Math Is Fun, Mushrooms, Forest Animals, Mars, Air and Space, Transportation, Agriculture, Toxic Creatures, Brain Science, Diseases, Reptiles, and more! READY TO EXPLORE? Spark your child’s curiosity and ignite a lifelong love of science. Download Cretapedia today and start their adventure into the wonders of the natural world! Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeul

Screenshots

Hands4 screens
Cretapedia4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Cretapedia at Free against Hands's $7.99. Cretapedia also leads on update cadence (monthly vs every 5 months) and ratings volume (1.7K vs 77). Hands's advantage is review sentiment (87% vs 43%) and in-app purchases (none vs 11). On rating, 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

Cretapedia is free to download; Hands costs $7.99 up front. Cretapedia sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $13.99 per month. Hands asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Hands against 4.6 for Cretapedia. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Cretapedia has 1.7K ratings behind it against 77, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 87% of Hands's written reviews are positive against 43% of Cretapedia's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Hands ships an update every 5 months, Cretapedia monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Hands versus Cretapedia: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHandsCretapedia
Price$7.99Free — better
Rating4.6 (77 ratings)4.6 (1.7K ratings)
Positive reviews86.8% of reviews — better43.1% of reviews
Number of ratings771.7K — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS1313.0
Further details — not scored
Size231 MB227 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperHands On EquationsAMAZING EDTECH PTE. LTD.

Customer experience

Hands

All ratings77 ratings
Positive89.6%
Neutral2.6%
Negative7.8%
Written reviews53 reviews
Positive86.8%
Neutral3.8%
Negative9.4%

Cretapedia

All ratings1,718 ratings
Positive89.4%
Neutral4.1%
Negative6.5%
Written reviews72 reviews
Positive43.1%
Neutral6.9%
Negative50.0%

User reviews

Hands

From 77 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Easy to understand algebra
  • 💡 Visual and verbal explanations
  • 👍 Great for visual learners
  • 👍 Makes algebra click
  • 👍 Fun and engaging for kids

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Buggy completion streaks
  • 🐛 Glitchy tutorials
  • 🐛 Lesson 12 equations too hard
  • 🐛 Lesson 9 won't accept correct answer
  • 🐛 App crashes on iOS 9

Cretapedia

From 1.7K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Great learning app for kids
  • 🚀 Amazing way to learn
  • 💡 Engaging and interactive content
  • 👍 Excellent for homeschooling
  • 👍 Teaches advanced content in an easy-to-understand way

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Glitches and crashes
  • 🔒 Misleading subscription practices
  • 💡 Limited content and features
  • 💡 Not available in other languages
  • 🔒 Poor customer support

Bugs and requests

Hands

Reported bugs

9 issues
  • Bug in number wheel slows completion streaks
  • Tutorials have too much jargon
  • Lesson 12 equations too hard
  • Lesson 8 tutorials have too much jargon
  • Lesson 9 glitch, won't accept correct answer
Show 4 more
  • App not working for iOS 9, crashes when clicking 'value'
  • Paid version has advertising
  • Paid version doesn't work, crashes when entering value of x
  • Volume does not work on the app, videos of little value

Requested features

4 requests
  • Make lessons harder
  • Add more challenges
  • Add video explanation after each problem
  • More advanced concepts

Cretapedia

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Subscription issues and inability to access paid content
  • App closing during sign-up process
  • Compatibility issues with older devices

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add more dinosaur content and battles
  • Improve quiz and review features
  • Offer a more affordable subscription model
  • Provide a neutral perspective on religious topics

In-app purchases

None

Hands

No in-app purchases

10 purchases

Cretapedia

Subscriptions7
  • MONTHLY-30 DAYS FREE1 Month trial$13.991 Month
  • MONTHLY-7 DAYS FREE7 Days trial$13.991 Month
  • MONTHLY-BASIC$13.991 Month
Show 4 more
  • YEARLY-PROMOTION1 Year trial$119.991 Year
  • YEARLY-PROMOTION2 variants$119.991 Year
  • YEARLY-BASIC$119.991 Year
  • YEARLY-7 DAYS FREE7 Days trial$119.991 Year
One-time3
  • Ccoin$10.00
  • Ccoins$20.00
  • Ccoins$50.00

Questions

Is Hands free?
Hands costs $7.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Cretapedia free?
Cretapedia is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Hands or Cretapedia?
Hands and Cretapedia are both rated 4.6 out of 5 on the App Store, from 77 and 1.7K ratings respectively.
Do Hands or Cretapedia have ads?
Neither Hands nor Cretapedia shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Hands or Cretapedia?
Hands ships an update every 5 months, and Cretapedia monthly. Most recently, Hands was updated on October 6, 2026 and Cretapedia on October 16, 2026.

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