Comparison

Hands vs Diggs

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

Diggs

This AI-powered calculus tutor provides step-by-step solutions to problems, explains complex concepts, and offers adaptive practice quizzes. Visualize functions with the Graph Lab and personalize your study plan with a roadmap feature. Track your progress and stay consistent with daily goals.

Highlights
  • Step-by-step problem solutions
  • Concept explanations
  • Adaptive practice quizzes
  • Visual graph plotting
  • Personalized study roadmap
  • Progress tracking
Features
Read full description

Stop guessing. Start understanding. Diggs is your AI-powered calculus tutor and study companion — built to help you learn how to solve problems, not just copy answers. Snap a photo, type a question, or explore a concept and get clear, step-by-step guidance in seconds. Whether you're taking Calculus I, II, or III, Diggs helps you build confidence, strengthen weak spots, and stay consistent over time. SOLVE — Step-by-Step Solutions Type or photograph a calculus problem and get a complete walkthrough with the reasoning behind each step. Practice derivatives, integrals, limits, series, differential equations, and multivariable calculus with explanations designed to help you understand the process. EXPLAIN — Clear Concept Breakdowns Ask Diggs to explain topics like the chain rule, integration by parts, implicit differentiation, or convergence tests. Choose your depth: Simple or Standard. PRACTICE — Adaptive Quizzes and Exam-Style Practice Build accuracy with quizzes that respond to your level. Review feedback, improve over time, and generate exam-style practice when you want a bigger challenge. GRAPH LAB — Learn Visually Enter a function and explore it in Graph Lab. Diggs plots the graph and highlights key behavior, important points, and what to notice so you can connect formulas to visual intuition. MORE WAYS TO LEARN • Vault — Save questions from homework, notes, or textbooks and turn them into practice later. • Roadmap — Upload or paste your syllabus to build a personalized study plan around your course. • Bookmarks — Save helpful solutions and explanations for quick review. • Progress Tracking — Track accuracy, topic mastery, streaks, and learning momentum. • Daily Quests — Stay consistent with small daily goals and rewards. BUILT FOR CALCULUS STUDENTS Diggs covers limits, derivatives, integrals, series, differential equations, and multivariable calculus. It’s a private tutor in your pocket: available whenever you need help and ready to explain it one more time. FREE & PRO Diggs is free to use with limits on some features. Upgrade to Diggs Pro for unlimited hearts and expanded access across core learning features. Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions automatically renew unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Privacy Policy: https://nexmath-1564f.web.app/privacy Terms of Use: https://nexmath-1564f.web.app/terms

Screenshots

Hands4 screens
Diggs4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Diggs at Free against Hands's $7.99. Diggs also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.6) and update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 5 months). Hands's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and ratings volume (77 vs 2). On ads 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Diggs is free to download; Hands costs $7.99 up front. Diggs sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Hands asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Diggs holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Hands has 77 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Hands ships an update every 5 months, Diggs every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Hands versus Diggs: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHandsDiggs
Price$7.99Free — better
Rating4.6 (77 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews86.8% of reviews—
Number of ratings77 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsEvery 6 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFreemium — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size231 MB98 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperHands On EquationsELIAS BRUNO MENDOZAMOLEROS

Customer experience

Hands

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

Diggs

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

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

Diggs

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Hands

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Diggs

Subscriptions2
  • Diggs Pro Monthly$4.991 Month
  • Diggs Pro Annual$41.991 Year

Questions

Is Hands free?
Hands costs $7.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Diggs free?
Diggs is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Hands or Diggs?
Diggs is rated higher. Hands averages 4.6 out of 5 from 77 ratings, while Diggs averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do Hands or Diggs have ads?
Neither Hands nor Diggs shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Hands or Diggs?
Hands ships an update every 5 months, and Diggs every 6 weeks. Most recently, Hands was updated on October 14, 2026 and Diggs on September 30, 2026.

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