# 1st Calc vs MathBoard Challenge

The clearest difference is review sentiment: 1st Calc at 100% against MathBoard Challenge's 0%. 1st Calc also leads on device support (3 vs 1) and price ($0.99 vs $1.99). MathBoard Challenge's advantage is rating (4.5 vs 3.3) and update cadence (every 4 months vs every 50 months). On ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

1st Calc costs $0.99 and MathBoard Challenge $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

MathBoard Challenge holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: MathBoard Challenge has 20 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 100% of 1st Calc's written reviews are positive against 0% of MathBoard Challenge's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

1st Calc ships an update every 50 months, MathBoard Challenge every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | 1st Calc | MathBoard Challenge |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$0.99** | $1.99 |
| Rating | [3.3 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/1st-calc/id546843701/reviews) | **[4.5 (20 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mathboard-challenge/id828092423/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 3 | **20** |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 50 months | **Every 4 months** |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Size | 9 MB | 8 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **13.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [medienwerkstatt](https://appshunter.io/developer/322110992) | [PalaSoftware Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/282914457) |

## What reviewers say

### 1st Calc

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/1st-calc/id546843701)

This app provides a visual abacus-style bead frame to help primary school children learn numbers up to 100. It supports addition and subtraction practice, making math more engaging and helping to prevent learning disabilities.

**Highlights:** Abacus-style bead frame, Learn numbers up to 100, Addition and subtraction practice, Customizable bead colors, Optional live cam background

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### MathBoard Challenge

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mathboard-challenge/id828092423)

This app offers a fast-paced, competitive math game where players race against the clock or friends to solve equations. It features customizable difficulty, various math operations, and a scoring system that rewards both speed and accuracy.

**Highlights:** Random equation generation, Customizable number ranges, Algebra-style equations, Points-based scoring, Multiple choice and fill-in-the-blank answers, Timed solo or challenge modes

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is 1st Calc free?

1st Calc costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is MathBoard Challenge free?

MathBoard Challenge costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, 1st Calc or MathBoard Challenge?

MathBoard Challenge is rated higher. 1st Calc averages 3.3 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while MathBoard Challenge averages 4.5 from 20 ratings.

### Do 1st Calc or MathBoard Challenge have ads?

Neither 1st Calc nor MathBoard Challenge shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, 1st Calc or MathBoard Challenge?

1st Calc ships an update every 50 months, and MathBoard Challenge every 4 months. Most recently, 1st Calc was updated on September 21, 2026 and MathBoard Challenge on September 22, 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.*