Comparison

Place Value Chart vs MaPhET

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

Head to head
About

Place Value Chart

Explore the decimal number system through interactive grouping and ungrouping of tokens. This app allows you to build numbers, remove tokens, and understand place value concepts. New features include displaying totals as numbers and in written English, and support for decimal fractions.

Highlights
  • Interactive token manipulation
  • Grouping and ungrouping concepts
  • Display totals as numbers
  • Display totals in written English
  • Support for decimal fractions
  • Shake to clear tokens
Features
Read full description

Experience grouping and ungrouping in our decimal number system with this interactive place value chart. Touch the chart to create tokens and move them around with your finger. Is this always possible? Remove tokens by moving them to the top of the chart. Shake your iPad or iPhone to remove all of them. Some activities supported by this place value chart: - How can you create large numbers using the least number of tokens? - How can you remove tokens quickly without shaking the device? - What happens if a token is moved from the hundreds to the ones? And what happens if you first move it to the tens place and then to the ones? This brand new version features new options to show totals, both as a number and in written english. Furthermore it is possible to use it for decimal fractions. The educational design of this interactive place value chart has been developed by Prof. Ulrich Kortenkamp (Didactics of Mathematics, University of Potsdam, Germany) and Prof. Silke Ladel (Didactics of Primary Education, Mathematics, Saarland University, Germany). It supports the development of mental concepts for place values in decimal systems and targets elementary and primary and lower secondary education.

About

MaPhET

This app serves as a comprehensive educational tool, offering a powerful calculator with detailed calculation paths, unit conversions, and a vast collection of formulas for math, physics, and chemistry. It also includes tools for date calculations, random number generation, and geometric figure analysis.

Highlights
  • Advanced calculator with calculation path
  • Extensive unit conversions
  • Collection of math, physics, and chemistry formulas
  • Date difference calculation
  • Geometric figure analysis
  • Random number and letter generator
Features
Read full description

Main functions: • Calculator - Basic arithmetic operations, powers, percentages, sine, cosine, tangent, root, logarithm, factorial - Output with calculation path and bracket resolution • Conversion of units of measure - Length, area, volume, temperature, weight, speed, pressure, energy, acceleration, force, power, time, data storage, transfer rate • • Calculation of date differences and adding and subtracting with dates • Random Numbers • Random Letter • Roll the dice • Greek alphabet • Prefixes for units of measure • Number sequences and prime numbers • Calculation of triangles with a calculation path • Mathematical basics • Arithmetic laws, set theory • Equations and functions • Linear functions and quadratic functions • Draw functions • Geometry basics • Angles, triangles, squares, circles • Prisms, cylinders, pyramids, circular cones, spheres • Geometric solids and figures • Physics formulas • Physical quantities and units with value tables • Physical constants • Chemistry formulas and periodic table of elements • Extensive search function

Screenshots

Place Value Chart4 screens
MaPhET4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Place Value Chart at every 2 months against MaPhET's every 5 months. Place Value Chart also leads on price ($0.29 vs $1.99) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 16.0). On review sentiment, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Place Value Chart costs $0.29 and MaPhET $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Place Value Chart ships an update every 2 months, MaPhET every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on September 13, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Place Value Chart versus MaPhET: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPlace Value ChartMaPhET
Price$0.29 — better$1.99
Rating1.8 (5 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews60.0% of reviews66.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings5 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 5 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Mac
Requires iOS12.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size3 MB13 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperUlrich KortenkampJens-Peter Bardt

Customer experience

Place Value Chart

All ratings5 ratings
Positive20.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative80.0%
Written reviews30 reviews
Positive60.0%
Neutral13.3%
Negative26.7%

MaPhET

Written reviews3 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral33.3%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Place Value Chart

No in-app purchases

None

MaPhET

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Place Value Chart free?
Place Value Chart costs $0.29, with no in-app purchases.
Is MaPhET free?
MaPhET costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do Place Value Chart or MaPhET have ads?
Neither Place Value Chart nor MaPhET shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Place Value Chart or MaPhET?
Place Value Chart ships an update every 2 months, and MaPhET every 5 months. Most recently, Place Value Chart was updated on September 13, 2026 and MaPhET on September 18, 2026.

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