# npiSoroban vs Know Abacus

The clearest difference is rating: Know Abacus at 4.7 against npiSoroban's 3.4. Know Abacus also leads on ratings volume (67 vs 5). npiSoroban's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ads (none vs shown). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Know Abacus sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. npiSoroban asks for nothing beyond the download.

Know Abacus holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Know Abacus has 67 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 100% of npiSoroban's written reviews are positive against 96% of Know Abacus's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

npiSoroban ships an update every 5 months, Know Abacus every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on June 11, 2026 and July 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | npiSoroban | Know Abacus |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.4 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/npisoroban-iphone-edition/id586798520/reviews) | **[4.7 (67 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/know-abacus/id641867438/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 5 | **67** |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 96.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 95 MB | 28 MB |
| Requires iOS | **5.1.1** | 11.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Nonpareil Institute](https://appshunter.io/developer/401989715) | [Kittipong Mungnirun](https://appshunter.io/developer/488058533) |

## What reviewers say

### npiSoroban

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/npisoroban-iphone-edition/id586798520)

Learn to use the Japanese abacus, or soroban, with narrated tutorials on your iPhone or iPad. Master arithmetic with this ancient tool, now digitized for modern learning.

**Highlights:** Digital soroban (abacus), Narrated tutorials, Arithmetic practice, Educational tool, Supports iPhone and iPad

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Know Abacus

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/know-abacus/id641867438)

This app teaches children how to use an abacus for various math operations. It covers counting, addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, helping to develop their mathematical abilities and brain potential. It offers multiple learning modes and customization options.

**Highlights:** Abacus counting, Addition and subtraction (1 & 2 digits), Multiplication and division (1-2 digits), Mental math practice, Review and random lessons, Customizable abacus (color, touch), Multiple languages

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $2.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is npiSoroban free?

npiSoroban is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Know Abacus free?

Know Abacus is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, npiSoroban or Know Abacus?

Know Abacus is rated higher. npiSoroban averages 3.4 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while Know Abacus averages 4.7 from 67 ratings.

### Do npiSoroban or Know Abacus have ads?

Know Abacus shows ads; npiSoroban does not.

### Which is updated more often, npiSoroban or Know Abacus?

npiSoroban ships an update every 5 months, and Know Abacus every 2 months. Most recently, npiSoroban was updated on June 11, 2026 and Know Abacus on July 6, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*