Comparison

N'Back vs Mental Math Games

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

Head to head
About

N'Back

Enhance sensory and working memory with this brain training application. It offers various modes to test your ability to recall sequences of numbers, progressing through different 'N' levels.

Highlights
  • Sensory memory improvement
  • Working memory enhancement
  • N'Back exercises
  • Flash Mode
  • Slow Mode
  • Step Mode
Features
Read full description

Improve Sensory Memory & Working Memory using N'Back. ◆Flash Mode / Slow Mode / Step Mode Tap the number key matches the one from N steps earlier in the sequence. In 1'Back 1 task1: count & memorize 2 task2: count & memorize 3 __keyboard__: answer for task1 4 task3: count & memorize 5 __keyboard__: answer for task2 6 task4: count & memorize : In 2'Back 1 task1: count & memorize 2 task2: count & memorize 3 task3: count & memorize 4 __keyboard__: answer for task1 5 task4: count & memorize 6 __keyboard__: answer for task2 7 task5: count & memorize :

About

Mental Math Games

Sharpen your mental math skills with this app offering a wide range of exercises from basic arithmetic to fractions and percentages. It features timed challenges, progress tracking, and customizable modes to suit all levels.

Highlights
  • Wide variety of math exercises
  • Timed challenges for speed
  • Progress tracking and high scores
  • Adjustable difficulty levels
  • Math tricks and shortcuts
  • Customizable trainer mode
  • Achievements and rewards
Features
Read full description

Numbio (formerly FastMath) turns mental math into a fast, satisfying daily habit. Train arithmetic, master your times tables, and watch your calculation speed climb in just a few minutes a day. WHY NUMBIO? • Practice that adapts to you: difficulty scales from Easy to Extreme as you improve. • Bite-sized sessions for any schedule: a 60-second speed test or a full training plan. • Actually fun: turn drills into a game and keep your daily streak alive. PRACTICE EVERYTHING • Free core arithmetic: addition, subtraction, multiplication & division • Times tables, digit sums, mixed expressions & chained operations* • Word problems, equations, rule of three, fractions, GCD & LCM* • Advanced operations: percentages, squares, square roots & modulo* • Every number type: decimals, money, fractions, binary, Roman numerals & more* • Build your own custom training plans: practice exactly what you want* LEARN THE TRICKS • Step-by-step mental-math tricks and shortcuts that make hard sums easy • Practice any trick right away with a matching, ready-made drill* • A personalized "For You" feed that suggests what to learn next* PLAY & COMPETE • Brain-teasing games: Number Hunt, Magic Square, Sudoku & Mini Sudoku • Climb Game Center leaderboards and unlock dozens of achievements TRACK YOUR PROGRESS • Build daily streaks and hit personal goals that keep you coming back • Earn XP and level up through ten ranks, from Bronze to Diamond • Watch your speed and accuracy climb with detailed stats and personal bests • Set daily reminders so you never break your streak ON ALL YOUR DEVICES • Cross-device sync keeps your progress in step wherever you practice • Jump in within seconds from Home Screen and Lock Screen widgets • Family Sharing: share Numbio Pro with up to five family members • Available in 29 languages PERFECT FOR Students building arithmetic confidence • Test-takers prepping for GMAT, GRE & entrance exams • Professionals staying sharp • Parents and kids learning times tables • Anyone who loves a good number puzzle Join thousands of learners worldwide sharpening their mental math with Numbio. Questions or feedback? We'd love to hear from you at hello@numbio.com. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula Privacy Policy: https://www.numbio.com/privacy * Requires a Numbio Pro subscription.

Screenshots

N'Back4 screens
Mental Math Games4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Mental Math Games at 4.7 against N'Back's 4.0. Mental Math Games also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 9 days vs every 9 months). N'Back's advantage is iOS requirement (16.0 vs 26.0). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model 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

Both are free to download. N'Back sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Mental Math Games sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Mental Math Games holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Mental Math Games has 1.2K ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 73% of N'Back's written reviews are positive against 93% of Mental Math Games's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

N'Back ships an update every 9 months, Mental Math Games every 9 days. Both last shipped on October 25, 2026.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
N'Back versus Mental Math Games: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterN'BackMental Math Games
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (3 ratings)4.7 (1.2K ratings) — better
Positive reviews72.7% of reviews93.4% of reviews — better
Number of ratings31.2K — better
Update frequencyEvery 9 monthsEvery 9 days — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS16.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size6 MB58 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperYasuyoshi OtaPeter Schmidt

Customer experience

N'Back

All ratings3 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%
Written reviews11 reviews
Positive72.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative27.3%

Mental Math Games

All ratings1,168 ratings
Positive93.2%
Neutral3.6%
Negative3.3%
Written reviews515 reviews
Positive93.4%
Neutral3.5%
Negative3.1%

Bugs and requests

N'Back

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Mental Math Games

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Inconsistent scoring feedback
  • Subscription issues with repeated charges

Requested features

4 requests
  • More advanced math operations (e.g., powers, roots)
  • Customizable practice sessions
  • Detailed performance analytics
  • Ability to review past questions

In-app purchases

1 purchases

N'Back

One-time1
  • Add Levels (3'Back-10'Back) and Remove Ads$2.99
7 purchases

Mental Math Games

Subscriptions3
  • Pro Monthly$4.991 Month
  • Pro access (secret discount)$9.991 Year
  • Pro Annual3 Days trial$17.991 Year
One-time4
  • Small tip$0.99
  • Medium tip$3.99
  • Large tip$8.99
Show 1 more
  • Pro Lifetime$49.99

Questions

Is N'Back free?
N'Back is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Mental Math Games free?
Mental Math Games is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, N'Back or Mental Math Games?
Mental Math Games is rated higher. N'Back averages 4.0 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Mental Math Games averages 4.7 from 1.2K ratings.
Do N'Back or Mental Math Games have ads?
N'Back shows ads; Mental Math Games does not.
Which is updated more often, N'Back or Mental Math Games?
N'Back ships an update every 9 months, and Mental Math Games every 9 days. Most recently, N'Back was updated on October 25, 2026 and Mental Math Games on October 25, 2026.

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