Comparison

Big Math vs Reading Train

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

Head to head
About

Big Math

Features
Read full description

Big Math is an iPad app for elementary school children to practice addition, subtraction, multiplication and division of big numbers. It has both portrait and landscape orientation. It has a dolphin theme, and when the child has finished a set of problems, a dolphin sound (whistle, scream, yell or motorbike) is heard. The child starts by picking what he or she wants to work on in the Settings screen of the app. Settings options include: * Entering a name and message for the child who will be using the app. The name and message show up throughout the app. * Entering the options for addition, subtraction, multiplication, and/or division. For addition, the child can add 2 numbers, either 2 digit or 3 digit, or 3 numbers, either 2 digit or 3 digit. For subtraction, the child can subtract either 2 digit or 3 digit numbers. For multiplication, the child can multiply 2 digit or three digit numbers. For division (long division), the child can divide with a 1 digit, 2 digit, or 3 digit divisor. The app allows regrouping, where the child can "carry" in addition, multiplication, and division or "borrow" in subtraction and division. The child can elect to have problem sets timed. Once the settings are set, the child goes to the area he or she wants to practice (Big Add, Big Subtract, Big Multiply, or Big Divide), selects the number of problems to do, and starts doing Big Math! Dolphin sounds are courtesy of Dolphin Encounters in the Bahamas! Try it and enjoy!

About

Reading Train

Features
Read full description

Every child can learn to read with this library of 140+ playful, Level A picture books, 20 sing-along song books and unlimited train game quizzes. Real Reading, Right from the Start! "No other app is as specifically tailored to the needs of beginning readers." KinderTown.com Now beginning readers can listen, read and record, all by themselves. Play the train game, win coins for the music store, collect and learn new vocabulary words in the train yard. Created by Libby Curran, a People Magazine Teacher of the Year, based on her award winning books. Grand Prize Winner of the 2015 Technology and Reading Award, International Literacy Association. "Beautifully designed storybooks and related games that teach foundational reading": Appolicious.com "A vast selection of mini books to help kids reach reading independence" Geeks With Juniors. Not just a game or set of e-books but a complete reading curriculum from pre-reading to reading independence, building phonics and vocabulary skills, self confidence and a love of reading. Safe for Kids: The Learning Station is a Proud Member of Moms With Apps Kid tested and teacher approved. We are ad-free and take our users privacy seriously. View our Privacy Policy here: http://www.readingtrain.org * Listen, read and record books at the easiest beginning reading level: Guided Reading Level A. * Professional narration: American English. All books can be recorded by users. * Play the train game after every book. * 450+ word integrated dictionary * 20 sing along song books * Unlimited user accounts and individual bookshelves * Powerful reporting tools Books Kids CAN Read. Written by Libby Curran, a People Magazine Teacher of the Year, these fun little books are field tested in real classrooms to get kids started on the path to reading independence. Books Kids LOVE to Read. Children are naturally curious, so encourage them to explore our beginning reading books on the alphabet, numbers, colors, animals, shapes, and science. Beginning readers need to read little books, but the Reading Train's unique design allows kids to explore big ideas, reading to learn at the same time as they learn to read. After reading, they can play the train quiz game, explore the audio dictionary and sing along with song books. Give Your Kids the Tools to Succeed. Stuck on a word? Tap and hold to hear every word and access the built in dictionary filled with hundreds of words. Play a unique quiz game at the end of every book to extend the learning. The Reading Train is packed full of tools to help children succeed, all on their own. Read To Learn- Meets Common Core Standards Kids can choose funny fiction and fascinating nonfiction on kid-friendly topics to build background knowledge while improving letter and sight word recognition, reading comprehension, and phonics skills. Quizzes Disguised as Games. Play the train game after finishing every book, but don't tell them it's a quiz! Check progress on the parent's page which shows books read and recorded and detailed scores on the quizzes. The Right Team for the Job The Reading Train is the culmination of 30+ years of teaching experience. Backed by an all-star team of teachers turned iOS developers and a professional children's musician, the Reading Train is serious about making learning fun. Safe for Kids Kid tested and teacher approved. We are ad-free and take our users privacy seriously. View our Privacy Policy here: http://www.readingtrain.org We welcome your feedback: email: support@readingtrain.org http://www.readingtrain.org http://www.facebook.com/readingtrain Contact Libby with suggestions about books at: libby@readingtrain.org Not compatible with iPad 1. Requires iOS 7 or higher.

Screenshots

Reading Train4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Big Math at $1.99 against Reading Train's $9.99. Reading Train's advantage is device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.6). On update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price ยท Rating ยท Positive reviews ยท Number of ratings ยท Update frequency ยท Ads ยท In-app purchases ยท Monetization ยท Best chart rank ยท Devices ยท Requires iOS

CostPrice ยท In-app purchases ยท Ads ยท Monetization

Big Math costs $1.99 and Reading Train $9.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Big Math ships an update every 11 months, Reading Train every 13 months. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences ยท 3 level
Big Math versus Reading Train: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBig MathReading Train
Price$1.99 โ€” better$9.99
Update frequencyEvery 11 months โ€” betterEvery 13 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad, iPod โ€” better
Requires iOS15.611.0 โ€” better
Further details โ€” not scored
Size18 MB870 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperEaglet LLCThe Learning Station, LLC

In-app purchases

None

Big Math

No in-app purchases

None

Reading Train

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Big Math free?
Big Math costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Reading Train free?
Reading Train costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do Big Math or Reading Train have ads?
Neither Big Math nor Reading Train shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Big Math or Reading Train?
Big Math ships an update every 11 months, and Reading Train every 13 months. Most recently, Big Math was updated on October 19, 2026 and Reading Train on October 12, 2026.

Other comparisons