Comparison

Number Pieces, by MLC vs K

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

Head to head
About

Number Pieces, by MLC

This app helps students grasp place value and computation with multi-digit numbers using interactive visual tools. Users can manipulate number pieces to add, subtract, multiply, and divide, fostering a deeper mathematical understanding.

Highlights
  • Manipulate ones, tens, and hundreds pieces
  • Regroup pieces (e.g., 10 ones to 1 ten)
  • Measure array dimensions with an edge piece
  • Use drawing and text tools for annotations
  • Zoom, scroll, and hide/reveal work
  • Share work via image save or share code
Features
Read full description

Number Pieces helps students develop a deeper understanding of place value while building their computation skills with multi-digit numbers. Students use the number pieces to represent multi-digit numbers, regroup, add, subtract, multiply, and divide. FEATURES • Add and manipulate pieces (ones, tens, and hundreds). • Change the starting set of pieces to a basic or an advanced set. • Join pieces in groups of ten or break them apart (e.g., 10 ones into 1 ten and vice versa). • Use the expanding edge piece like a measuring tape to show the dimensions of arrays created with the pieces. • Choose from three different colors to clearly identify groups or pieces. • Move, rotate, and duplicate pieces individually or as a group. • Use the drawing tools to label representations and show understanding. • Add equations, expressions, and descriptions with the math text and writing tools. • Zoom and scroll to work with larger collections of pieces. • Hide and reveal work with resizable covers to create your own problems and model strategies. • Share your work by saving an image or providing a share code to others. MORE APPS For more Number Pieces resources and other apps, visit: www.mathlearningcenter.org/apps LEARN MORE To learn about Bridges in Mathematics, an elementary curriculum that employs visual models like number pieces, visit: www.mathlearningcenter.org/bridges/overview ABOUT US This resource is brought to you by The Math Learning Center, a nonprofit organization dedicated to K-12 education since 1976. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Number Pieces was made possible by a generous donation from Dr. David Moursund. This app was crafted by Clarity Innovations. We help improve teaching and learning by creating solutions that match promising technologies with the needs of education. Visit us: www.clarity-innovations.com

About

K

This app provides a collection of interactive math tools for kindergarten through second-grade classrooms. It includes manipulatives like base 10 blocks, counters, and number lines, along with grids and a basic calculator to aid in problem-solving.

Highlights
  • Marker board
  • Base 10 blocks (1s & 10s)
  • Counters
  • 10 frames
  • Number line
  • Addition grids
  • 100s chart
  • Basic calculator
Features
Read full description

K-2 Math Tools A set of math tools to use in K-2 classrooms. No math problems are presented. Use the tools to solve problems from other contexts. The Tools include: marker board, base 10 blocks (1s & 10s), counters in several configuations, 10 frames, 10 bead rows, number line with 10-25 tick marks, 5x5 and 10x10 addition grids, a 100s chart, and a calculator with addition and subtraction only. You may choose to enlarge the size of the 5x5 Grid, the 10x10 Addition Grid, and the Calculator. When selecting a number in the grid 10x10 Addition and 5x5 Addtion charts highlight the number and its addends. The 10 Beads can be set to reverse or alternate the red/white beads. It’s not feasible to use all of the tools at one time, but the tools are draggable so multiple tools may be used at once. For example, the base 10 blocks and the marker board to illustate numbers to 99. The square counters may be shown in sets of 10, 20, or 30. As they are tapped, the center changes to a white square. The number line may be set to begin at any number (including negatives). You may show 10, 12, 15, 20, or 25 tick marks.

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: K at 5.0 against Number Pieces, by MLC's 3.9. K also leads on update cadence (every 4 months vs every 9 months) and iOS requirement (10.0 vs 14.7). Number Pieces, by MLC's advantage is ratings volume (22 vs 2). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

K holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Number Pieces, by MLC has 22 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Number Pieces, by MLC ships an update every 9 months, K every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Number Pieces, by MLC versus K: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNumber Pieces, by MLCK
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.9 (22 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews87.5% of reviews—
Number of ratings22 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 9 monthsEvery 4 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPadiPad
Requires iOS14.710.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size8 MB35 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperThe Math Learning CenterClassroom Focused Software

Customer experience

Number Pieces, by MLC

All ratings19 ratings
Positive78.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative21.1%
Written reviews16 reviews
Positive87.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative12.5%

K

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Number Pieces, by MLC

No in-app purchases

None

K

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Number Pieces, by MLC free?
Number Pieces, by MLC is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is K free?
K is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Number Pieces, by MLC or K?
K is rated higher. Number Pieces, by MLC averages 3.9 out of 5 from 22 ratings, while K averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do Number Pieces, by MLC or K have ads?
Neither Number Pieces, by MLC nor K shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Number Pieces, by MLC or K?
Number Pieces, by MLC ships an update every 9 months, and K every 4 months. Most recently, Number Pieces, by MLC was updated on October 23, 2026 and K on October 24, 2026.

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