Comparison

Mental Math vs Soroban

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

Head to head
About

Mental Math

Sharpen your mental math skills with this engaging app focused on addition. Customize card numbers and timing intervals for a personalized learning experience. Track your progress with visually stimulating graphics, suitable for all ages.

Highlights
  • Customizable card numbers
  • Adjustable timing intervals
  • Focus on addition
  • Progress tracking
  • Engaging visuals
  • User-friendly interface
Features
Read full description

■ What is flash anzan? Flash anzan is a "soroban-style" (Japanese abacus) way to do mental math: numbers flash on the screen one after another, and you add them up in your head. No abacus experience needed — start at the beginner level and work your way up. ■ Who it's for • Kids and students who want faster arithmetic • Soroban / abacus learners practicing for tests • Adults who want a quick daily brain workout • Anyone looking for a habit they can actually keep ■ Certification-based ranks Question count, number of digits, and flash speed are designed around flash anzan certification standards. Begin at the entry grades, pass a promotion exam, and your rank goes up — from your first dan all the way to 20th dan. Your skill is shown clearly as a real rank. ■ See your progress • High score and daily scores tracked in charts • Switch between weekly, monthly, and all-time trends • A practice calendar makes your run visible ■ Stay motivated • Online ranking: compete with players worldwide, by week or all-time • Daily missions: see today's goals at a glance • Reminders: a gentle nudge at your practice time ■ Make it yours • "Practice" mode: pick your own level (digits, count, speed) with no pressure • "Challenge" mode: race the clock and test your limit • Toggle read-aloud and sound effects A few minutes of flash anzan a day turns calculation practice into a habit. Why not start with one round today? ■ Privacy Policy & Terms of Use Privacy Policy: https://takayukimeilyn.github.io/menuplanner/privacy-policy.html Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Soroban

Features
Read full description

Master mental math with Soroban: a powerful abacus learning app designed for students, beginners, and advanced learners who want to improve calculation speed, accuracy, and focus. Soroban (Japanese abacus) is a proven method for developing strong arithmetic skills and mental calculation (anzan). Whether you are just starting out or aiming to train high-speed mental math, this app provides a structured and engaging way to learn. WHO THIS APP IS FOR: • Students learning arithmetic and building strong math foundations • Parents looking for effective brain training and focus development tools • Beginners starting with abacus (soroban) for the first time • Advanced learners training anzan (mental math speed and accuracy) • Anyone interested in brain training, calculation speed, and cognitive skills KEY FEATURES: • Step-by-step lessons: Learn soroban from basic bead movement to advanced arithmetic • Flash Anzan (mental math): Train your brain to calculate without a physical abacus • Speed drills: Improve calculation speed and accuracy with timed exercises • Daily challenges: Build consistency with short, repeatable practice sessions • Workbook practice: Structured exercises for deeper understanding • Free play mode: Use a fully interactive digital abacus anytime • AI-powered insights: On-device intelligence for adaptive learning and homework scanning • Progress tracking: Monitor accuracy, performance, and improvement over time WHY SOROBAN: • Develops mental math (anzan) and arithmetic fluency • Improves concentration, memory, and problem-solving skills • Combines traditional Japanese learning with modern iOS design • Designed specifically for iPhone and iPad for a smooth and immersive experience Soroban supports English, French, Japanese, and Simplified Chinese. Start your journey into faster thinking and stronger math skills today.

Screenshots

Mental Math4 screens
Soroban4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Soroban at none against Mental Math's 3. Soroban also leads on ads (none vs shown). Mental Math's advantage is iOS requirement (17.2 vs 26.0). On price, update cadence 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. Mental Math sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Soroban asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Mental Math ships an update every 8 days, Soroban every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Mental Math versus Soroban: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMental MathSoroban
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (4 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews22.2% of reviews—
Number of ratings4 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 8 days — betterEvery 2 weeks
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS17.2 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size56 MB17 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTAKAYUKI HASHIMOTOShweta Kumari

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Mental Math

Subscriptions2
  • 月間プラン7 Days trial$2.991 Month
  • 年間プラン7 Days trial$19.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Premium$39.99
None

Soroban

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Mental Math free?
Mental Math is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Soroban free?
Soroban is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Mental Math or Soroban have ads?
Mental Math shows ads; Soroban does not.
Which is updated more often, Mental Math or Soroban?
Mental Math ships an update every 8 days, and Soroban every 2 weeks. Most recently, Mental Math was updated on October 27, 2026 and Soroban on October 28, 2026.

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