# STEMulator vs MathU Merlin

The clearest difference is update cadence: MathU Merlin at every 4 weeks against STEMulator's every 9 months. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

STEMulator ships an update every 9 months, MathU Merlin every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 18, 2026 and September 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | STEMulator | MathU Merlin |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 9 months | **Every 4 weeks** |
| Size | 35 MB | 79 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [STEMulator](https://appshunter.io/developer/1760697221) | [MathU Teaching Emporium (Pty) Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1501691780) |

## What reviewers say

### STEMulator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stemulator/id6599522008)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### MathU Merlin

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mathu-merlin/id6739288823)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is STEMulator free?

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

### Is MathU Merlin free?

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

### Do STEMulator or MathU Merlin have ads?

Neither STEMulator nor MathU Merlin shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, STEMulator or MathU Merlin?

STEMulator ships an update every 9 months, and MathU Merlin every 4 weeks. Most recently, STEMulator was updated on September 18, 2026 and MathU Merlin on September 8, 2026.

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