Comparison

Equate 8 vs Scratch Inc.

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

Head to head
About

Equate 8

This math puzzle game challenges players to rearrange numbers in a 3x3 grid to solve eight equations simultaneously. It offers escalating difficulty, medals for efficiency, and a daily puzzle for free play. The game also serves as an educational tool, with features for educators to design custom levels.

Highlights
  • Magic square reimagining
  • Balance eight equations
  • Multiple operators
  • Escalating difficulty levels
  • Medals for efficiency
  • Daily puzzle
  • Snap Mode for assistance
Features
Read full description

Equate 8 is a bold reimagining of the classic magic square—an innovative, addictive math puzzle featured at New York City’s Museum of Mathematics. Players rearrange numbers in a 3×3 grid to balance eight equations at once (three rows, three columns, two diagonals), racing to solve the puzzle in the fewest moves. With multiple operators, escalating difficulty levels, and medals awarded for efficiency, Equate 8 is as rewarding as it is challenging. Equate 8 is the sequel to our Webby-nominated game The Devil’s Calculator, named one of PAX’s 10 Best Indie Games of 2019. Disguised as a casual mobile game, Equate 8 is a powerful interactive learning tool. Our talk will explore the sophisticated math behind the project and debut a new feature allowing educators to design levels aligned with their curricula. With its blend of pedagogical depth, intuitive design, and playful challenge, Equate 8 shows how games can transform math education. It empowers students, supports teachers, and makes math feel like play. Solving the grid in fewer moves will gain a silver or gold medal, but a bronze is awarded regardless, so don't stress. The daily puzzle gives players a free way to play and unlock content. Acquire “streaks” tokens by playing regularly. Exchange medals and streaks for Challenges, packs of themed puzzles. If the squares seem too complicated, open the menu to try Snap Mode. A number will automatically be locked (circled) when in the correct place. This mode can be played in a limited number of sequences before it reverts to the default. Donate to our nonprofit for access to unlimited difficulty levels.Equate 8 is a fun casual game for all ages, whether practicing math skills or engaging brainpower. Donations support the mission of Cinq-Mars Media, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit to develop educational games, always provided free to teachers and students.

About

Scratch Inc.

An idle incremental game where you build an empire by scratching cards and earning points. Upgrade your cards, unlock automation, and prestige to progress faster. Enjoy endless upgrades, achievements, and global leaderboards with no ads or wait timers.

Highlights
  • Endless Upgrades
  • Prestige for Progress
  • Achievements with Rewards
  • Global Leaderboards
  • Playable Offline
  • No Ads
Features
Read full description

Build an Empire, From Scratch Scratch cards, earn points, and grow your empire in this idle/incremental game. Upgrade your cards, unlock automation, prestige across industries, and climb the leaderboards — all with no ads, ever. • Endless Upgrades – Boost your point gain, match multipliers, grid size, and so much more. • Prestige for Progress – Reset to climb faster across deep progression layers. • Achievements with Rewards – Earn Gold and multipliers by completing fun challenges. • Global Leaderboards – Compete with others across the world across a variety of challenges. • Playable Offline – Play anywhere anytime • No Ads. No Wait Timers. Just Progress and Big Numbers. Made by a solo dev. Built to respect your time. (A reimagining of my first game)

Screenshots

Equate 84 screens
Scratch Inc.4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Scratch Inc. at 1.9K against Equate 8's 12. Scratch Inc. also leads on review sentiment (93% vs 75%) and update cadence (every 4 days vs weekly). Equate 8's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.7) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.0). 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. Equate 8 sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Scratch Inc. sells 5 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Equate 8 holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Scratch Inc. has 1.9K ratings behind it against 12, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 75% of Equate 8's written reviews are positive against 93% of Scratch Inc.'s, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Equate 8 ships an update weekly, Scratch Inc. every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on June 3, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Equate 8 versus Scratch Inc.: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterEquate 8Scratch Inc.
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (12 ratings) — better4.7 (1.9K ratings)
Positive reviews75.0% of reviews93.2% of reviews — better
Number of ratings121.9K — better
Update frequencyWeeklyEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS11.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size18 MB40 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperCinq-Mars MediaMakopaz LLC

Customer experience

Equate 8

All ratings12 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews8 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral12.5%
Negative12.5%

Scratch Inc.

All ratings1,897 ratings
Positive95.1%
Neutral3.4%
Negative1.5%
Written reviews456 reviews
Positive93.2%
Neutral4.2%
Negative2.6%

Bugs and requests

Equate 8

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Scratch Inc.

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Offline rewards rarely triggering
  • Lacking sound effects

Requested features

2 requests
  • More skin tone options for avatar
  • Better variety and more offline rewards

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Equate 8

One-time1
  • Endless Levels!$2.99
5 purchases

Scratch Inc.

One-time5
  • 20 Gold$1.99
  • 55 Gold$4.99
  • 120 Gold$9.99
Show 2 more
  • 260 Gold$19.99
  • 750 Gold$49.99

Questions

Is Equate 8 free?
Equate 8 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Scratch Inc. free?
Scratch Inc. is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Equate 8 or Scratch Inc.?
Equate 8 is rated higher. Equate 8 averages 5.0 out of 5 from 12 ratings, while Scratch Inc. averages 4.7 from 1.9K ratings.
Do Equate 8 or Scratch Inc. have ads?
Neither Equate 8 nor Scratch Inc. shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Equate 8 or Scratch Inc.?
Equate 8 ships an update weekly, and Scratch Inc. every 4 days. Most recently, Equate 8 was updated on June 3, 2026 and Scratch Inc. on September 28, 2026.

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