ZapMath! vs Pickles
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
ZapMath!
This app makes math practice engaging for K-5 students with adaptive difficulty and fun learning modes. It covers essential arithmetic operations and provides instant feedback to build confidence. Designed by a parent, it prioritizes a safe and distraction-free learning environment.
- Adaptive difficulty levels
- Addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, percentages, fractions
- Multiple choice and direct entry modes
- Zen Mode for untimed practice
- Instant feedback with haptic responses
- Detailed results and progress tracking
- 100% safe and free
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ZapMath! - Fun Math Practice for Kids Make math practice exciting for your K-5 student with ZapMath! Created by a dad for his three elementary-aged kids, this completely free app helps children build strong arithmetic skills through engaging, adaptive learning. Perfect for K-5 Students ZapMath is specifically designed for kindergarten through 5th grade students, with content that grows alongside your child's mathematical abilities. Six Essential Math Operations • Addition - Build foundational number sense • Subtraction - Master taking away and differences • Multiplication - Learn times tables with confidence • Division - Understand sharing and grouping • Percentages - Introduce real-world math concepts • Fractions - Visualize parts of a whole Three Adaptive Difficulty Levels • Easy (K-2): Perfect for young learners just starting their math journey • Medium (3-4): Ideal for students building confidence with larger numbers • Hard (5+): Challenge advanced learners with complex problems Flexible Learning Modes • Multiple Choice: Great for building recognition and confidence • Direct Entry: Perfect for practicing precise calculation skills • Surprise Me: Random challenges to keep learning fresh and exciting • Zen Mode: Endless practice without time pressure Smart Features for Better Learning • Optional timer to build speed and fluency • Lightning-fast feedback with satisfying haptic responses • Detailed results with letter grades and time tracking • Encouraging messages that celebrate progress 100% Safe and Free • No ads to distract from learning • No in-app purchases or hidden costs • No data collection - your child's privacy is protected • Created by a parent who understands what families need Why Kids Love ZapMath: The instant feedback, encouraging messages, and variety of challenges make math practice feel more like playing a game than doing homework. Perfect For: • Homeschool families seeking quality math practice • Parents wanting to supplement classroom learning • Teachers looking for engaging math activities • Kids who need extra practice with arithmetic • Students preparing for standardized tests Download ZapMath today and watch your child's confidence in math soar! Made for young mathematicians everywhere.
Pickles
This app allows parents to set screen time limits by requiring children to solve math problems. Children earn minutes for correct answers, which are then used to access selected apps. It offers various math levels and problem types for grades K-5.
- Screen time gating via math problems
- Grade-level math challenges (K-5)
- Multiple math operations (+, -, ×, ÷)
- Diverse problem types (word problems, number bonds)
- Parental PIN protection
- Offline functionality
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Math for screen time. Pickles locks the apps you pick (Roblox, YouTube, anything) until your kid earns minutes with math. Right answers earn minutes. Wrong ones earn nothing. Built by two parents tired of negotiating screen time. Three steps, then it just runs: - Pick the apps to lock. - Kid solves math: a round of problems at the level you set. - Minutes unlock apps. Saved-up minutes run down only while locked apps are open. When they run out, the apps lock again. A math level for every grade, K–5. From adding within 10 to times tables and multi-digit × and ÷. Real problems, not flashcards: word problems, number bonds, ten-frames, number lines, clocks, coins, fractions and more. No accounts. No ads. No tracking. Everything runs on the device: no sign-in, no cloud, no analytics, no third-party SDKs. A 4-digit PIN locks parent settings. That's the whole account system. Locking uses Apple's Screen Time tools, so even we can't see which apps you picked.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ratings volume: ZapMath! at 4 against Pickles's 1. On price, rating, update cadence and ads 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for ZapMath! against 5.0 for Pickles. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 1 respectively.
ZapMath! ships an update every 5 days, Pickles weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | ZapMath! | Pickles |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (4 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) |
| Number of ratings | 4 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 5 days — better | Weekly |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 16 MB | 14 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Steven Engelbrecht | Tomas Vesely |
Customer experience
ZapMath!
Pickles
In-app purchases
ZapMath!
No in-app purchases
Pickles
No in-app purchases









