Mental Math vs Soroban
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Mental Math
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MASTER MENTAL MATH IN MINUTES MathDash helps students of all ages build lightning-fast calculation skills through visual lessons and personalized practice. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN - Addition & Subtraction Techniques (1-3 digits) - Multiplication Shortcuts (x11, x5, tables) - Division Methods (divide by 5 and more) - Percentage Calculations - Number Comparison Skills HOW IT WORKS 1. LEARN: Watch step-by-step visual demonstrations 2. PRACTICE: Choose your difficulty and question count 3. TRACK: Monitor progress with detailed statistics 4. ACHIEVE: Unlock badges and level up KEY FEATURES - 4 Practice Modes (Tasks, Time, Challenge, Endless) - 3 Difficulty Levels - Custom number ranges (1-9, 10-99, 100-999) - Comprehensive achievement system - Daily streak tracking - Beautiful, ad-free interface PERFECT FOR - Students building math confidence - Test preparation (SAT, ACT, GRE) - Parents helping with homework - Adults sharpening mental skills - Anyone who loves numbers WHY MATHDASH? Unlike traditional math apps, MathDash teaches you proven mental calculation techniques through visual, step-by-step lessons. You'll understand WHY methods work, making them easier to remember and apply. Join thousands improving their math skills. Download now and start your journey to mental math mastery!
Soroban
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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
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Soroban at Free against Mental Math's $2.99. Mental Math's advantage is iOS requirement (16.6 vs 26.0). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases 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
Soroban is free to download; Mental Math costs $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Mental Math ships an update fortnightly, Soroban every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Mental Math | Soroban |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2.99 | Free — better |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | Every 2 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 — better | 26.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 6 MB | 17 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | 波 许 | Shweta Kumari |
In-app purchases
Mental Math
No in-app purchases
Soroban
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Mental Math free?
Is Soroban free?
Do Mental Math or Soroban have ads?
Which is updated more often, Mental Math or Soroban?
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