Comparison

Ten Frames vs Math Manipulatives for Kids

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

Head to head
About

Ten Frames

Features
Read full description

Ten Frames — math with smiles Educational math app for children aged 4–7, built around the Ten Frames method. Short, cheerful sessions a child can play independently — no reading required. About the method: Ten Frames is a foundational visual learning tool — a simple frame of 10 cells used to teach early number sense. The method itself is included in mathematics curricula around the world. Children learn to instantly recognize quantities through visual grouping: a filled row is always 5, a full frame is always 10. These benchmarks become anchors for all future mental math. The result: stronger number sense, faster mental arithmetic, less math anxiety. What it covers: • Counting to 10 • Addition and subtraction within 10 • Pairs that make 10 • Doubles • Fair sharing • Visual memory • 9 Adventure worlds, 82 levels Made for little learners: • A level is 5 problems and runs 2–4 minutes — a full session fits before dinner • Voice narration in English, Romanian and German, so children who cannot read yet play on their own • 10 visual themes children choose themselves (Space, Ocean, Forest, Farm, Candy, Unicorn, Pixel, Slime, K-Pop, Monsters) • 36 stickers and 14 achievements keep effort rewarded, never punished — a wrong answer costs nothing • A parent dashboard to follow stars, streaks and progress Made for parents: • No accounts and no sign-up — hand your child the iPad and they start • Nothing leaves the device. Progress is stored locally, and the app works fully offline • No analytics, no ads, no tracking, no links out of the app • Free to start: counting play is free forever, with free daily problems in every practice mode • One single purchase unlocks everything — every world, mode and theme. No subscription, ever Available in English, Romanian and German.

About

Math Manipulatives for Kids

This app provides a digital collection of math manipulatives for learners of all ages. It offers interactive tools for building number sense, exploring fractions and geometry, and practicing everyday math concepts without requiring physical supplies. Designed for ease of use in homes and classrooms, it keeps user work saved on the device.

Highlights
  • Virtual math manipulatives
  • Number sense tools
  • Fraction and geometry exploration
  • Interactive lesson tools
  • Touch-first controls
  • Work saved on device
  • No accounts or ads
Read full description

When a math idea doesn’t click, show it a different way. Move fraction tiles, slide rekenrek beads, build with base-ten bars, all on the iPhone or iPad you already own. Five tools are free; Manipulatives Pro unlocks all 18. BRING YOUR OWN LESSON Built for parents, homeschool families, teachers and educators, Manipulatives fits into the way you already teach. Model a homework problem, demonstrate an idea to your class, or let a child explore at their own pace. There is no required curriculum, scoring system or distracting game loop. FIVE TOOLS INCLUDED FREE - Math Bars: build and compare quantities; model addition and subtraction. - Ten Frames: arrange counters, recognize quantities and make ten. - Hundred Chart: mark numbers and explore skip-counting patterns. - Dice Roller: roll, count and explore probability. - Clock: move the hands and connect analog and digital time. EXPLORE MORE WITH MANIPULATIVES PRO Unlock the other 13 tools to complete your teaching shelf: - Rekenrek: slide beads to explore groups of five and ten. - Linking Cubes: connect cubes to build and compare quantities. - Two-Color Counters: sort, count and show parts of a whole. - Number Line: place numbers and explore jumps along a line. - Fraction Tiles: compare fractions using tiles and circles. - Pattern Blocks: combine shapes and explore patterns. - Geoboard: stretch bands around pegs to build shapes. - Tangram Canvas: move and rotate pieces to explore geometry. - Shape Builder: construct shapes with rods and connectors. - Money Counting: arrange coins and bills to explore value. - Probability Spinner: change sections and explore chance. - Thermometer: explore temperature and compare scales. - Sketch Pad: draw a model or work through an idea. READY FOR THE NEXT LESSON Touch-first controls keep the focus on the materials. Each tool remembers its most recent setup on your device, so you can return to your work. Sound and haptic feedback can be turned off in Settings. CHOOSE HOW TO UNLOCK PRO Monthly and annual subscriptions unlock the full library; the annual plan includes a 7-day free trial for eligible new subscribers. Or choose the separate lifetime purchase for permanent Pro access with one payment and no renewal. All three options unlock the same tools. No purchase is needed to keep using the five free tools. PRIVATE BY DESIGN No account, advertising, analytics or third-party tracking. Lesson work stays on your device. A parent or guardian can optionally send support feedback and include an email address for a reply. Purchases, external links and parent settings are protected by a grown-up math check. Subscriptions renew automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage subscriptions in Apple Account settings. Restore purchases in the app. The lifetime purchase does not renew or expire. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://manipulatives.app/privacy

Screenshots

Ten Frames4 screens
Math Manipulatives for Kids4 screens

Verdict

The call

Ten Frames and Math Manipulatives for Kids are too close to call on the numbers: across 6 compared parameters — price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

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. Ten Frames sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Math Manipulatives for Kids sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Ten Frames ships an update weekly, Math Manipulatives for Kids every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
Ten Frames versus Math Manipulatives for Kids: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTen FramesMath Manipulatives for Kids
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (9 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—9 — better
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 2 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
Monetization—Free with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.115.1
Further details — not scored
Size111 MB15 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperM Crisan SarbuFractelle Inc

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Ten Frames

One-time1
  • Ten Frames Premium$4.99
3 purchases

Math Manipulatives for Kids

Subscriptions2
  • Manipulatives Pro Monthly$6.991 Month
  • Manipulatives Pro Yearly7 Days trial$39.991 Year
One-time1
  • Manipulatives Pro Lifetime$99.99

Questions

Is Ten Frames free?
Ten Frames is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Math Manipulatives for Kids free?
Math Manipulatives for Kids is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Ten Frames or Math Manipulatives for Kids have ads?
Neither Ten Frames nor Math Manipulatives for Kids shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Ten Frames or Math Manipulatives for Kids?
Ten Frames ships an update weekly, and Math Manipulatives for Kids every 2 weeks. Most recently, Ten Frames was updated on October 28, 2026 and Math Manipulatives for Kids on October 31, 2026.

Other comparisons