Soroban vs Abacus Trainer
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side โ with what reviewers say about each.
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: โข Students learning arithmetic and building strong math foundations โข Parents looking for effective brain training and focus development tools โข Beginners starting with abacus (soroban) for the first time โข Advanced learners training anzan (mental math speed and accuracy) โข Anyone interested in brain training, calculation speed, and cognitive skills KEY FEATURES: โข Step-by-step lessons: Learn soroban from basic bead movement to advanced arithmetic โข Flash Anzan (mental math): Train your brain to calculate without a physical abacus โข Speed drills: Improve calculation speed and accuracy with timed exercises โข Daily challenges: Build consistency with short, repeatable practice sessions โข Workbook practice: Structured exercises for deeper understanding โข Free play mode: Use a fully interactive digital abacus anytime โข AI-powered insights: On-device intelligence for adaptive learning and homework scanning โข Progress tracking: Monitor accuracy, performance, and improvement over time WHY SOROBAN: โข Develops mental math (anzan) and arithmetic fluency โข Improves concentration, memory, and problem-solving skills โข Combines traditional Japanese learning with modern iOS design โข 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.
Abacus Trainer
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Train your brain to calculate without a calculator. Abacus Trainer teaches mental arithmetic the Japanese soroban way - slide real beads first, then learn to see the abacus in your head. 160 levels across 8 grades take you from your very first bead to full Flash Anzan speed, one small step at a time. THREE WAYS TO PRACTICE - Show All: every number on screen at once. The gentle way in. - Flash Anzan: numbers flash one by one and get faster each level. Builds working memory, focus and calculation speed. - Auditory Anzan: nothing to read. Numbers are spoken aloud and you calculate purely by ear. INTERACTIVE VIRTUAL SOROBAN Slide the beads with your finger on a real 5-bead soroban. Guide markers show what each rod is worth, and a free sandbox lets you build any number you like. Answer on the abacus itself or on the keypad - whichever trains you better. A CURRICULUM THAT ACTUALLY RAMPS - Addition first, subtraction from Grade 2, decimals from Grade 7. - Number chains grow from 3 numbers up to 12; values from 1 digit to 3. - Flash speed tightens from 2.0 seconds down to 0.4 seconds per number. Every level is at least as hard as the one before it, so there are no difficulty cliffs - just steady progress. BUILD YOUR OWN DRILL Custom Mode lets you set everything: addition and subtraction, multiplication or division, number of digits, rows, question count, flash speed, negatives and decimals. Ideal for competition prep or for drilling the one thing you keep getting wrong. ANSWER OUT LOUD Speak your answer instead of typing it for hands-free speed drills. Microphone access is optional and only used while you are answering. PROGRESS YOU CAN SEE Accuracy, answer times, questions answered, best runs and unlocked badges - per grade and over time. Watch your average answer time drop week after week. COLLECT COMPANION CATS Level up to unlock and customise your own cat companion. Cozy, calm visuals with a dark theme make long practice sessions easy on the eyes, and the whole app stays suitable for all ages. WHO IT IS FOR Kids starting soroban or abacus class. Students training for mental arithmetic and speed-math competitions. Parents looking for screen time that actually teaches something. Adults who want to keep their brain sharp and add faster than they can reach for a phone. Practice runs offline, so a train ride or a waiting room is a training session. Free to download, supported by ads. One optional purchase removes the ads for good - every level, every mode and every cat is there either way, and nothing is locked behind a payment. Available in English and Indonesian. Download Abacus Trainer and start seeing the beads in your head.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: Soroban at none against Abacus Trainer's shown. Abacus Trainer's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 26.0). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price ยท Rating ยท Positive reviews ยท Number of ratings ยท Update frequency ยท Ads ยท In-app purchases ยท Monetization ยท Best chart rank ยท Devices ยท Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Soroban ships an update every 2 weeks, Abacus Trainer every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on September 10, 2026 and September 9, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Soroban | Abacus Trainer |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | Every 10 days โ better |
| Ads | No โ better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod โ better |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | 15.0 โ better |
| Further details โ not scored | ||
| Size | 13 MB | 26 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 9+ |
| Developer | Shweta Kumari | Doni Winata |
In-app purchases
Soroban
No in-app purchases
Abacus Trainer
No in-app purchases









