Number Line, by MLC vs ALA
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Number Line, by MLC
This app allows students to visualize number sequences and demonstrate mathematical strategies. It supports various number types and offers tools for annotation, problem-solving, and sharing work. Ideal for elementary classrooms and iPad learning environments.
- Visualize number sequences
- Demonstrate counting, adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing
- Use whole numbers, fractions, decimals, or negative numbers
- Add custom tick marks and labels
- Hide and reveal numbers and jumps
- Annotation and drawing tools
- Save and share work
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Number Line helps students visualize number sequences and demonstrate strategies for counting, comparing, adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing. Choose number lines labelled with whole numbers, fractions, decimals, or negative numbers. Or use a blank number line, with or without tick marks. Describe intervals between points on the line using forward or backward jumps above and below the line. Jumps can be labelled with their values or left blank. Add custom tick marks to the number line to show equivalence or compare number values. Show strategies with drawing and annotation tools. Hide elements of the sequence shown on the number line, which challenges students to use what they know about number relationships and computation to identify those missing elements. This virtual number line is an open-ended educational tool, ideal for elementary classrooms and other learning environments that use iPads. For more Number Line resources and other apps, visit: www.mathlearningcenter.org/apps FEATURES • Mark the number line with multiples of whole numbers, fractions, or decimals. In addition, set the starting value of the line, including using negative values. • Add and manipulate forward and backward jumps, above or below the line. • Label jump bars, manually or automatically, to show intervals or hide labels altogether. • Add custom tick marks and values to blank number lines. • Hide and reveal numbers on the number line. • Hide and reveal jumps, numbers, and other elements with resizable covers to create your own problems and model strategies. • Use the drawing tools to annotate work and show understanding. • Add equations, expressions, and descriptions with the math text and writing tools. • Share your work by saving an image or providing a share code to others. MORE APPS For more Number Line resources and other apps, visit: www.mathlearningcenter.org/apps LEARN MORE To learn about Bridges in Mathematics, an elementary curriculum that employs visual models like number line, visit: www.mathlearningcenter.org/bridges/overview ABOUT US This resource is brought to you by The Math Learning Center, a nonprofit organization dedicated to K-12 education since 1976. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This app was crafted by Clarity Innovations. We help improve teaching and learning by creating solutions that match promising technologies with the needs of education. Visit us: www.clarity-innovations.com
ALA
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Technology-based approach for writing instruction *Note: This free version only includes the We Beat the Street story, the rest are available as an in-app purchase. This technology-aided instruction for writing complements Teaching to Standards: English Language Arts and is companion product for reading (Access Language Arts). Students write grade-aligned opinion paragraphs about eight adapted pieces of literature, including fiction and nonfiction. Students are supported step by step in constructing personalized paragraphs. Includes activities to improve reading comprehension and vocabulary development. Researched and proven effective in secondary classrooms. Integrate during instruction using Teaching to Standards: ELA, or use this app alone to achieve standards-aligned skills in both reading and writing. Stories include: Holes, The Outsiders, Number the Stars, Dragonwings, We Beat the Street, Neighbors, The Diary of Anne Frank, and Sadako.
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Number Line, by MLC at none against ALA's 1. ALA's advantage is update cadence (every 3 months vs every 13 months) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.1). On price, ads 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
Both are free to download. ALA sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Number Line, by MLC asks for nothing beyond the download.
Number Line, by MLC ships an update every 13 months, ALA every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 11, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Number Line, by MLC | ALA |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.4 (15 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 66.7% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 15 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 13 months | Every 3 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPad | iPad |
| Requires iOS | 16.1 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 7 MB | 352 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | The Math Learning Center | Attainment Company |
In-app purchases
Number Line, by MLC
No in-app purchases
ALA
- Full Version$39.99
Questions
Is Number Line, by MLC free?
Is ALA free?
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Which is updated more often, Number Line, by MLC or ALA?
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