Comparison

Number Line, by MLC vs Cortex 5.0

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

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

About

Cortex 5.0

This app provides a drag-and-drop interface for programming robotics kits, generating Arduino code. It allows users to build and program robots that interact with their environment using sensors and various building systems. The user-friendly, game-like environment is ideal for learning programming and Arduino coding.

Highlights
  • Drag-and-drop programming interface
  • Generates Arduino code
  • Supports multiple building systems (fischertechnik, LEGO, K'NEX, VEX)
  • Robot interaction with sensors
  • Game-like learning environment
  • iPad compatible
Features
Read full description

The PCS Edventures Cortex is a drag-and-drop robotics programming environment that generates Arduino code for PCS Brain robotics kits or robot kits of your own design. Using the PCS Brain you can build robots that interact with their environment using sensors and move around using a variety of building systems including fischertechnik(r), LEGO(r), K'NEX, VEX, and others. You can even bolt it on to your R/C car and teach it to follow you like a dog! The rich, game-like programming interface is a great tool for learning how to program in a friendly environment, provides tools for learning Arduino coding, and it works on iPad!

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Cortex 5.0 at 5.0 against Number Line, by MLC's 4.4. Cortex 5.0 also leads on iOS requirement (10.0 vs 16.1). Number Line, by MLC's advantage is ratings volume (15 vs 1). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Cortex 5.0 holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Number Line, by MLC has 15 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Number Line, by MLC ships an update every 13 months, Cortex 5.0 every 20 months. Both last shipped on November 1, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Number Line, by MLC versus Cortex 5.0: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNumber Line, by MLCCortex 5.0
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (15 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews66.7% of reviews—
Number of ratings15 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 13 months — betterEvery 20 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPadiPad
Requires iOS16.110.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size7 MB83 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperThe Math Learning CenterPCS Edventures!

Customer experience

Number Line, by MLC

All ratings15 ratings
Positive86.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative13.3%
Written reviews12 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral16.7%
Negative16.7%

Cortex 5.0

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Number Line, by MLC

No in-app purchases

None

Cortex 5.0

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Number Line, by MLC free?
Number Line, by MLC is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Cortex 5.0 free?
Cortex 5.0 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Number Line, by MLC or Cortex 5.0?
Cortex 5.0 is rated higher. Number Line, by MLC averages 4.4 out of 5 from 15 ratings, while Cortex 5.0 averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Number Line, by MLC or Cortex 5.0 have ads?
Neither Number Line, by MLC nor Cortex 5.0 shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Number Line, by MLC or Cortex 5.0?
Number Line, by MLC ships an update every 13 months, and Cortex 5.0 every 20 months. Most recently, Number Line, by MLC was updated on November 1, 2026 and Cortex 5.0 on November 1, 2026.

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