# Brilliant vs Math Problems 1st

The clearest difference is update cadence: Brilliant at weekly against Math Problems 1st's every 5 weeks. Brilliant also leads on chart position (#59 vs unranked). Math Problems 1st's advantage is iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.0). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Brilliant sells 16 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per month and Math Problems 1st sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $12.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Brilliant against 4.7 for Math Problems 1st. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 33K and 12K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 79% of Brilliant's written reviews are positive against 85% of Math Problems 1st's.

Brilliant ships an update weekly, Math Problems 1st every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Brilliant | Math Problems 1st |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (33K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brilliant-learn-math-and-coding/id913335252/reviews) | [4.7 (12K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/math-problems-1st-12th-grade/id1540872304/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **33K** | 12K |
| Positive reviews | 79.1% of reviews | **85.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#59** | — |
| Size | 102 MB | 146 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.6** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Brilliant.org](https://appshunter.io/developer/913335255) | [Adam Drzewiecki](https://appshunter.io/developer/1535796880) |

## What reviewers say

### Brilliant

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brilliant-learn-math-and-coding/id913335252)

**Currently charting:** #59 Top Grossing · Education, #173 Top Free · Education (US App Store)

Master math and computer science through interactive, visual lessons. This app focuses on active problem-solving and personalized practice to build critical thinking and STEM skills. Ideal for students and lifelong learners seeking to deepen their understanding and confidence.

**Highlights:** Interactive problem-solving lessons, Personalized practice sets, Visual explanations of concepts, Expert-crafted STEM courses, Real-time feedback, Builds critical thinking skills

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (16)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Brilliant Premium - Personal stats & exclusive problems | $19.99 | per month |
| Brilliant Premium: Fun, challenging problems in math and science by experts | $24.99 | per month |
| Brilliant Premium | $24.99 | per month |
| Brilliant Premium with Tutor | $30.00 | per month |
| Brilliant Premium: Fun, challenging problems in math and science by experts | $74.99 | per year |
| Brilliant Premium: Fun, challenging problems in math and science by experts | $96.99 | per year |
| Brilliant Premium: Fun, challenging problems in math and science by experts | $111.99 | per year |
| Brilliant Premium | $111.99 | per year |
| Brilliant Premium: Fun, challenging problems in math and science by experts | $119.99 | per year |
| Brilliant Premium | $127.99 | per year |
| Brilliant Premium | $127.99 | per year |
| Brilliant Premium: Fun, challenging problems in math and science by experts | $149.99 | per year |
| Brilliant Premium | $149.99 | per year |
| Brilliant Premium | $159.99 | per year |
| Brilliant Premium with Tutor | $167.99 | per year |
| Brilliant Premium with Tutor | $191.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Quick exercises, fast improvement
- 👍 Engaging and easy learning
- 👍 Effective learning of complex topics
- 👍 Intuitive and challenging but not intimidating
- 👍 Wonderful learning tool

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 🐛 Bugs and glitches
- 🔍 Limited variety of learning methods
- 🔍 Limited course selection
- 🔍 Inconsistent explanations and unclear wording

**Reported bugs**

- Progress not saving correctly
- Explanations not loading properly
- Home page not loading
- Difficulty cancelling subscription

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Offline mode
- Spaced repetition practice
- Ability to bookmark/save difficult problems
- More detailed explanations


### Math Problems 1st

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/math-problems-1st-12th-grade/id1540872304)

This app offers a comprehensive math learning experience for all ages, from preschoolers to university students. It provides step-by-step solutions for basic arithmetic and more advanced problems, helping users build math skills through practice and engaging games.

**Highlights:** Step-by-step solutions, Practice basic math operations, Math tests and brain training, Suitable for all ages, Rewards and level progression, Multiple language support

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Monthly | $12.99 | per month |
| Premium | $49.99 | per year |
| Premium | $79.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent learning tool
- 👍 Fun and engaging
- 🤓 Helps improve math skills
- 💡 Wide range of math topics covered
- 🏆 Effective for students of all levels

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔍 Lack of detailed explanations
- 🛑 Too many ads
- 💰 Premium features not worth the cost

**Reported bugs**

- Glitches in the calculator feature
- Incorrect math concepts in some questions

**Requested features**

- More comprehensive lessons and tutorials
- Personalized learning paths
- Offline mode without ads
- Improved feedback on mistakes


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Brilliant free?

Brilliant is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Math Problems 1st free?

Math Problems 1st is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Brilliant or Math Problems 1st?

Brilliant and Math Problems 1st are both rated 4.7 out of 5 on the App Store, from 33K and 12K ratings respectively.

### Do Brilliant or Math Problems 1st have ads?

Both Brilliant and Math Problems 1st show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Brilliant or Math Problems 1st?

Brilliant ships an update weekly, and Math Problems 1st every 5 weeks. Most recently, Brilliant was updated on September 26, 2026 and Math Problems 1st on September 25, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*