Math Shelf vs Math Kids
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Math Shelf
This app provides an experimentally proven program to enhance early mathematics achievement for preschool and kindergarten students. It offers on-level instruction through adaptive learning and placement tests, aligning with Common Core Standards.
- Experimentally proven to increase math achievement
- Common Core Aligned content
- Adaptive learning and placement tests
- Cloud-based syncing for school and home
- Free 7-day trial
- Supports iPhone, iPad, and iPod
Read full descriptionHide full description
Math Shelf is experimentally proven to increase preschool and Kindergarten students' mathematics achievement. **** Winner Re-Imagine Education Best Learning App **** From over 3,000 entries Math Shelf won the Silver Medal for best learning app. **** Common Core Aligned ***** Math Shelf's content exceeds the expectations in the Kindergarten Common Core Standards. **** On Level Instruction for Every Student **** Placement tests and adaptive learning provide on level learning for every student in your class. **** Cloud Based ***** Play Math Shelf on any iPad or iPhone. Students can play for free at home and data will sync to their school account. **** Experimentally Proven **** Read our 3 peer-reviewed published studies at www.mathshelf.com/research. ****Valhalla Foundation Funded**** Program Related Investment and grant recipient from the Valhalla Foundation to improve early math education. **** Heising-Simons Foundation Funded **** Grant recipient Heising-Simons Foundation to improve early mathematics education. **** Free Trial **** Try Math Shelf with your students for 7 days. **** Technology Requirements **** iPhone 6 and above. Plays on iOS 12.0 and above. You may purchase an auto-renewing subscription through an In-App Purchase. You can access all games and administrative features. Auto-renewable subscription -1 month ($4.99) period, for 2 students access. -1 year ($41.99) period, for 2 students access. Your subscription will be charged to your Apple account at confirmation of purchase and will automatically renew (at the duration selected) unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Current subscription may not be cancelled during the active subscription period; however, you can manage your subscription and/or turn off auto-renewal by visiting your Apple Account Settings after purchase. Privacy Policy: https://mathshelf.com/privacy Terms Of Use: https://mathshelf.com/terms
Math Kids
This app introduces young children to fundamental math concepts like counting, addition, and subtraction through engaging mini-games. It helps develop logical skills and provides a strong educational foundation for early learners.
- Counting objects
- Comparing numbers
- Addition puzzles
- Subtraction puzzles
- Number identification
- Progress tracking
Read full descriptionHide full description
It's never too early to start your child's education. Preschoolers, kindergarteners, toddlers, and older kids are eager to learn their ABCs, counting, addition, subtraction, and more! The best way to encourage that is to share smart, well-made educational apps and games with them on a daily basis. Math Kids is the perfect introduction to the basics of counting, addition, and subtraction. It will teach your toddler, kindergartener, 1st grader sorting and logical skills along with early mathematics, giving them the perfect foundation for a lifetime of learning. Math Kids is a free learning game designed to teach young children numbers and mathematics. It features several mini-games that toddlers and pre-K kids will love to play, and the more they do the better their math skills will become! Math Kids will help preschoolers, kindergarteners, 1st graders to learn to identify numbers and start training with addition and subtraction puzzles. They'll have a great time completing games and earning stickers, and you'll have a great time watching them grow and learn. Math Kids features a number of puzzles that teach while your child plays, including: • Counting - Learn to count objects in this simple game of addition. • Compare - Children can build their counting and comparing skills to see which group of items is bigger or smaller. • Adding Puzzle - A fun mini-game where kids create math problems by dragging numbers on the screen. • Adding Fun - Count the objects and tap on the missing number. • Adding Quiz - Put your child's math and addition skills to the test. • Subtracting Puzzle - Fill in the missing symbols in the math problem. • Subtracting Fun - Count the items to solve the puzzle! • Subtracting Quiz - See how much your child has improved in their mathematics skills for subtraction. When kids can play while they're learning, they're much more likely to recall information. It also makes them want to learn more frequently, which will give them a huge boost when they start kindergarten. Math Kids also comes with a number of features that help adults monitor and manage their child's progress. Customize game modes to increase or decrease the difficulty, or check report cards to see scores for previous rounds. Math Kids is the perfect introduction to the basics of counting, addition, and subtraction. It will teach your toddler sorting and logical skills along with early mathematics, giving them the perfect foundation for a lifetime of learning. Note to Parents: When creating Math Kids, we focused on building the best possible learning experience for children of all ages. We're parents ourselves, so we know exactly what makes a good educational game, as well as what doesn't. We released Kids Math as a completely free game with no in-app purchases or third party ads. Math Kids is full featured, frustration free, and ready to go. It’s exactly the kind of educational app we want for our children, and we think your family will enjoy it, too! - Best wishes from the parents at RV AppStudios
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Math Kids at none against Math Shelf's 10. Math Kids also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 4 months) and ratings volume (10K vs 15). Math Shelf's advantage is rating (4.7 vs 4.5). On price, review sentiment, 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. Math Shelf sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Math Kids asks for nothing beyond the download.
Math Shelf holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Math Kids has 10K ratings behind it against 15, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 80% of Math Shelf's written reviews are positive against 83% of Math Kids's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Math Shelf ships an update every 4 months, Math Kids fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and November 1, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Math Shelf | Math Kids |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (15 ratings) — better | 4.5 (10K ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 80.0% of reviews | 83.1% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 15 | 10K — better |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 13.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 380 MB | 372 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | John Schacter | RV AppStudios LLC |
Customer experience
Math Shelf
Math Kids
Bugs and requests
Math Shelf
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
Math Kids
Reported bugs
2 issues- Russian language not loading properly
- Drag and drop functionality not working as expected
Requested features
3 requests- Add more advanced math levels
- Provide ability to adjust difficulty settings
- Introduce new game modes or themes
In-app purchases
Math Shelf
- 1 Month Access7 Days trial$4.991 Month
- 1 Year Access7 Days trial$41.991 Year
- 1 Students Monthly Subscription$1.99
- 1 Student Monthly Subscription$2.99
- 2 Students Monthly Subscription$3.99
Show 5 moreShow fewer
- 3 Students Monthly Subscription$5.99
- 2 Students Monthly Subscription$5.99
- 3 Students Monthly Subscription$8.99
- 3 Students Subscription$9.99
- 4 Students Monthly Subscription$11.99
Math Kids
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Math Shelf free?
Is Math Kids free?
Which has better reviews, Math Shelf or Math Kids?
Do Math Shelf or Math Kids have ads?
Which is updated more often, Math Shelf or Math Kids?
Other comparisons















