Comparison

Notepad by mathies vs Geoboard, by MLC

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

Head to head
About

Notepad by mathies

This app allows users to record mathematical thinking by writing solutions, sketching diagrams, and creating graphs. Users can customize backgrounds, use text and pencil tools, and add various drawing objects. Work can be shared via screenshots.

Highlights
  • Customizable backgrounds (grid, lined, blank)
  • Text and pencil tools for notes and drawings
  • Extensive drawing objects (arrows, shapes, grids)
  • Adjustable object colors, thickness, and transparency
  • Screenshot sharing for portfolios
  • Resizing and repositioning of elements
Features
Read full description

Write solutions, sketch diagrams, create graphs and record your mathematical thinking using the Notepad by mathies. Take a screenshot of your work to share with others or add to a portfolio. Features: •Select the background: grid, isometric dot, lined or blank •Customize the background’s appearance by adjusting colours or the number of rows and columns, resizing and/or repositioning •Type notes using the text tool •Use the pencil tool for freestyle writing and drawings •Include drawing objects: arrows, lines, number lines, rulers, hops, dots, rectangles, squares, ovals, circles, triangles, starbursts, grids and polygons •Change colour, line thickness, fill colour and transparency •Copy and rotate all annotation objects

About

Geoboard, by MLC

Explore mathematical concepts like perimeter, area, and fractions by stretching virtual bands around pegs to form shapes. This open-ended educational tool is ideal for elementary and middle school learners, offering multiple board types and drawing tools for interactive discovery.

Highlights
  • Create line segments and polygons
  • Multiple board types (square, rectangular, circular)
  • Shape duplication and transformation
  • Fill shapes with transparent color
  • Display grid lines with numbering
  • Drawing and annotation tools
  • Save and share work
Features
Read full description

Geoboard is a tool for exploring a variety of mathematical topics introduced in the elementary and middle grades. Learners stretch bands around the pegs to form line segments and polygons and make discoveries about perimeter, area, angles, congruence, fractions, and more. This virtual version of the manipulative is an open-ended educational tool, ideal for elementary classrooms and other learning environments. FEATURES • Create line segments and polygons by stretching bands around the Geoboard’s pegs. • Choose from 8 different band colors. • Fill individual shapes with a transparent color, or use the Fill All button to toggle all the bands between filled and unfilled. • Switch between the standard 25-peg square board, a rectangular board with 150 pegs, or a circular board with 13 pegs. The circular board enables explorations with angles, fractions, and time measurement. • Duplicate shapes then move, rotate, or flip them to explore symmetry and congruency. • Change the color of selected bands. • Display grid lines with or without numbering to more easily calculate area and identify shape locations. •Hide and reveal work 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 Geoboard resources and other apps, visit:www.mathlearningcenter.org/apps LEARN MORE To learn about Bridges in Mathematics, an elementary curriculum that employs visual models such as the geoboard, please visit: www.mathlearningcenter.org/bridges/overview ABOUT US This app is brought to you by The Math Learning Center, a nonprofit organization dedicated to K-12 math education since 1976. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Geoboard app was made possible by a generous donation from Dr. David Moursund. 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 at: www.clarity-innovations.com

Screenshots

Notepad by mathies4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Geoboard, by MLC at 3.9 against Notepad by mathies's 2.3. Geoboard, by MLC also leads on review sentiment (81% vs 67%) and ratings volume (17 vs 3). Notepad by mathies's advantage is update cadence (every 2 months vs every 39 months) and device support (3 vs 1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

Geoboard, by MLC holds the better App Store score, 3.9 against 2.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Geoboard, by MLC has 17 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 67% of Notepad by mathies's written reviews are positive against 81% of Geoboard, by MLC's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Notepad by mathies ships an update every 2 months, Geoboard, by MLC every 39 months. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Notepad by mathies versus Geoboard, by MLC: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNotepad by mathiesGeoboard, by MLC
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.3 (3 ratings)3.9 (17 ratings) — better
Positive reviews66.7% of reviews81.3% of reviews — better
Number of ratings317 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 39 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPad
Requires iOS6.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size33 MB5 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperOAMEThe Math Learning Center

Customer experience

Notepad by mathies

All ratings3 ratings
Positive33.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative66.7%
Written reviews6 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%

Geoboard, by MLC

All ratings17 ratings
Positive76.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative23.5%
Written reviews16 reviews
Positive81.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative18.8%

In-app purchases

None

Notepad by mathies

No in-app purchases

None

Geoboard, by MLC

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Notepad by mathies free?
Notepad by mathies is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Geoboard, by MLC free?
Geoboard, by MLC is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Notepad by mathies or Geoboard, by MLC?
Geoboard, by MLC is rated higher. Notepad by mathies averages 2.3 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Geoboard, by MLC averages 3.9 from 17 ratings.
Do Notepad by mathies or Geoboard, by MLC have ads?
Neither Notepad by mathies nor Geoboard, by MLC shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Notepad by mathies or Geoboard, by MLC?
Notepad by mathies ships an update every 2 months, and Geoboard, by MLC every 39 months. Most recently, Notepad by mathies was updated on October 6, 2026 and Geoboard, by MLC on October 5, 2026.

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