Learn the Abacus Free: Lessons, Practice and Games
AbacusPlay teaches the abacus (soroban) step by step: guided lessons with PlayBuddy and PlayType, an on-screen abacus that shows every move, mental math and abacus games for kids and grown-ups. No account and nothing to install.
👆 Tap a bead to try it yourself
Everything You Need to Learn the Abacus
Practice
Build speed and accuracy with abacus sums made for your level.
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Learn
Learn the abacus step by step with guided lessons, the beads to move lit up and the right finger for each move.
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Games
Use your abacus skills in playful adventures that grow with your lessons.
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Stats
Track sums per minute, accuracy and the friend rules that need more practice.
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Badges
Stay motivated and celebrate your progress by earning achievements.
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Mental Math
Picture the abacus and calculate in your head, from first mind rounds to flash anzan.
Try It →How AbacusPlay Works
Learn
Learn the beads, the finger moves and the friend rules, one step at a time.
Practice
Practice sums on the abacus, then picture them in your head.
Improve
Track your speed, accuracy, progress and achievements.
More Free Learning From Our Team
PlayBuddy and PlayType teach on all three sites. Free, no signup.
Why AbacusPlay
AbacusPlay questions
Is AbacusPlay free?
Yes. Abacus lessons, practice, tests and games are free, with no account needed.
Do I need an account to use AbacusPlay?
No. You can start straight away. Progress is stored locally in your browser, so no name or email is required.
Can complete beginners learn the abacus on AbacusPlay?
Yes. The guided lessons start with the parts of the abacus and showing numbers, and add one new move at a time, with the beads to move lit up.
Do I need a real abacus?
No. Every lesson has an on-screen abacus you can tap. If you have a real soroban, use it alongside.
What kind of abacus does AbacusPlay teach?
The Japanese soroban: one bead worth 5 above the bar and four beads worth 1 below it on every rod. It is the abacus most courses teach today.
What are small friends and big friends?
They are the abacus rules for when the beads run out: pairs that make 5 (small friends) and pairs that make 10 (big friends).
Does AbacusPlay teach mental math?
Yes. Every lesson ends with a mind round where the abacus hides and you picture the beads. Later levels add flash anzan.
Does AbacusPlay track progress?
Yes. Stars, streaks, badges and personal bests are saved locally in your browser, so you can come back without signing in.
Is AbacusPlay for kids or adults?
Both. PlayBuddy and PlayType guide children step by step, and grown-ups can move faster through the same lessons, practice and tests.
What does learning the abacus do?
Practice builds number sense, place value and fast, accurate mental arithmetic, and it is good concentration practice. We do not promise IQ or whole-brain effects.
Free Online Abacus Lessons
AbacusPlay is a free place to learn the abacus for children, students, parents and anyone who wants faster, surer mental arithmetic. The abacus it teaches is the Japanese soroban: every rod is one place value, with one bead worth 5 above the bar and four beads worth 1 below it.
Guided Abacus Lessons
The guided lessons start with the parts of the abacus and showing numbers, then add one move at a time: adding and taking away, then the small friends (pairs that make 5) and the big friends (pairs that make 10). The beads to move next light up, with a sign for the thumb or the pointer finger, and PlayBuddy and PlayType explain every step.
Practice and Mental Math
Beyond the lessons you can practice sums at your level, long column sums, and timed tests that measure how many sums you get right in a minute. Every lesson ends with a mind round: the abacus hides and you picture the beads, the first step toward calculating in your head.
Track Progress Without an Account
Abacus games turn practice into play. Stats show your speed, your accuracy and the friend rules that need more work, and you earn stars and badges along the way.
All progress is saved locally in your browser, so you can pick up right where you left off without creating an account. AbacusPlay works on phones, tablets and computers.