Last reviewed October 2026
How we ranked them
Four criteria, in this order: can a parent actually access it, does it follow the UK National Curriculum, does it prepare for the Year 4 Multiplication Tables Check, and will a child keep opening it after week two. A brilliant app a child abandons is worth less than a decent one they use daily.
1. MathStar — best free all-rounder
Free, UK curriculum, Reception to Year 6, ad-free, no chat. MTC-format drills with adaptive weighting, wrapped in a rock-concert progression. Optional purchases are cosmetic only. The obvious caveat: this is our app, so weigh the specifics rather than the ranking — cost, curriculum and MTC format are all verifiable in the App Store listing.
2. TT Rockstars — best if your school has it
The market leader in UK schools, and deservedly so. Excellent MTC-format practice and a strong social loop. The catch is absolute: parents cannot buy it. Years 2 to 6 only.
3. DoodleMaths — best paid all-rounder
Subscription, UK-built, strong adaptive engine, the best parent dashboard here. Covers primary through early secondary. No dedicated MTC mode.
4. White Rose 1-Minute Maths — best free warm-up
Free, no ads, no login, made by the team behind the scheme most UK schools teach. Narrow scope: number facts only, no progress tracking.
5. Komodo Maths — best for calm learners
Subscription, UK curriculum, minimal design for children who find gamified apps overstimulating. Parent-led pacing.
6. Hit the Button — best zero-friction filler
Free in the browser, instantly understood, no install. Score-attack format, no memory between sessions, site ads on the free version.
7. Numbots — best for Key Stage 1 number bonds
From the TT Rockstars publisher, focused on addition and subtraction fluency. Genuinely good, and equally unavailable to parents directly.
8. Sumdog — best for school-set homework
Freemium with a limited free tier. Wide coverage and popular with schools for setting homework. Most families end up on the paid tier to get real value.
9. Prodigy Maths — most fun, weakest UK fit
An RPG that children genuinely love. US-built with a UK toggle that doesn't fully resolve sequencing and terminology differences. Frequent premium upsells during play.
10. BBC Bitesize — best free explainer
Not really an app in the practice sense, but the best free UK source for explaining a topic your child hasn't understood. Videos and quizzes by year group. Use it when the problem is comprehension, not fluency.
What to pick, by situation
- Year 4, MTC in June: MathStar, or TT Rockstars if the school has it.
- Reception or Year 1: MathStar — most alternatives start at Year 2.
- Child is behind and needs topic teaching: BBC Bitesize to explain, then MathStar or DoodleMaths to practise.
- Child finds games overstimulating: Komodo or DoodleMaths.
- Budget is zero: MathStar plus 1-Minute Maths.
What to ignore when choosing
App Store star ratings across different user bases, "award-winning" badges without a named award, and any claim about improving results by a specific number of months without a published study behind it. Check the price to you, the curriculum, and whether your child will open it tomorrow.