Last reviewed October 2026
Side-by-side
| MathStar | Komodo Maths | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Family subscription |
| Ages | 4–11 (Reception–Y6) | 5–11 |
| Curriculum | UK, all primary maths | UK, all primary maths |
| MTC format | Yes — 6-sec drills | No dedicated MTC mode |
| Ads | None | None |
| Session length | 5–10 minutes | About 10 minutes |
| Parent role | Light-touch | Parent sets the pace |
| Theme | Rock concert | Calm, minimal |
Which one your child needs
Pick Komodo if you want a calm, ad-light programme you steer yourself, and you like the idea of a parent choosing when to move a child on. It's a well-designed app with a clear philosophy: little and often, no noise.
Pick MathStar if you want the same little-and-often philosophy without a subscription, plus a reward system that does the motivating so you don't have to.
Same philosophy, different execution
Komodo and MathStar agree on the fundamentals: short sessions, daily rhythm, no long marathon revision. Where they part company is who supplies the motivation. Komodo expects the parent to be the driver — you set the schedule, you nudge. MathStar builds the pull into the app itself, so a child often opens it unprompted.
Cost
Komodo is subscription-based for families. MathStar is free, with optional cosmetic purchases only. If you're weighing several apps, cost across seven primary years is worth calculating rather than judging month by month.
Times tables specifically
Komodo covers times tables as part of the wider curriculum but doesn't replicate the Multiplication Tables Check format. For a Year 4 pupil with the check in June, that gap matters — the six-second window is a distinct skill and children benefit from meeting it in advance.
Who each app suits
- Komodo: engaged parent, child who dislikes loud game themes, family comfortable with a subscription.
- MathStar: busy household, child who needs pulling in, families who want free access and MTC-shaped practice.
Honest verdict
Both are good. Komodo's calm design is a genuine advantage for some children, and we'd recommend it over MathStar for a child who finds gamification distracting. For everyone else, the free price and the MTC format make MathStar the easier starting point.