Last reviewed October 2026
The verdict
Prodigy is a US-built maths RPG with a paid membership and a UK toggle. MathStar is free, written natively for the UK National Curriculum from Reception to Year 6, and trains times tables in the Year 4 MTC format.
Side-by-side
| MathStar | Prodigy Maths | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Freemium |
| Ages | 4–11 | 6–14 |
| Curriculum | UK (native) | US default, UK toggle |
| Times tables focus | Yes — MTC format | Included in wider maths |
| Format | Music/concert theme | RPG / wizard battles |
| In-app upsells | None on learning | Frequent (Premium) |
Which one your child needs
Pick Prodigy if your child loves RPG-style games and you're happy managing the frequent Premium upsells. The RPG loop — quests, monster battles, character progression — is genuinely compelling for kids who like that genre.
Pick MathStar if you want a UK-native curriculum, no upsells during play, and a shorter session format that fits daily habits. MTC preparation in particular is a much cleaner fit in MathStar.
What Prodigy does well
Prodigy is one of the most successful maths games ever made — tens of millions of children play it worldwide. The RPG format hooks kids who wouldn't normally choose a maths app. Character customisation, quests, and monster battles create a genuine 'want to play' pull.
The UK curriculum question
Prodigy is US-built and defaults to the US curriculum. There's a UK toggle, but topic sequencing and terminology (grade levels, US spellings) don't fully match the National Curriculum. For a Year 4 pupil specifically preparing for the MTC, that's a real limitation — the app isn't structured around the check.
Premium upsells during play
Prodigy shows in-app prompts to upgrade to Premium during play. There are no third-party ads, but the upgrade prompts are frequent enough that many UK parents flag them in reviews. Premium unlocks cosmetic content and progression bonuses; the underlying maths practice is on the free tier.
Session length
Prodigy sessions tend to be longer — 20–40 minutes — because the RPG loop needs time to develop. MathStar sessions are 5–10 minutes. For daily habit formation, shorter sessions win more often; for weekend deep dives, Prodigy has the edge.
Running both
Some families do — Prodigy for weekend fun, MathStar for weekday MTC prep. The one caveat: kids who love Prodigy sometimes resist a shorter, focused app afterwards. If MTC prep is the priority, lead with MathStar and use Prodigy as a reward.