Last reviewed October 2026
The verdict
Sumdog covers broad maths but puts much of its home content behind a paywall. MathStar is free, has no ads or chat, follows the UK National Curriculum, and puts times tables in the Year 4 MTC format at the centre.
Side-by-side
| MathStar | Sumdog | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Freemium (paywall on core) |
| Ages | 4–11 | 5–14 |
| Curriculum | UK | UK |
| Times tables focus | Yes — MTC format | Included, not central |
| Ads | None | Limited in free tier |
| Format | Music/concert theme | Multiplayer arcade |
Which one your child needs
Pick Sumdog if your child likes multiplayer arcade games and you're happy paying for the full experience. It's genuinely fun; the game loop is well-designed.
Pick MathStar if you want the MTC format free, or your child is under 7 (Sumdog skews older, ~7–14). MathStar's Reception–Y6 coverage is broader for a younger household.
What Sumdog does well
Multiplayer arcade format. Kids play mini-games against classmates or bots, and each game answers a maths question in the background. The gamification is unusually strong — children often ask to play it, which is half the battle.
Where Sumdog falls short for MTC prep
The 6-second MTC timing isn't the core of Sumdog's practice. Times tables are one of many maths topics on the platform, and the format is arcade-first, drill-second. If your specific goal is MTC readiness, an app built around the MTC format (MathStar, TTRS) is a better fit.
The freemium question
Sumdog's free tier is more limited than it first appears. Adaptive learning, personalisation and much of the wider curriculum sit behind a paid family subscription (~£3/month). It's not expensive, but 'free' in the App Store listing is not really free.
Running both
A common pairing: Sumdog for weekend fun, MathStar for weekday MTC drilling. The formats are different enough that children don't get bored, and MathStar's daily habit doesn't compete with Sumdog's social pull.