Last reviewed October 2026
The verdict
TT Rockstars is excellent but only available through a school subscription and covers times tables only. MathStar is free for any family, uses the same 6-second MTC format, and covers all primary maths from Reception to Year 6.
Side-by-side
| MathStar | TT Rockstars | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | School subscription only |
| Ages | 4–11 (Reception–Y6) | 7–11 (Y2–Y6) |
| Curriculum | UK, all primary maths | UK, times tables only |
| MTC format | Yes — 6-sec drills | Yes — 6-sec drills |
| Ads | None | None |
| Chat / messaging | None | None |
| Class leaderboards | Yes (opt-in) | Yes |
| Music theme | Rock/pop/synthwave worlds | Rock only |
Which one your child needs
Pick TT Rockstars if your child's school already runs it — the class routine, the shared leaderboard and the teacher's weekly nudges are worth more than any feature difference. Kids who play both often do; there's no problem running them side by side.
Pick MathStar if your school doesn't have TTRS, or you want free access, younger-year coverage (Reception–Y1 which TTRS doesn't cover), or broader maths beyond times tables. MathStar is the only free, UK-curriculum, MTC-format app that a parent can install without going through the school.
Where the two apps overlap
Both use random-order 6-second timed drills — the exact MTC format. Both are ad-free and have no chat. Both use a music-based reward system (garage/studio/gig in TTRS; five 'Music Worlds' in MathStar). Both adapt to which facts a child is slowest on. If you strip out the branding, the practice mechanics are close.
Where they differ
- Access model. TTRS is sold to schools. MathStar is sold to no-one — it's free.
- Age range. MathStar covers Reception to Year 6. TTRS starts at Year 2.
- Scope. TTRS is times-tables focused. MathStar covers times tables plus the wider primary maths curriculum.
- Music aesthetic. TTRS is rock-only. MathStar has Rock, Pop, Synthwave, Jazz and K-Pop worlds — matters more to kids than parents.
- Social features. TTRS has class and inter-school 'Rock Wrangles'. MathStar keeps social features opt-in and class-level only, no public leaderboards.
Can parents buy TT Rockstars at home?
No — and this is the question we get asked most. Times Tables Rock Stars is sold to schools on an annual licence. There is no consumer tier, no family plan and no individual sign-up. If your child's school holds a licence, they'll have a username and a four-digit password and can log in from home at no extra cost. If the school doesn't subscribe, there is no route in as a parent, however much you'd like to pay.
Numbots, from the same publisher, works the same way. A small number of tutoring companies resell access as part of a package, but you're buying the tutoring, not the app.
The pricing reality
| Who pays | MathStar | TT Rockstars |
|---|---|---|
| Parent at home | Free | Not available to buy |
| School | Free | Annual licence, priced per pupil |
| Paywalled learning | None — all content free | None once the school pays |
| In-app purchases | Cosmetic only | None |
Neither app paywalls the actual maths. The difference is who has to pay before a child can start — and for TTRS, that's always the school.
Switching from TT Rockstars to MathStar
Usually this happens for one of three reasons: the child has moved to a school without a licence, a younger sibling is below the Year 2 start line, or the family wants coverage beyond times tables. The switch is straightforward:
- Keep the routine, change the app. If your child already does ten minutes after school, keep that slot. The habit is the valuable part.
- Set the year group honestly. MathStar adapts upward quickly, so start at the child's actual year rather than the one you hope they're at.
- Expect a week of adjustment. The reward loop is different — music worlds and gigs rather than rock status. Most children settle within four or five sessions.
- Don't run both for the same table on the same day. Twenty minutes of drilling one table produces fatigue, not fluency.
Running both
Plenty of families do. TTRS earns the school-side habit (the teacher sets tables, the child logs in during class). MathStar handles home practice, the younger sibling in Year 1, and the days when the school WiFi is down.