The Best Maths App for Kids in 2026
Looking for the best maths app to help your child gain confidence and speed with mental arithmetic? SpeedSum is a free, fun, and effective way to improve addition, subtraction, multiplication, and times tables — built specifically for UK primary school children aged 5–11.
Whether you are a parent, teacher, or tutor, SpeedSum supports daily practice with just 5–10 minutes a day. No downloads, no adverts, and no in-app purchases.
Key Features
Adaptive Challenges & AI Feedback
Questions adjust to your child's level. After each session, AI-generated feedback highlights strengths and suggests where to focus next — helping parents guide learning without needing to be a maths expert.
Five Engaging Game Modes
From the 90 Second Challenge to the Times Table Tower, each mode targets different maths skills and difficulty levels. See all SpeedSum game modes.
Speed & Accuracy
Timed challenges develop rapid recall of number facts — the foundation for mental arithmetic at every level. Most sessions take under two minutes, making it easy to fit into a daily routine.
Parent Progress Tracking
Each child has a dedicated dashboard. Parents can monitor session history, accuracy by operation, streak records, and badges earned — all from their own account.
Times Table Mastery Heatmap Premium
A colour-coded 12×12 grid shows exactly which multiplication facts your child has mastered (green, 90%+ accuracy), which are developing (amber, 60–89%), and which need urgent attention (red, below 60%) — all based on their real practice data. Tap any cell for a full accuracy breakdown and a one-tap shortcut to practise that exact fact.
Badges, Avatars & Rewards
Children unlock badges, customise their avatar, and earn streak shields. The reward system is designed to build intrinsic motivation — kids want to come back each day to maintain their streak.
Parent Coach Mode
Set personalised missions for your child — specific game modes, target scores, and custom rewards. Powered by AI suggestions based on your child's recent performance. See how it works.
Safe & Ad-Free
SpeedSum contains no adverts, no third-party links for children, and no in-app purchases. It is designed to be a safe, distraction-free environment for young learners.
No Download Required
SpeedSum runs in any modern browser on desktop, tablet, or mobile. There is nothing to install — just visit the website and start practising straight away.
Why SpeedSum Builds Real Maths Confidence
Research consistently shows that fluency in basic number facts — knowing that 7 × 8 = 56 without having to work it out — frees up working memory for more complex maths problems. Children who practise mental arithmetic regularly arrive at secondary school with a significant advantage in algebra, fractions, and problem-solving.
SpeedSum is built around this principle. The 90-second challenge format creates the mild time pressure that research suggests accelerates fact retrieval. The AI difficulty adjustment ensures children are always working at the edge of their ability — not bored, not overwhelmed. And the game mechanics (streaks, badges, avatars) provide the extrinsic motivation to show up consistently until the habit forms.
Used for just 5–10 minutes a day, most children show measurable improvement in speed and accuracy within two to three weeks.
See Exactly What Your Child Knows — the Times Table Mastery Heatmap
Most maths apps tell you your child got 78% overall — but not which facts are holding them back. SpeedSum Premium solves this with the Times Table Mastery Heatmap: a full 12×12 grid of every multiplication fact, colour-coded by your child's actual accuracy across all their recorded practice sessions.
Facts your child answers quickly and correctly. No extra focus needed.
Facts your child knows but hasn't fully automated yet — a few more sessions will seal it.
Facts where accuracy is low — these are the exact gaps to target in your next Coach Mode mission.
Tap any cell to see a detailed breakdown: total attempts, correct answers, and an accuracy bar. A Download PDF button gives you a snapshot of the grid that you can use to support your child where it will help the most — turning insight into action in one tap.
This level of granular, fact-by-fact insight is only available in SpeedSum Premium and puts parents in a position to have genuinely informed conversations with their child's teacher about exactly where support is needed.
How SpeedSum Compares
There are dozens of maths apps on the market. Here is how SpeedSum stacks up against the most commonly recommended alternatives for UK primary school children.
| Feature | SpeedSum | Mathletics | Times Tables Rock Stars | Prodigy Math |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free to use | ✅ Full free tier | ❌ Paid only | ❌ Paid only | ✅ Limited free |
| No ads | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ⚠️ Upsell prompts |
| No in-app purchases | ✅ | N/A | N/A | ❌ In-game purchases |
| UK curriculum (KS1 & KS2) | ✅ Explicit alignment | ✅ | ⚠️ Times tables only | ⚠️ US-focused |
| Parent progress dashboard | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ⚠️ Limited free |
| Parent coach / missions | ✅ AI-assisted | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Multiple game modes | ✅ 5 modes | ⚠️ Worksheets + games | ⚠️ Rock-based only | ✅ RPG game |
| No download needed | ✅ Browser-based | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| AI performance feedback | ✅ Premium | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Per-fact times table heatmap | ✅ Premium | ❌ | ⚠️ Per-table only | ❌ |
| Monthly cost (per family) | £0 free / low-cost premium | ~£8–10/mo | School licence | £0 / ~£5/mo |
Comparison based on publicly available information as of April 2026. Pricing and features may vary.
Who Is SpeedSum For?
Parents who want daily maths practice
If your child needs to build times tables fluency or mental arithmetic speed before SATs, SpeedSum gives you a structured daily habit with visible progress — without requiring you to run the sessions yourself.
Parents worried about screen time quality
SpeedSum sessions last 90 seconds. No open-ended play, no rabbit holes, no social features. You can set a challenge via Coach Mode and the app does the rest.
Children who find maths stressful
The game-based format removes the stigma of getting a question wrong. Incorrect answers are shown immediately with the right answer — creating a low-stakes learning loop rather than a test environment.
KS2 children preparing for SATs
SpeedSum's Expert difficulty covers the full 12×12 times table grid and mixed operations needed for Year 6 SATs. The Missing Piece mode specifically builds the inverse-operation thinking assessed at KS2.
What Parents Are Saying
"We tried several apps, but SpeedSum is the best maths app we have found — no ads, just really helpful practice. My daughter went from dreading her times tables to asking to play."
"My son loves earning badges in SpeedSum. He now beats me at times tables! The Parent Coach Mode is brilliant — I can set him specific challenges and track how he is doing."
"As a primary school teacher I recommend SpeedSum to parents for home practice. It is genuinely curriculum-aligned and the children actually want to use it."
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best free maths app for kids in the UK?
SpeedSum is a leading free maths app for UK primary school children aged 5 to 11. It covers all the core arithmetic operations — addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division — in a fun, game-based format that matches KS1 and KS2 curriculum targets. There are no adverts, no in-app purchases, and no downloads required. Parents simply create a free account and add up to five children, each with their own progress dashboard and avatar.
How can I help my child improve their mental maths?
Short, regular practice is far more effective than long occasional sessions. SpeedSum is designed around this — most sessions take just 90 seconds to 2 minutes. The timed challenges build recall speed, while the variety of game modes (including the Missing Piece and Times Table Tower) target different arithmetic skills. The Parent Coach Mode lets you set personalised missions with goals and rewards, which helps children stay motivated and focused on the areas they find hardest.
Is SpeedSum suitable for KS1 and KS2 children?
Yes. SpeedSum covers maths skills from Year 1 through to Year 6. The beginner difficulty level is ideal for KS1 learners working on simple addition and subtraction, while intermediate and expert levels challenge KS2 pupils with more complex multiplication, division, and times tables up to 12×12. You can also target specific times tables (such as 6×, 7×, and 8×) to align practice with what your child is currently studying at school.
Does SpeedSum work without an internet connection?
SpeedSum is a web-based app that runs in any modern browser on desktop, tablet, or mobile. It requires an internet connection to load, save progress, and access your child's dashboard. There is no native app to download — just visit speedsum.co.uk and log in.
What makes SpeedSum different from other maths apps?
SpeedSum combines structured curriculum practice with genuine game mechanics that children enjoy. Unlike apps that are just digital worksheets, SpeedSum uses timed challenges, badge systems, personalised avatars, streaks, and a Parent Coach Mode powered by AI to make daily practice feel rewarding. It is also completely ad-free on the free tier, which means children stay focused without distractions.
Ready to try the best maths app for your child?
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