Best Times Table App in the UK (2026)
With dozens of times table apps on the market, UK parents need one that is genuinely aligned to the English national curriculum — and that actually prepares children for the Year 4 Multiplication Tables Check (MTC). This guide compares the top options and explains why SpeedSum stands out for UK families.
SpeedSum is free, ad-free, requires no download, and is built specifically for children following the KS1 and KS2 curriculum.
What UK Parents Should Look for in a Times Table App
Not all times table apps are created equal — and many are designed for the US or Australian curriculum, which differs meaningfully from England's national curriculum. UK parents should look for apps that:
Cover all 12 times tables (1× through 12×) as required by the KS2 curriculum
Include the 6×, 7×, 8×, 9×, 11×, and 12× tables — the ones children find hardest
Prepare children for the Year 4 Multiplication Tables Check (25 questions, timed)
Align difficulty to school year groups (Year 2 through Year 6)
Are free or affordable for families — not just available via school licences
Work on the devices families actually own (tablets, phones, Chromebooks)
Are ad-free and safe for children to use independently
SpeedSum meets all of these criteria. Below, we compare it against the most commonly recommended alternatives for UK primary school children.
Times Table App Comparison: UK 2026
Comparison based on publicly available information as of April 2026.
| Feature | SpeedSum | TTRS | Mathletics | Squeebles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free for families | ✅ Full free tier | ❌ School licence | ❌ Paid only | ⚠️ One-off purchase |
| No ads | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| UK curriculum (KS1 & KS2) | ✅ Explicit alignment | ⚠️ Times tables only | ✅ | ⚠️ Times tables only |
| MTC preparation | ✅ Speed + targeted tables | ✅ Core focus | ⚠️ Indirect | ⚠️ Basic |
| All 12 times tables | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Multiple game modes | ✅ 5 modes | ⚠️ Speed only | ✅ | ✅ Several |
| Parent progress dashboard | ✅ | ⚠️ Via school | ✅ | ❌ |
| Parent coach / missions | ✅ AI-assisted | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Per-fact heatmap | ✅ Premium | ⚠️ Per-table only | ❌ | ❌ |
| No download required | ✅ Browser-based | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ App download |
| Division & mixed ops | ✅ | ⚠️ Addition for speed | ✅ | ⚠️ Limited |
| Monthly family cost | £0 / low-cost Premium | School only | ~£8–10/mo | ~£2–4 one-off |
TTRS = Times Tables Rock Stars. Features and pricing may vary — always check the provider's current website.
The Multiplication Tables Check: What UK Parents Need to Know
The Multiplication Tables Check (MTC) is a statutory assessment taken by all Year 4 pupils in England, usually in June. Children answer 25 multiplication questions (selected from the 2× to 12× range) with 6 seconds per question and 3 seconds between questions. The check is online and lasts approximately 5 minutes.
SpeedSum is one of the most effective home-practice tools for MTC preparation because it develops the two things the check measures: speed and accuracy. The 90 Second Challenge trains children to recall facts quickly under light time pressure — exactly the skill the MTC demands.
SpeedSum sessions regularly exceed 25 questions, building stamina
SpeedSum's speed challenges build sub-6-second recall naturally
SpeedSum covers the full range with targeted table selection
Parents can use Coach Mode to set targeted missions on the specific tables that show up most in the MTC — typically the 6×, 7×, 8×, and 9× tables, which children find hardest. See the Year 4 maths practice guide for a week-by-week MTC preparation strategy.
Why UK Families Choose SpeedSum
Genuinely Free
Unlike TTRS (which requires a school subscription) or Mathletics (which charges per family), SpeedSum's free tier gives full access to all game modes. No credit card required to start.
Built for the UK Curriculum
Difficulty levels map directly to Year 2, Year 3/4, and Year 5/6. Content aligns to KS1 and KS2 targets, including the Year 4 MTC expectations.
More Than Just Times Tables
SpeedSum also covers addition, subtraction, and division, making it a comprehensive mental arithmetic app — not just a multiplication speed tool.
Parent Coach Mode
Set personalised missions for your child — specific tables, target scores, custom rewards. No other free app offers this level of parent involvement. See how it works.
Times Table Mastery Heatmap Premium
A colour-coded 12×12 grid shows every multiplication fact colour-coded by accuracy — green (mastered), amber (developing), red (needs work). No other consumer app offers this level of per-fact insight.
Safe & Ad-Free
No adverts, no third-party links for children, no in-app purchases on the free tier. Designed to be safe for children to use independently.
What UK Parents Are Saying
"SpeedSum was the best free app I found after trying several. TTRS was only available through school, and the others either had ads or charged a monthly fee. SpeedSum just works — my son uses it every morning."
"My daughter sat the MTC in June and got 24 out of 25. We used SpeedSum almost every day for the two months before it — the timed format really helped with the speed."
"As a primary teacher I recommend SpeedSum to parents who want a home-practice option that mirrors what we do in school. The curriculum alignment is spot on."
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best times table app in the UK?
SpeedSum is one of the highest-rated free times table apps for UK primary school children. It is built around the English national curriculum, covers all tables from 1× to 12×, and includes features specifically designed to help children prepare for the Year 4 Multiplication Tables Check (MTC). It is free to use, ad-free, and requires no download.
Is SpeedSum aligned to the UK national curriculum?
Yes. SpeedSum covers multiplication and division from Year 2 through Year 6, matching the KS1 and KS2 national curriculum requirements. The Beginner level targets Year 2 tables (2, 5, 10), Intermediate covers Year 3 and Year 4 tables, and Expert includes the full 12×12 grid with mixed operations relevant to KS2 SATs.
How does SpeedSum help with the Multiplication Tables Check?
The Year 4 MTC tests all tables from 2× to 12×, with 25 questions answered in 25 seconds each (6 seconds per question). SpeedSum's 90 Second Challenge develops the rapid recall speed the MTC demands. The Times Table Tower mode lets children focus on specific tables, and the Parent Coach Mode allows parents to set targeted missions on the tables their child finds hardest.
Is Times Tables Rock Stars better than SpeedSum?
Times Tables Rock Stars (TTRS) is a popular school-based platform focused entirely on multiplication speed. SpeedSum differs in several key ways: it is free for families (TTRS requires a school licence), it covers all four arithmetic operations alongside times tables, it includes a parent coach feature, and it offers a Times Table Mastery Heatmap showing per-fact accuracy. For home use, SpeedSum is typically the more accessible and feature-rich choice.
Can I use SpeedSum for free in the UK?
Yes. SpeedSum has a full free tier with no adverts and no in-app purchases. Parents create a free account online — no download required — and add their children. A Premium plan adds the Times Table Mastery Heatmap, full analytics, and unlimited coach missions.
Try the UK's best free times table app today
Free to start. No download. No ads. Curriculum-aligned for KS1 and KS2. Join thousands of UK families building times table fluency with SpeedSum.
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