Why do so many kids hate math? Young toddlers love counting, building, and using other math-related skills, but by the time they reach middle school, many children show indifference or dislike for the subject.
This has manifested as low performance in math, especially in the United States. In a world where we have so many resources to learn at our fingertips, why are children still struggling with mathematics?
The classroom model of education is largely at fault. Think of the last time you were in school. One teacher for 20-30 students. All students are taught at the same pace, at the same time. For a complex subject like mathematics, how are children expected to master these concepts when everyone learns at a different pace?
Before the internet era, this problem was hard to solve. Kids had to be tutored personally if they wanted individual teaching or a personalized learning experience. We defaulted to the classroom model because it was the only reasonable way.
Today, AI and other technologies have made it much easier for personalized learning to happen, especially in a subject like math. With apps and online tools, your kids can get fully customizable (and fun!) math lessons for a fraction of the cost of tutoring.
But how can you start finding the best math apps for your children (or yourself)? There are hundreds of math apps available, but are only a few that rank as the “best” apps for each grade.
That’s why we made a list of our favorites. When picking these math apps, we looked for qualities like:
- Personalization (does the app customize the user experience to help kids master areas of weakness?)
- Fun and interactive interfaces (does the app make learning fun?)
- Reporting capability (can you keep track of your kids’ progress?)
Based on these qualifications, here’s a list of the best math apps for kindergarten, elementary school, middle school, high school, and college.
Best math apps for kindergarten
At kindergarten levels, kids are incredibly curious. So the best math apps for kindergarteners need to fuel that curiosity—not smother it like many classroom-based lessons do! The apps below allow for fun, child-led math lessons that will help your kids seamlessly integrate mathematical concepts into their evolving understanding of the world.
Century
About Century:
Century uses the power of AI to identify gaps in kids’ knowledge and tailor study materials to their personal needs. Not only can your child learn at their own pace … they’ll get tailored, AI-generated feedback on their work as well!
Who’s it for?
Kids ages 3-11
Cost:
Century offers a five-day free trial, then two different family-friendly pricing plans:
- £9.99 ($11.92) / month for 1 kid
- £18.99 ($22.67) / month for up to 5 kids
DoodleMaths
About DoodleMaths:
Using over 40,000 fun games and exercises, Doodle grows with your child as they learn new math skills. While the app is available offline, Doodle also offers an option for online coaching subscriptions.
Who’s it for?
Kids ages 2-8
Cost:
Doodle offers a 7-day free trial, then multiple different payment options:
- Basic plan: Free
- Premium plan: £7.99 ($9.57) per month
- Premium plan (yearly) £69.99 ($83.87) per year
- Premium plan plus coaching: £59 ($70.70) per month
- Premium plan plus coaching (yearly): £708 ($848.43) per year
Dreambox
About Dreambox:
Dreambox tailors interactive lessons to your child’s individual needs. With simple 30-minute lessons, kids will beg to play these games, and parents can keep track of their kids’ progress in a family dashboard.
Who’s it for?
Kids in grades K-8
Cost:
Dreambox offers a 14-day free trial, then numerous pricing plans:
- Individual Plan
- Lifetime subscription: $150 (10 year non-renewing subscription)
- 12 month subscription: $99.95
- 6 month subscription: $59.95
- 1 month subscription: $12.95
- Family Plan
- Lifetime subscription: $225 (10 year non-renewing subscription)
- 12 month subscription: $149.95
- 6 month subscription: $99.95
- 1 month subscription: $19.95
Elephant Learning
About Elephant Learning:
Elephant Learning is an automated math academy for kids 2-16. Using Elephant Learning, students have been proven to learn 1.5 years of math in only 10 weeks! Using gamification and tailored lesson plans, your child will excel in mathematics with only 30 minutes per week.
Who’s it for?
Kids ages 2-16
Cost:
Elephant Learning has several pricing levels:
- Single Student Plan: $50/mo
- Family Plan (up to 3 students): $90/mo
- Classroom Plan: call for pricing
Freckle
About Freckle:
Freckle features adaptive technology that meets each student right where they are. Using Freckle, your child will progress through mathematics concepts at their own pace instead of having to worry about missing concepts in class.
Who’s it for?
Children in Grades K-12
Cost:
Free for classrooms and families
HOMER
About HOMER:
HOMER’s goal is to give kids a love of math at an early age so they can excel quickly in the subject. While HOMER features other subjects as well (like language arts and social-emotional learning) its math curriculum is worth mentioning specifically. Learn about how HOMER adapts to your child’s age here.
Who’s it for?
Kids ages 2-8
Cost:
HOMER offers a 30-day free trial, then several different pricing plans.
- Monthly Plan: $9.99 per month
- Annually Plan: $59.99 per year
- Annual Digital Plan + Hands-On Bundle: $99.99 per year
Imagine Math
About Imagine Learning:
Imagine Learning offers several products based on your child’s age, including, Imagine Learning Illustrative Mathematics, Imagine Math, Imagine Math Facts, and Imagine MyPath. Their curriculum features personalized learning pathways that adapt to your child’s knowledge with them. Learn about Imagine’s Kindergarten solutions here.
Who’s it for?
Children in grades K-12 (covers subjects up to geometry)
Cost:
$20 per student per year
IXL
About IXL:
IXL helps students master essential math concepts at their own pace using adaptive technology and rewards systems.
The Kindergarten levels includes 257 skills like:
- Skip-counting by tens
- Squares
- Subtracting – numbers up to 10
- Making a number using addition – sums up to 5
- Counting on the hundred chart
Who’s it for?
Children in Grades K-12
Cost:
IXL offers several different pricing levels.
- $9.95/mo for a single subject
- More pricing levels if you want to include other subjects
Khan Academy
About Khan Academy:
Khan Academy offers supplementary teaching for any imaginable gap in your kids’ knowledge. The platform also offers interactive practice problems for each skill taught, allowing your children to test their knowledge as much as needed.
Who’s it for?
All ages
Cost:
Free
Mathseeds
About Mathseeds:
Mathseeds has a stated goal of making learning math feel like a game. The rewards-based system and the repeatable lessons mean every child can progress at their own speed. Mathseeds also offers a parent dashboard to showcase your child’s progress.
Who’s it for?
Kids ages 3-9
Cost:
Mathseeds offers a 30-day free trial, then two different pricing plans:
- $9.99/ month
- $69.99/ year
ST Math
About ST Math:
ST Math focuses on a Spatial-Temporal approach to learning math. For kids who are visual learners, this is the best math app. It’s also a great fit for any non-English speakers, since all information is taught visually. Learn more about ST Math’s kindergarten focus here.
Who’s it for?
Kids in grades K-8
Cost:
Free for families
Best math apps for elementary school
By the end of elementary school, the natural curiosity kids are born with has often been crushed – especially when it comes to “boring” subjects like math. Five years of dry worksheets and coerced tests tends to smother any interest that once existed. In addition, many kids never get the chance to fully master concepts that prove to be more difficult for them.
But with these top math apps created for elementary school students, kids can:
- retain the natural curiosity for numbers many lose by the end of elementary school
- learn at a pace that works well for them individually
- get extra practice with math concepts that are tough to master.
Buzzmath
About Buzzmath:
Buzzmath features personalized learning for any students. Any material taught can be delivered audibly, allowing students to both see and hear the information being shared. Every exercise includes hints and can be repeated as many times as needed with different values, meaning they can practice any concept until they’ve fully mastered it.
Who’s it for?
Kids ages 6-16
Cost:
Buzzmath has several pricing levels:
- $20/month
- $40/quarter
- $60/year
Century
About Century:
Century uses the power of AI to identify gaps in kids’ knowledge and tailor study materials to their personal needs. Not only can your child learn at their own pace … they’ll get tailored, AI-generated feedback on their work as well!
Who’s it for?
Kids ages 3-11
Cost:
Century offers a five-day free trial, then two different family-friendly pricing plans:
- £9.99 ($11.92) / month for 1 kid
- £18.99 ($22.67) / month for up to 5 kids
Dreambox
About Dreambox:
Dreambox tailors interactive lessons to your child’s individual needs. With simple 30-minute lessons, kids will beg to play these games, and parents can keep track of their kids’ progress in a family dashboard.
Who’s it for?
Kids in grades K-8
Cost:
Dreambox offers a 14-day free trial, then numerous pricing plans:
- Individual Plan
- Lifetime subscription: $150 (10 year non-renewing subscription)
- 12 month subscription: $99.95
- 6 month subscription: $59.95
- 1 month subscription: $12.95
- Family Plan
- Lifetime subscription: $225 (10 year non-renewing subscription)
- 12 month subscription: $149.95
- 6 month subscription: $99.95
- 1 month subscription: $19.95
Elephant Learning
About Elephant Learning:
Elephant Learning is an automated math academy for kids 2-16. Using Elephant Learning, students have been proven to learn 1.5 years of math in only 10 weeks! Using gamification and tailored lesson plans, your child will excel in mathematics with only 30 minutes per week.
Who’s it for?
Kids ages 2-16
Cost:
Elephant Learning has several pricing levels.
- Single Student Plan: $50/mo
- Family Plan (up to 3 students): $90/mo
- Classroom Plan: call for pricing
Freckle
About Freckle:
Freckle features adaptive technology that meets each student right where they are. Using Freckle, your child will progress through mathematics concepts at their own pace instead of having to worry about missing concepts in class.
Who’s it for?
Kids in grades K-12
Cost:
Free for classrooms and families
Imagine Math
About Imagine Learning:
Imagine Learning offers several products based on your child’s age, including, Imagine Learning Illustrative Mathematics, Imagine Math, Imagine Math Facts, and Imagine MyPath. Their curriculum features personalized learning pathways that adapt to your child’s knowledge with them. Learn about Imagine’s Elementary School solutions here.
Who’s it for?
Kids in grades K-12 (covers subjects up to Geometry)
Cost:
$20 per student per year
IXL
About IXL:
IXL helps students master essential math concepts at their own pace using adaptive technology and rewards systems.
The Elementary levels include skills like:
- Deconstructing fractions into unit fractions
- Multiplication and division
- Model decimals and fractions
- Multi-step word problems
- Fractions
Who’s it for?
Kids in grades K-12
Cost:
IXL offers several different pricing levels.
- $9.95/mo for a single subject
- More pricing levels if you want to include multiple subjects
Khan Academy
About Khan Academy:
Khan Academy offers supplementary teaching for any imaginable gap in your kids’ knowledge. The platform also offers interactive practice problems for each skill taught, allowing your children to test their knowledge as much as needed.
Who’s it for?
All ages
Cost:
Free
Knowre math
About Knowre math:
Knowre offers personalized math for grades 1-12. Knowre’s Walk Me Through technology simulates the one-on-one learning many kids don’t get enough of in the traditional classroom setting!
Who’s it for?
Kids in grades 1-12
Cost:
$20.99/ year per student
Mathseeds
About Mathseeds:
Mathseeds has a stated goal of making learning math feel like a game. The rewards-based system and the repeatable lessons mean every child can progress at their own speed. Mathseeds also offers a parent dashboard to showcase your child’s progress.
Who’s it for?
Kids ages 3-9
Cost:
Mathseeds offers a 30-day free trial, then two different pricing plans:
- 9.99/ month
- 69.99/ year
Prodigy
About Prodigy:
Prodigy allows kids to complete quests and complete daily challenges to help level-up their math skills. Students can build their own unique worlds while mastering math concepts without the stress of tests or school bells.
Who’s it for?
Kids in grades 1-8
Cost:
Prodigy has three different levels of membership:
- Free Basic membership
- $6.25/mo Level Up membership
- $8.33/mo Ultimate membership
ST Math
About ST Math:
ST Math focuses on a Spatial-Temporal approach. For kids who are visual learners, this is the best math app. It’s also a great fit for any non-English speakers, since all information is taught visually. Learn more about ST Math’s elementary focus here.
Who’s it for?
Kids in grades K-8
Cost:
Free for families
Study.com
About Study.com:
Study.com offers instructive courses and individual lessons focusing on hundreds of skills many students don’t master. Whether your child is struggling with fractions, decimals, or geometry, you can find helpful walkthroughs available for any math skill they’d like to learn.
Who’s it for?
Kindergarten through college
Cost:
Study.com has several different payment options:
- Teacher Edition – $59.99 per month
- Basic Plan – $39.99 per month
- Premium Plan – $59.99 per month
White Hat Jr.
About White Hat Jr.:
White Hat Jr. focuses on activity-based learning. While math is not the only subject the platform offers, it is a core focus of the course. With White Hat Jr., students learn to build things using mathematical concepts. The course is fully personalized to each child – something most can’t get in school.
Who’s it for?
Kids in grades 1-8
Cost:
White Hat Jr. Has offers free trials, then several pricing options:
- Create With Math Introductory: $249/ month
- Create With Math Complete: $657/ month
- Create With Math Accelerator: $1989/ month
Best math apps for middle school
Math in middle school is often kids’ least favorite subject. By this point in their education, unless they’re interested in STEM subjects, many of them see math as a chore – not something to enjoy. With this list of the best math apps for middle school, parents and teachers can customize a kid’s math education around their interests and aptitudes, to make math more fun.
ALEKS
About ALEKS:
ALEKS was created to specifically assess where students are struggling and help them master those areas. Based on areas of weakness, the ALEKS program creates a personalized learning pathway for each individual to help strengthen those areas of weakness.
Who’s it for?
Kids in Grades 3-12
Cost:
ALEKS offers a 1-month subscription for $19.95, but you can find special family pricing here.
Albert.io
About Albert.io:
Albert.io focuses on teaching concepts through multiple approaches, allowing each student to master concepts from multiple levels. The platform focuses on teaching the concepts tested by the SAT in a way that every student can implement in their schooling.
Who’s it for?
Kids in grades 5-12
Cost:
Albert.io offers a free trial, then the price is $15/year per student.
Amplify Math (Mathigon)
About Amplify Math:
Mathigon is Amplify’s free math app. This “Mathematical Playground” offers courses, individual lessons, and activities surrounding most math concepts kids will learn in middle-high school. Mathigon also offers an interactive work tool called Polypad that allows students to test math concepts on a real-world graph.
Who’s it for?
Kids in grades 5-12
Cost:
The Mathigon platform is free, but Amplify has paid courses as well for older students.
Buzzmath
About Buzzmath:
Buzzmath features personalized learning for any students. Any material taught can be delivered audibly, allowing students to see AND hear the information being shared. Every exercise includes hints and can be repeated as many times as needed with different values, meaning they can practice any concept until they’ve fully mastered it.
Who’s it for?
Kids ages 6-16
Cost:
Buzzmath has several pricing levels:
- $20/month
- $40/quarter
- $60/year
Byju’s Math
About Byju’s Math:
Byju’s is a self-paced learning app. It’s divided up by learning, practice, challenge, and play modules, each with their own features and benefits. You can download it on the App Store or Google Play.
Who’s it for?
Kids in grades 4-8
Cost:
Free
Carnegie Learning
About Carnegie Learning
Carnegie Learning focuses each lesson on three foundational principles: Engage, Develop, Demonstrate. With three products, Mathia, Mathbook, and Skills Practice, students have all the tools they need to learn mathematical concepts in a way that works best for them.
Who’s it for?
Kids in grades 6-12
Cost:
$44.86 per year per unit
Century
About Century:
Century uses the power of AI to identify gaps in kids’ knowledge and tailor study materials to their personal needs. Not only can your child learn at their own pace… they’ll get tailored feedback on their work as well!
Who’s it for?
Kids ages 3-11
Cost:
Century offers a five-day free trial, then two different family-friendly pricing plans:
- £9.99 ($11.92) / month for 1 kid
- £18.99 ($22.67) / month for up to 5 kids
Dreambox
About Dreambox:
Dreambox tailors interactive lessons to your child’s individual needs. With simple 30-minute lessons, kids will be begging to play these games. But parents can also keep track of their kids’ progress in a family dashboard!
Who’s it for?
Kids in grades K-8
Cost:
Dreambox offers a 14-day free trial, then numerous pricing plans:
- Individual Plan
- Lifetime subscription: $150 (10 year non-renewing subscription)
- 12 month subscription: $99.95
- 6 month subscription: $59.95
- 1 month subscription: $12.95
- Family Plan
- Lifetime subscription: $225 (10 year non-renewing subscription)
- 12 month subscription: $149.95
- 6 month subscription: $99.95
- 1 month subscription: $19.95
Elephant Learning
About Elephant Learning:
Elephant Learning is an automated math academy for kids 2-16. Using Elephant Learning, students have been proven to learn 1.5 years of math in only 10 weeks! Using gamification and tailored lesson plans, your child will excel in mathematics with only 30 minutes per week.
Who’s it for?
Kids ages 2-16
Cost:
Elephant Learning has several pricing levels.
- Single Student Plan: $50/mo
- Family Plan (up to 3 students): $90/mo
- Classroom Plan: call for pricing
Freckle
About Freckle:
Freckle features adaptive technology that meets each student right where they are. Using Freckle, your child will progress through mathematics concepts at their own pace instead of having to worry about missing concepts in class.
Who’s it for?
Kids in grades K-12
Cost:
Free for classrooms and families
Imagine Math
About Imagine Learning:
Imagine Learning offers several products based on your child’s age, including, Imagine Learning Illustrative Mathematics, Imagine Math, Imagine Math Facts, and Imagine MyPath. Their curriculum features personalized learning pathways that adapt to your child’s knowledge with them. Learn about Imagine’s middle school solutions here.
Who’s it for?
Kids in grades K-12 (covers subjects up to Geometry)
Cost:
$20 per student per year
IXL
About IXL:
IXL helps students master essential math concepts at their own pace using adaptive technology and rewards systems.
The middle school levels include skills like:
- Graphing
- Probability
- Adding and subtracting integers
- Pythagorean Theorem
- Who’s it for?
- Kids in grades K-12
Cost:
IXL offers several different pricing levels.
- $9.95/mo for a single subject
- More pricing levels if you want to include other subjects
Khan Academy
About Khan Academy:
Khan Academy offers supplementary teaching for any imaginable gap in your kids’ knowledge. The platform also offers interactive practice problems for each skill taught, allowing your kids to test their knowledge as much as needed.
Who’s it for?
All ages
Cost:
Free
Knowre Math
About Knowre Math:
Knowre offers personalized math for grades 1-12. Knowre’s Walk Me Through technology simulates the one-on-one teaching many kids don’t get enough of in the traditional classroom setting!
Who’s it for?
Kids in grades 1-12
Cost:
$20.99/ year per student
Mangahigh
About Mangahigh:
Mangahigh’s math offers quizzes, games, and even competitions! Using AI software, the app evolves with each child naturally, allowing them to practice skills they’re weaker in.
Who’s it for?
Kids in grades K-12
Cost:
MangaHigh offers a free trial, then several pricing options:
- 1-year subscription: $79 per child
- 6-month subscription: $49 per child
- 3-month subscription: $29 per child
Phet
About Phet:
Phet is a free software out of University of Colorado Boulder. Middle school students can practice math subjects from integers to fractions to basic algebra with fun simulations that teach concepts in a game-like manner.
Who’s it for?
Students from grade 1 through college
Cost:
Free
Prodigy
About Prodigy:
Prodigy allows kids to complete quests and complete daily challenges to help level-up their math skills. Students can build their own unique worlds while mastering math concepts without the stress of tests or school bells.
Who’s it for?
Kids in grades 1-8
Cost:
Prodigy has three different levels of membership:
- Free Basic membership
- $6.25/mo Level Up membership
- $8.33/mo Ultimate membership
ST Math
About ST Math:
ST Math focuses on a Spatial-Temporal approach to learning math. For kids who are visual learners, this is the best math app. It’s also a great fit for any non-English speakers, since all information is taught visually. Learn more about ST Math’s middle school focus here.
Who’s it for?
Kids in Grades K-8
Cost:
Free for families
Study.com
About Study.com:
Study.com offers instructive courses and individual lessons focusing on hundreds of skills many students don’t master. Whether your child is struggling with fractions, decimals, or geometry, you can find helpful walkthroughs available for any math skill they’d like to learn.
Who’s it for?
Kindergarten through college
Cost:
Study.com has several different payment options:
- Teacher Edition – $59.99 per month
- Basic Plan – $39.99 per month
- Premium Plan – $59.99 per month
White Hat Jr.
About White Hat Jr.:
White Hat Jr. focuses on activity-based learning. While math is not the only subject the platform offers, it is a core focus of the course. With White Hat Jr., students learn to build things using mathematical concepts. The course is fully personalized to each child – something most can’t get in school.
Who’s it for?
Kids in grades 1-8
Cost:
White Hat Jr. Has offers free trials, then several pricing options:
- Create With math Introductory: $249/ month
- Create With math Complete: $657/ month
- Create With math Accelerator: $1989/ month
Best math apps for high school
High school traditionally is the time where kids are buried up to their ears in homework. With the overwhelming amount of information thrown at them, it’s no wonder many high school students don’t retain what they learn in school.
Individualized study – using methods like adaptive learning and mastery-based advancement – can shore these gaps and make kids’ learning time more effective. The best math apps for high school are tailored to each student’s individual needs, adapting with them as they overcome knowledge gaps and build out their math skills.
Albert.io
About Albert.io:
Albert.io focuses on teaching concepts through multiple approaches, allowing each student to master concepts from multiple levels. The platform focuses on teaching the concepts tested by the SAT in a way that every student can implement in their schooling.
Who’s it for?
Kids in grades 5-12
Cost:
Albert.io offers a free trial, then the price is $15/year per student.
ALEKS
About ALEKS:
ALEKS was created to specifically assess where students are struggling and help them master those areas. Based on areas of weakness, the ALEKS program creates a personalized learning pathway for each individual to help strengthen those areas of weakness.
Who’s it for?
Kids in grades 3-12
Cost:
ALEKS offers a 1-month subscription for $19.95, but you can find special family pricing here.
Amplify Math (Mathigon)
About Amplify Math:
Mathigon is Amplify’s free math app. This “Mathematical Playground” offers courses, individual lessons, and activities surrounding most math concepts kids will learn in middle/high school. Mathigon also offers an interactive work tool called Polypad that allows students to test math concepts on a real-world graph.
Who’s it for?
Kids in grades 5-12
Cost:
The Mathigon platform is free, but Amplify has paid courses as well for older students.
Carnegie Learning
About Carnegie Learning
Carnegie Learning focuses each lesson on three foundational principles: Engage, Develop, Demonstrate. With three products, Mathia, Mathbook, and Skills Practice, students have all the tools they need to learn mathematical concepts in a way that works best for them.
Who’s it for?
Kids in grades 6-12
Cost:
$44.86 per year per unit
Freckle
About Freckle:
Freckle features adaptive technology that meets each student right where they are. Using Freckle, your child will progress through mathematics concepts at their own pace instead of having to worry about missing concepts in class.
Who’s it for?
Kids in grades K-12
Cost:
Free for classrooms and families
Imagine Math
About Imagine Learning:
Imagine Learning offers several products based on your child’s age, including Imagine Learning, Illustrative Mathematics, Imagine Math, Imagine Math Facts, and Imagine MyPath. Their curriculum features personalized learning pathways that adapt to your child’s knowledge with them. Learn about Imagine’s high school solutions here.
Who’s it for?
Kids in grades K-12 (covers subjects up to Geometry)
Cost:
$20 per student per year
IXL
About IXL:
IXL helps students master essential math concepts at their own pace using adaptive technology and rewards systems.
The high school levels include over 1,000 skills in subjects like:
- Geometry
- Algebra 1
- Algebra 2
- Precalculus
- Calculus
Who’s it for?
Kids in grades K-12
Cost:
IXL offers several different pricing levels.
- $9.95/mo for a single subject
- More pricing levels if you want to include other subjects
Khan Academy
About Khan Academy:
Khan Academy offers supplementary teaching for any imaginable gap in your kids’ knowledge. The platform also offers interactive practice problems for each skill taught, allowing your high school students to test their knowledge as much as needed.
Who’s it for?
All ages
Cost:
Free
Knowre Math
About Knowre Math:
Knowre offers personalized math for grades 1-12. Knowre’s Walk Me Through technology simulates the one-on-one teaching many kids don’t get enough of in the traditional classroom setting!
Who’s it for?
Kids in grades 1-12
Cost:
$20.99/ year per student
Phet
About Phet:
Phet is a free software out of University of Colorado Boulder. High school students can practice math skills like vector addition, projectile motion, and curve fitting using this interactive tool.
Who’s it for?
Students from grade 1 through college
Cost:
Free
Study.com
About Study.com:
Study.com offers instructive courses and individual lessons focusing on hundreds of skills many students don’t master. Whether your child is struggling with fractions, decimals, or geometry, you can find helpful walkthroughs available for any math skill they’d like to learn.
Who’s it for?
Kindergarten through college
Cost:
Study.com has several different payment options:
- Teacher Edition – $59.99 per month
- Basic Plan – $39.99 per month
- Premium Plan – $59.99 per month
Best math apps for college students
Even at the adult level, our brains don’t learn best in a classroom setting. The best math apps for college students are going to look and feel different from the ones for kindergarten or middle school students, but the underlying concepts are the same – teaching math through an adaptive, mastery-based approach that can help us learn and retain more effectively.
Carnegie Learning
About Carnegie Learning
Carnegie Learning focuses each lesson on three foundational principles: Engage, Develop, Demonstrate. MathiaU is Carnegie Learning’s product focused on math for college-level students.
Who’s it for?
College Students
Cost:
$44.86 per year per unit
Knewton (Alta)
About Knewton:
Knewton is an integrated, adaptive courseware designed to be a personalized learning experience for each individual student. As an adult, it can be hard to know where your weak points are – not anymore! Knewton can help you find and target those weak areas with courses in Algebra, Calculus, Trigonometry, and more.
Who’s it for?
College students
Cost:
Access multiple Alta courses (including math) for only $79.95.
Khan Academy
About Khan Academy:
Khan Academy offers supplementary teaching for any imaginable gap in your kids’ knowledge. The platform also offers interactive practice problems for each skill taught, allowing college students to test their knowledge as much as needed.
Who’s it for?
All ages
Cost:
Free
Phet
About Phet:
Phet is a free software out of University of Colorado Boulder. College students can practice advanced math subjects like vector addition, projectile motion, and curve fitting using this interactive tool.
Who’s it for?
Students from grade 1 through college
Cost:
Free
Study.com
About Study.com:
Study.com offers instructive courses and individual lessons focusing on hundreds of skills many students don’t master. Whether your child is struggling with fractions, decimals, or geometry, you can find helpful walkthroughs available for any math skill they’d like to learn.
Who’s it for?
Kindergarten through college
Cost:
Study.com has several different payment options:
- Teacher Edition – $59.99 per month
- Basic Plan – $39.99 per month
- Premium Plan – $59.99 per month
Conclusion
Whether your kid is a 3-year-old just venturing into the world of math, a high school freshman, or a senior in college, the classroom model for learning often leaves students with gaps in their knowledge that can prove difficult to overcome later on.
Math apps give you the ability to shore these gaps and learn effectively, whether you’re supplementing an in-classroom math education, or learning math entirely from an app-based approach and without teachers at all (with an at-home unschooling approach, or like Alpha School does as part of their curriculum).
Technology allows you to give a customized math education to your kids, without having to hire a tutor – and the large number of math apps mean you can find the tool that’s the best fit for each individual child
The future of learning is here. Whether you’re honing your own math skills or helping your kid level up their mathematics understanding, math apps can help you reach those goals faster and easier than ever before.