12 Math Apps for Students in 2026: Free and Paid Options

Choose a math app for the skill you need today. Khan Academy is a useful free starting point for lessons and practice; Desmos and GeoGebra help with graphs and visual models; Photomath and Mathway can help you examine a solution after you try a problem yourself. For younger children, compare the arithmetic and game options with the child’s current skills.

This guide compares 12 options by learner task and current provider information. It is not a hands-on benchmark or a ranking of learning results. Features, free limits and subscription offers can change by platform and region; check the linked provider before paying.

Which math app fits your learning need?

• A lesson and practice on the same skill: start with Khan Academy. Compare IXL when a school or family wants a paid practice membership.
• Graphs, functions or geometry: use Desmos for graphing and GeoGebra for graphing plus geometric constructions.
• A worked solution to check: compare Photomath, Mathway and Wolfram|Alpha. Write your own attempt first.
• Interactive puzzles and concepts: explore Brilliant or an age-appropriate DragonBox app.
• Arithmetic practice through a game: compare MathHero, Prodigy Math and the Math course inside Duolingo.

Math apps for middle school students

For grades 6–8, choose by the topic rather than the game’s appearance. A student struggling with fraction operations needs practice with those operations; a student learning linear relationships needs tables, equations and graphs. Start with a lesson-and-practice resource such as Khan Academy. Add Desmos when graphing is part of the assignment, or try Brilliant if the student is ready for its interactive pre-algebra work.

Prodigy Math includes grades 1–8, so check the assigned grade and skill. DragonBox Algebra 12+ is a different product from DragonBox Numbers and Algebra 5+. MathHero’s main arithmetic audience is younger, ages 5–10; it is not a general middle-school course.

12 math apps and tools to compare

Khan Academy

Useful for: lessons and practice. Khan Academy offers a free learning app with exercises, videos and progress synced with the web. It is a practical first option when you need an explanation followed by practice.

Free or paid? Free learning app.

Before choosing: Choose a course and skill that match the class. Khan Academy Kids is a separate early-learning app; do not confuse its age range with the main app. See Khan Academy’s current features and access details.

Photomath

Useful for: examining solution steps. Photomath reads a photographed math problem and provides step-by-step explanations. Basic steps are free; the paid Plus option adds features such as extra tips and visual learning aids.

Free or paid? Free basic steps; optional paid features.

Before choosing: Compare the scanned expression with the original, especially fractions, exponents and negative signs. Then explain one step in your own words and solve a similar problem without the app. See Photomath’s current features and access details.

Brilliant

Useful for: interactive concept work. Brilliant uses interactive problems and visual models. Its main curriculum starts with fractions, decimals and early pre-algebra; the provider emphasizes arithmetic readiness rather than a fixed age alone.

Free or paid? Limited free access; Premium expands access. Check the current offer.

Before choosing: Compare the course catalog with your syllabus. These courses are not a one-to-one copy of every school curriculum or exam. See Brilliant’s current features and access details.

IXL

Useful for: practice matched to school skills. IXL offers pre-K–12 learning memberships for families, classrooms and schools. It is an option to compare when you want organized skill practice alongside schoolwork.

Free or paid? Membership options vary; check current practice limits and plan details.

Before choosing: Check the relevant grade, subject and local curriculum before choosing a plan. Ask whether the school already provides access. See IXL’s current features and access details.

DragonBox Numbers and Algebra

Useful for: play-based number and algebra exploration. DragonBox is a family of apps, not a single course. Numbers, Algebra 5+ and Algebra 12+ serve different starting points. Choose the particular app by its described skills and recommended age.

Free or paid? Purchase and subscription options depend on the app, store and plan.

Before choosing: Connect the game actions to written math. An equation game should help a learner explain the same operation on paper. See DragonBox Numbers and Algebra’s current features and access details.

MathHero

Useful for: elementary arithmetic fluency. MathHero describes story-driven arithmetic practice primarily for ages 5–10. Its coverage includes addition and subtraction through larger numbers, multiplication tables and division facts. Parents can choose topics and difficulty, and multiple player profiles are supported.

Free or paid? Free version with limits; optional premium access. Exact offers vary by platform and region.

Before choosing: Match the operation to a real practice need. Do not treat arithmetic coverage as a full fractions, geometry or algebra course. See MathHero’s current features and access details.

Prodigy Math

Useful for: game-based practice for grades 1–8. Prodigy Math combines a game environment with math questions for grades 1–8. Its educational math content is available free, with optional paid membership features.

Free or paid? Free educational content; optional paid extras.

Before choosing: Check which skill the student is practicing and whether they can explain an answer outside the game. Engagement alone does not show mastery. See Prodigy Math’s current features and access details.

GeoGebra

Useful for: geometry and several kinds of mathematical models. GeoGebra offers free calculator apps. Calculator Suite brings together graphing, geometry, 3D, computer algebra and probability tools. It suits a guided task such as constructing a triangle or exploring a function.

Free or paid? Free calculator apps.

Before choosing: Start with one question: for example, what changes when a triangle’s vertex moves? An open tool needs a mathematical goal. See GeoGebra’s current features and access details.

Desmos

Useful for: exploring graphs and functions. The free Desmos Graphing Calculator lets you enter expressions and inspect their graphs. It is useful for comparing a table, an equation and a graph during algebra practice.

Free or paid? Free graphing calculator; saving work uses an account.

Before choosing: Use the graph to check reasoning, then explain the relationship. For an exam, follow that exam’s current calculator rules and practice with its specified version. See Desmos’s current features and access details.

Wolfram|Alpha

Useful for: checking computations and exploring results. Wolfram|Alpha accepts mathematical input and returns computed results. Its plan comparison separates free Basic access from Pro features, including step-by-step solutions.

Free or paid? Free Basic; paid Pro features. Check billing period and current price.

Before choosing: Check how the input was interpreted. A correct result for a different expression will not check your work. See Wolfram|Alpha’s current features and access details.

Mathway

Useful for: a typed or photographed problem check. Mathway offers tools across algebra and other math subjects. Its current provider page advertises free step-by-step solutions and says an optional subscription unlocks fuller work within steps.

Free or paid? Free and optional subscription access; depth of work shown can differ.

Before choosing: Check what the free path shows for your actual problem before subscribing. Provider descriptions do not establish that every problem or explanation is available without payment. See Mathway’s current features and access details.

Math in Duolingo

Useful for: short practice within an existing app habit. Math is inside the main Duolingo app alongside its other subjects. It is not currently a separate standalone Math app. The provider has expanded the course beyond its earlier arithmetic focus.

Free or paid? Free app access with optional paid plans; check current device and course availability.

Before choosing: Look at the current course path and available topics on your device. A short daily lesson can support practice without matching every requirement of a school course. See Math in Duolingo’s current features and access details.

Turn app practice into independent work

Pick one skill and attempt a few problems before opening a solver. If you get stuck, read the explanation, close it, and try the problem again. Finish with a different problem on the same skill. This gives you a practical check of what you can do without prompts.

For fractions, ratios and early equations, use the Pre-Algebra Online Center to find a matching review path. For equations, functions and graphs, continue in the Algebra 1 Online Center. Choose the lesson or practice resource for the skill you just worked on rather than switching to an unrelated topic.

You can also browse the math topic guides for a written explanation. If you later need a book, compare its contents and available preview with the course you are studying before buying.

What to check before paying for a math app

Try a topic you actually need, on the device you will use. Check the subscription period, renewal terms, free limits and cancellation instructions. For a child, review the account and privacy settings with a parent or guardian. If schoolwork is involved, follow the teacher’s rules about calculators and solution tools.

Start with one main learning resource. Add a graphing or solution-checking tool only when it serves a clear purpose. Keep the option that helps you explain and solve the next problem independently.