Choosing a maths app for kids
Most parents end up comparing a handful of maths apps and learning programs with very similar promises. This checklist is what we would look for as parents, followed by an honest note on where Clarendium meets it today and where it does not yet.
The quickest test of any maths app is to play one level yourself, so there is a free level just below.
Free to try in the browser. No download, no account, no ads.
Eight things to check before you pick a maths app
- No adverts, no loot boxes, no coins to buy. Many free maths games pay for themselves with adverts or in-game shops. Look for an app where the only reward is the next question, so practice time stays practice time.
- Hints that teach, not hints that answer. A good hint shows the next step (“start at 7 and count on 5”) and leaves the last step to your child. An app that reveals the answer after one wrong try teaches tapping, not maths.
- A worked explanation after every answer. Right or wrong, children learn most from seeing why. Check that the app explains the method, not just a green tick or a red cross.
- Short sessions with a clear end. Five to ten minutes a day beats an hour once a week. Apps built around endless streaks and timers can turn practice into stress for younger children.
- A progress view you can read in a minute. You should be able to see which skills your child has practised, what they got right first time and where they needed help, without decoding points and badges.
- One plan for the whole family. With two or three children, per-child pricing adds up. Look for a family plan with a separate profile and separate progress for each child.
- It asks for as little data as possible. A children’s app should not need your child’s name, photo or email. In the UK the Children’s Code (AADC) and in the US COPPA set the rules; the privacy page should say plainly what is collected.
- It matches your child’s year or grade. The same 8-year-old is in Year 4 in England and 3rd grade in the US. A good app lets you pick the level by year or grade, not only by age.
Where Clarendium fits
Clarendium is a small maths learning app for primary-age children, built around short stages and worked answers. Here it is against the same checklist, including the gaps.
| What to check | Clarendium today |
|---|---|
| Adverts and shops | None. No adverts, coins, loot boxes or in-game purchases. |
| Hints | Every question has a hint that gives the method, never the answer. |
| Explanations | A worked explanation after every answer, right or wrong. |
| Session length | Five questions per stage, three stages per world, no timer. |
| Parent progress | A progress page and a parent report on this device. Weekly emails are not built yet. |
| Family plan | Proposed Family membership: up to 4 children, one parent account. Not open yet. |
| Child data | No child accounts; practice is stored in the browser. Parent email only, and only if you join the waitlist. |
| Year or grade | Choose England Year 1–6 or US Kindergarten–5th grade in settings. |
| Topics | Addition, subtraction, multiplication and times tables, fractions. Not yet: division, money, time, shape. |
The four worlds
- Number Grove: addition, from sums within 10 to three-digit totals.
- Subtraction Shores: subtraction, with an adding-back check on every answer.
- Multiply Mountain: multiplication as equal groups and times tables, up to 12 × 12.
- Fraction Falls: naming fractions of shapes, then equivalent fractions.
Two children can also share one device in two-player mode.
Memberships and the parent waitlist
Every world is free to try now. Memberships are not open yet; these are the proposed prices, and no payment is taken here.
| Plan | US price | UK price |
|---|---|---|
| Explorer · 1 child | $9 a month, or $90 a year | £7.99 a month, or £79.90 a year |
| Family · up to 4 children | $15 a month, or $150 a year | £12.99 a month, or £129.90 a year |
Founding families: the first 100 families on the waitlist get 40% off for life when memberships open. Leave a parent or guardian email and we will write once, when memberships open. No ads, and we never ask for a child’s name, email or photo.
Questions parents ask
Is Clarendium an app I download from the App Store or Google Play?
No. Clarendium runs in the web browser on a tablet, phone or computer, so there is nothing to install. On most tablets you can add it to the home screen and it opens full screen like an app.
Which ages and skills does it cover?
Ages 5–11 (US Kindergarten to 5th grade, England Year 1 to Year 6). Today there are four practice worlds, for addition, subtraction, multiplication and fractions, plus the Moonwell story adventure about equivalent fractions. Division, money and time are not covered yet.
Is it free?
Every world is free to try now and progress is saved on your device. Paid memberships are planned but not open yet, so no payment can be taken. Join the parent waitlist to hear when they open.
Does it work as a math drills app?
It is closer to short, guided practice than to timed drills. Each stage is five questions with four answer choices, an optional hint and a worked explanation, and there is no countdown timer.
What data does Clarendium collect about my child?
None that identifies them. There are no child accounts; practice is stored in this browser. The only personal data we keep is a parent’s email if you join the waitlist.
Find your child’s level
- Year 3 maths gamesThe 3, 4 and 8 times tables, three-digit sums and unit fractions.
- Year 4 maths gamesAll the times tables to 12 × 12 and equivalent fractions.
- 2nd grade math gamesAdding and subtracting within 100, equal groups and halves, thirds and fourths.
- 3rd grade math gamesMultiplication facts and a first look at fractions.
- All practice worldsAddition and subtraction games, times tables and fractions.