Your child may already know IXL from school. It has a huge library of skills for every grade, and many families like it at home too. Others look for something different: a free option, shorter sessions, or something a young child can start without a parent choosing the skill. You're not choosing a "better" program, just the one that fits your child and your week.
A quick note: we make Bobby's Math Club, and we've done our best to be fair. Prices, plans and grades are as each program described them at the time of writing (October 2026), and they change, so check with each program. We don't have outcome numbers for any of these programs, including ours, so this guide doesn't compare "success rates."
The alternatives at a glance
| Program | What it is | Cost | Good fit if |
|---|---|---|---|
| IXL (for comparison) | Skill practice from a large, school-aligned library, Pre-K to 12th grade | A few free questions a day; family memberships from about $10 a month | You want to practice exactly what's on the school worksheet |
| Khan Academy | Video lessons and practice, from kindergarten up | Free | Your child learns well from a video, and can work on their own |
| Khan Academy Kids | An app of stories, games and activities for ages 2 to 8 | Free | Your child is in preschool or the early grades |
| Zearn | Video lessons and practice that follow a curriculum, K to 8th grade | Free for families | You'd like lessons that teach a topic step by step |
| Prodigy | Math questions inside a fantasy video game, 1st to 8th grade | Free to play; optional memberships | Your child loves video games |
| ⭐ Bobby's Math Club | Short practice at just the right level, read aloud, with hints | Unlimited practice is free | You want a calm five-minute habit for PK-5 |
How to choose
Start with what you'd like to change. These questions usually settle it.
- What does your child need most right now? A topic explained again: a video lesson. Steady practice of what they know: short sessions at their level. A reason to want to do math: a game.
- Who chooses what to practice? Some programs ask a parent to pick each skill. Others let your child open it and start, at a level that fits them.
- Is your child still learning to read? Look for questions read aloud, so the math is the only hard part.
- What can your week hold? Short, regular practice usually beats one long session, so a few minutes several times a week is plenty.
If your child needs a topic explained: free video lessons
Sometimes a child isn't stuck on practice. They're stuck on the idea. A short video can show it another way. Khan Academy is a nonprofit with free lessons and practice from kindergarten up, and its separate app, Khan Academy Kids, is free for ages 2 to 8. Zearn is also a nonprofit, and its lessons follow a set order, with a teacher on screen and practice after each one. It's free for families with an individual account.
If your child loves games: practice inside a game
Prodigy puts math questions inside a fantasy adventure for 1st to 8th grade. Children answer questions to win battles, and a child who loves games often asks to play. The core game is free, with optional paid memberships. If your child already plays it, read Prodigy vs. Bobby's Math Club for how a few calm minutes can sit beside it.
If you want a short, calm habit: five minutes at the right level
I built Bobby's Math Club for young children and busy parents, and I use it with my own kids every week. Your child just opens it and starts, at a level that fits them, so there's no skill to pick. Every question is read aloud, hints are a tap away, and a mistake comes with a short, kind explanation. You get plain-English progress emails. Unlimited practice is free, and if you'd like paper too, Paper Practice prints a sheet made for your child.
I recommend 5 minutes of practice a day. It doesn't have to be every single day: a few five-minute sessions a week is great too. It's made for PK-5, and it's short practice, not a tutor or a full course. For a closer look, read IXL vs. Bobby's Math Club.
Using more than one
You don't have to give up IXL, or pick just one thing. If your child uses IXL at school, a few minutes of something different at home can keep practice fresh. Many families pair a video lesson, when a topic is new, with a few minutes of practice so it sticks. And the best free math practice programs, ranked compares the free options in more detail.
Questions parents ask
What is the best free alternative to IXL?
It depends on what your child needs. Bobby's Math Club offers unlimited free practice for Pre-K through 5th grade, at just the right level and read aloud. Khan Academy and Zearn offer free video lessons with practice, and Prodigy is a free-to-play math game.
Is IXL free?
IXL lets children try a limited number of questions a day for free. Full practice needs a membership, and IXL's family plans started at about $10 a month at the time of writing.
Is there a free alternative to IXL for kindergarten?
Yes. Khan Academy Kids is free for ages 2 to 8, and Bobby's Math Club starts at Pre-K and reads every question aloud, so your child doesn't need to read yet. Zearn's free lessons start at kindergarten.
Is Khan Academy as good as IXL?
They do different jobs. Khan Academy is strongest for free video lessons that explain a topic. IXL is a large library of practice skills. Many families use a video when an idea is new, and practice afterward.
Can my child use IXL at school and something else at home?
Yes. A few minutes of Bobby's Math Club at home sits easily beside whatever your child's school uses. Learn more about practicing what they're learning in class →
Which IXL alternative has the best results?
We don't know, and we'd be wary of anyone who says they do. We don't have outcome numbers for these programs, including our own. The best check is your child: whether they're doing it, and whether math is getting a little easier.
How much math practice does my child need?
I recommend about 5 minutes a day. It doesn't have to be every single day: a few five-minute sessions a week is great too. Learn more about how often to practice →
IXL, Khan Academy, Khan Academy Kids, Zearn and Prodigy are trademarks of their respective owners. Bobby's Math Club is not affiliated with or endorsed by any of them.