Bobby's Math Club

IXL vs. Bobby's Math Club

Your child may already know IXL from school. Here's how it compares with free, unlimited practice at home, and which fits your child.

By , math teacher, parent, and founder of Bobby's Math Club

Your child may already know IXL from school: it has thousands of skills matched to every grade, and many families use it at home too.

Here's how it compares with Bobby's Math Club, made for young kids and busy parents.

A quick note: we make Bobby's Math Club, and we've done our best to be fair. Prices and plans are as of October 2026, so check IXL for current details.

How they compare, at a glance

Feature IXL ⭐ Bobby's Math Club
💰 What you'll pay~$10–$20/mo for families; a limited number of free questions a day without a membershipFree: unlimited practice
⏱️ Time it takesFlexible; sessions often run 15–30 minutesAbout 5 minutes a day, at home
📚 What your child doesPractices one chosen skill at a time from a large, grade-by-grade libraryShort practice at just the right level, with every question read aloud, hints a tap away and a kind explanation after mistakes
👪 What it asks of youParents often choose which skills to practice; detailed reports are availableA few minutes a day; plain-English progress emails come to you
😊 What keeps kids goingVirtual awards and certificatesBadges, celebrations and level-ups (moving up a level as they get stronger), with no timer
🎯 GradesPre-K through 12th gradePK-5

Where IXL shines

IXL offers thousands of skills organized by grade and matched to state standards, so it lines up closely with school. When a child misses a question, IXL shows a worked explanation, and parents can see detailed reports. Studying worked-out solutions alongside practice is one of the U.S. Department of Education's research-backed recommendations for learning.

What it does well

  • Huge, standards-aligned skill library
  • Worked explanations after wrong answers
  • Detailed reports for parents
  • Covers Pre-K through 12th grade

Good to know

  • Full practice needs a membership
  • Parents usually choose which skills to practice
  • Sessions often run 15–30 minutes
  • Many schools use it, so it may already be familiar

What your child gets with Bobby's Math Club

I built Bobby's Math Club, and I use it with my own kids every week. It's made so young kids can practice several times a week and feel good doing it.

A 2nd grade practice question in Bobby's Math Club after a wrong answer: “Amara's family drives 34 miles to a lake. Then they drive 28 miles to a farm. How many miles do they drive in all?” The tapped answer, 52, is crossed out, and a purple hint card below reads “4 ones and 8 ones make more than 10, so you get 1 more ten. Try again. Add the miles to the lake and the miles to the farm, ones first.”
After a wrong answer, a short hint explains the mistake, and your child tries again.

What it does well

  • About 5 minutes a day, at home, at just the right level for your child
  • Every question read aloud, with hints a tap away
  • No timer, and "I don't know yet" is always an OK answer
  • Badges and celebrations, plus plain-English progress emails for you
  • Unlimited practice, free forever

Good to know

  • It's short practice, not a tutor or a full course
  • Made for PK-5
  • Practice happens on a phone, tablet or computer, with printable worksheets too

Which fits your family?

  • "I want to practice exactly what's on the school worksheet." → IXL.
  • "My child gets upset when they get answers wrong." → Bobby's Math Club: mistakes come with a short, kind explanation, and "I don't know yet" is always an OK answer.
  • "I don't have time to pick skills." → Bobby's Math Club: your child just opens it and starts.
  • "We're watching the budget." → Bobby's Math Club: unlimited practice is free.

You don't have to choose just one. If your child uses IXL at school, a few minutes of Bobby's Math Club at home is a calm, free way to keep practicing.

Questions parents ask

Is IXL free?

IXL lets children answer a limited number of questions a day for free. Full practice needs a paid membership, typically about $10 to $20 a month for families: IXL's family pricing lists plans from $9.95 to $19.95 a month.

Is IXL worth paying for?

IXL can be worth it for families who want a large, school-aligned skill library and detailed reports. If you'd rather not choose skills yourself, or want something shorter for a young child, a free, short practice option may fit better.

What grades does IXL cover?

IXL covers math from Pre-K through 12th grade. Bobby's Math Club covers Pre-K through 5th grade.

What is a free alternative to IXL?

Of the free alternatives to IXL for elementary math, Bobby's Math Club offers unlimited free practice for Pre-K through 5th grade, at just the right level for each child, with every question read aloud and plain-English progress emails for parents. Khan Academy is another free option, best for video lessons.

Can my child use IXL at school and Bobby's Math Club at home?

Yes. A few minutes of Bobby's Math Club at home adds calm practice alongside whatever your child's school uses.

What happens when my child gets a question wrong in Bobby's Math Club?

Your child sees a short, kind explanation and keeps going. There's no timer, hints are a tap away, and "I don't know yet" is always an OK answer. Children see their progress through badges, level-ups and celebrations.

IXL is a trademark of its owner. Bobby's Math Club is not affiliated with or endorsed by it.