Khan Academy is one of the best free resources on the internet, and we recommend it often. It does a slightly different job from Bobby's Math Club, and the difference matters most for young children.
Here's how they compare, and how many families use both.
A quick note: we make Bobby's Math Club, and we've done our best to be fair. Details are as of October 2026.
How they compare, at a glance
| Feature | Khan Academy | ⭐ Bobby's Math Club |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 What you'll pay | Free (an optional paid AI tutor is available) | Free: unlimited practice |
| ⏱️ Time it takes | Flexible; lessons and practice often run 20+ minutes | About 5 minutes a day, at home |
| 📚 What your child does | Watches video lessons, reads articles and works through practice for each course | Short 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 you | Parents often help younger kids choose lessons and set goals | A few minutes a day; plain-English progress emails come to you |
| 😊 What keeps kids going | Points, badges and the satisfaction of finishing a course | Badges, level-ups and celebrations, with no timer |
| 🎯 Grades | Elementary through college | PK-5 |
Where Khan Academy shines
Khan Academy offers free video lessons, articles and practice for nearly every math topic. Its explanations are excellent, and it grows with your child all the way through high school and beyond. For ages 2 to 8, its separate Khan Academy Kids app is a lovely play-based option.
What it does well
- Free and nonprofit
- Excellent video explanations
- Covers every grade through college
- Great for learning a new concept
Good to know
- Younger kids often have a grown-up help pick lessons
- Khan Academy Kids is a separate app for ages 2–8
- Lessons and practice often run 20 minutes or more
- The optional AI tutor is paid
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 for young kids and busy parents.
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?
- "My child doesn't understand a topic from class." → Khan Academy's videos.
- "My child can't read yet." → Bobby's Math Club or Khan Academy Kids, which both read aloud.
- "I don't have time to choose what to practice." → Bobby's Math Club: your child just opens it and starts.
- "My middle schooler needs a full course." → Khan Academy.
You don't have to choose just one. Many families use Khan Academy when a new concept needs explaining and Bobby's Math Club as the five-minute habit. Both are free.
Questions parents ask
Is Khan Academy or Bobby's Math Club better?
They do different jobs. Khan Academy is wonderful for learning new topics through videos and for older students. Bobby's Math Club is made for short practice, about five minutes at a time, in Pre-K through 5th grade, at just the right level, with every question read aloud.
Is Khan Academy free?
Yes. Khan Academy is a nonprofit, and its lessons and practice are free. An optional paid AI tutor is available.
Is Khan Academy good for kindergarten?
Khan Academy's main site suits older students best. For young children, the separate Khan Academy Kids app and Bobby's Math Club both read aloud and suit pre-readers.
Can my child use Khan Academy and Bobby's Math Club together?
Yes. Use Khan Academy to learn a new concept and Bobby's Math Club for a few minutes of practice at your child's level.
Does Bobby's Math Club have video lessons?
Bobby's Math Club focuses on practice, with hints a tap away and a short, kind explanation after mistakes. For full video lessons on new topics, Khan Academy is a great free choice.
Is Bobby's Math Club really free?
Yes. Unlimited practice is free forever for Pre-K through 5th grade.
Khan Academy is a trademark of its owner. Bobby's Math Club is not affiliated with or endorsed by it.