Mathnasium helps a lot of children, and the drive two or three times a week doesn't fit every family. If you'd like your child to keep learning math at home, there are good options, from live tutoring on a screen to a few calm minutes at the kitchen table. 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 (November 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 and time | Good fit if |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathnasium at a center (for comparison) | In-person tutoring with a personal plan | ~$200–$400+/mo; about an hour, 2–3 times a week, plus travel | Your child is behind and needs topics re-taught |
| Mathnasium@home | Live online tutoring with Mathnasium instructors | Set by each center; sessions at the center's times | Your child likes Mathnasium and you'd like to skip the drive |
| Private tutor by video | One-on-one, on your schedule | Varies widely by tutor | You want one adult who knows your child |
| Khan Academy | Free video lessons and practice | Free; flexible | Your child is self-motivated |
| 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 |
| IXL | Online practice with a huge skill library | Free to start; memberships ~$10–$20/mo | Your child likes practice that matches school worksheets |
| Beast Academy | Comic-book lessons and challenging puzzles, for ages 6 to 13 | Online, about $16 a month or $100 a year | Your child is ahead and loves a puzzle |
| ⭐ Bobby's Math Club | Short practice at home, read aloud, with hints | Free; about 5 minutes a day | You want a calm, low-cost habit for PK-5 |
How to choose
Start with what Mathnasium does for your child, and which part you want to keep. These questions usually settle it.
- What do you want to keep? A person who re-teaches: tutoring from home. A plan at your child's level: practice at just the right level. Both: a tutor plus a few minutes of practice.
- What do you want to change? The drive, the price, or the time it takes from your week.
- How does your child like to work? With a tutor on camera, with a video, or on their own? Their answer matters more than a program's label.
- What can your week hold? Count the sessions and the reminders it will take, not just the monthly price.
If you want a person to keep teaching: tutoring from home
A person can notice where a child is stuck and explain it another way, and that works on a screen too. Mathnasium@home is Mathnasium's own live online tutoring, and each center runs its own, so ask yours about times and price. A private tutor by video can fit your schedule and your child's pace. Rates vary widely, so it's worth asking for a trial session. Read Mathnasium vs. Bobby's Math Club for how a tutor and a few minutes at home can work together.
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. It's about 5 minutes a day, at just the right level, with every question read aloud and hints a tap away, and unlimited practice is free. 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.
If you'd like to know where your child is before you start, our free diagnostic shows where they are in each area of math in about 10 minutes.
If a topic won't click: free video lessons
Sometimes a child needs a topic taught again before practice helps. Khan Academy is free, with video lessons for nearly every topic from kindergarten up. Zearn is free for families from kindergarten to 8th grade, with lessons that follow a school curriculum step by step.
If your child is ahead: a challenge at home
Beast Academy has comic-book lessons and challenging puzzles for ages 6 to 13, online for about $16 a month. IXL has a huge library of skills for every grade, with paid memberships, so a curious child can try what's coming next.
Using more than one
You don't have to pick one thing. Many families keep a tutor for re-teaching and add a few minutes of calm practice at home so it sticks. Others take a break from the center, practice at home, and go back if a topic needs a person.
Questions parents ask
What's the best Mathnasium alternative I can do at home?
It depends on what you want to keep. For a person teaching live, Mathnasium@home or a private tutor by video. For free lessons, Khan Academy and Zearn. For a short habit at just the right level, Bobby's Math Club: about 5 minutes a day for Pre-K through 5th grade, and unlimited practice is free.
Does Mathnasium offer online tutoring?
Yes. Mathnasium@home is live online tutoring with Mathnasium instructors. Each center runs its own, so ask your local center about times and price.
Is there a free alternative to Mathnasium?
Khan Academy and Zearn are free for families, and unlimited practice on Bobby's Math Club is free for Pre-K through 5th grade. None of them is a tutor, so if your child needs a person to re-teach a topic, a tutor is still worth a look.
Can an app replace a math tutor?
They do different jobs. A tutor teaches a topic and answers questions as they come up. An app is good for steady practice. Some children need one, some the other, and some both.
How much should my child practice at home?
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.
Which 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.
Mathnasium, Mathnasium@home, Khan Academy, Zearn, IXL and Beast Academy are trademarks of their respective owners. Bobby's Math Club is not affiliated with or endorsed by any of them.