Prodigy Alternatives That Aren't a Video Game

Many kids love Prodigy. They explore a fantasy world and answer math questions to win battles, and for a child who lights up at games, that can make math something they ask to do. Some families would like something different: a shorter session, a calmer screen, or a few minutes where the math is the whole activity. 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

Swipe the table sideways to see every program →

How to choose

Start with what you'd like to be different. These questions usually settle it.

• What does your child enjoy about Prodigy? If it's earning things, look for something with badges and celebrations. If it's the story, a video lesson may hold their attention. If it's the screen itself, try paper for a while.
• How long should math take? A game invites a child to keep playing. If you'd like math to be a few minutes, then done, choose something that ends on its own.
• How old is your child? Prodigy starts at 1st grade. For a preschooler or kindergartner, look for questions read aloud and very short sessions.
• Does your child need a topic explained, or practice? A video lesson teaches a new idea. Short, regular practice makes it feel easy.

If you want calm practice: five minutes, then done

I built Bobby's Math Club for young children and busy parents, and I use it with my own kids every week. There's no game world to explore. Your child just answers questions at a level that fits them, with every question read aloud, hints a tap away and a short, kind explanation after a mistake. They still earn badges and level-ups, and we stop everything and celebrate when they do. There's no timer, and "I don't know yet" is always an OK answer.

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, unlimited practice is free, and you get plain-English progress emails. For a closer look, read Prodigy vs. Bobby's Math Club.

If your child needs a topic explained: free video lessons

Khan Academy is a nonprofit with free video 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, with lessons that follow a school curriculum and a teacher on screen, free for families with an individual account.

If you want school skills, or a challenge

IXL has a huge library of skills matched to each grade, so you can practice exactly what's on the school worksheet. Children can try a few questions a day for free, and full practice needs a membership. For a child who is ahead and loves a puzzle, Beast Academy, from Art of Problem Solving, teaches through comic-book lessons and harder problems, for ages 6 to 13. It's a paid program, about $16 a month or $100 a year online at the time of writing.

If you'd like a break from screens: paper and everyday math

Math doesn't have to happen on a screen at all. A short worksheet at the kitchen table, a card game, or counting the apples at the store all count. Paper Practice prints a ten-problem sheet made for your child, and easy ways to make math fun at home has ideas that cost nothing.

Keeping Prodigy, and adding something calm

You don't have to take Prodigy away. Some families keep it for game time, with a time limit that suits them, and add a few calm minutes of practice on other days. If your child plays Prodigy at school, a short, quiet session at home gives them a different kind of math time.

Questions parents ask