Math anxiety is real, and it often starts when kids fall behind and can't catch up in a classroom moving at one pace for 25+ students. The right math website can let your child work at their own speed, fill gaps without shame, and—this is key—actually enjoy the process.

But here's the thing: not all math sites are created equal. Some are glorified worksheets with cartoon mascots. Others are so gamified that kids forget they're learning anything. And a few genuinely balance engagement with rigor.

The platforms below have been vetted by millions of families, backed by research showing measurable gains, and—most importantly—they give you visibility into what your kid is actually learning.

Best for: K-12, comprehensive learning, filling gaps
Cost: Free (seriously, completely free)
Ages: 2-18+

Khan Academy remains the gold standard for free math education in 2026. The library of video lessons and practice problems is created by expert educators and aligned to state standards, covering everything from counting to calculus.

What makes Khan Academy special is its mastery-based progression—kids can't move forward until they've demonstrated understanding, which prevents those knowledge gaps that compound over time. The platform tracks every skill, so you can see exactly where your child is thriving and where they're stuck.

New in 2024-2025: The AI-powered tutor Khanmigo (built on GPT-4) offers personalized hints and step-by-step explanations. Instead of just giving answers, it asks guiding questions—think Socratic method, but patient and available 24/7. This is a game-changer for kids who need help but don't want to ask in class.

Parent dashboard shows completed skills, time spent, and mastery levels. You can set goals, assign specific content, and actually see if that "I'm doing Khan Academy!" claim is homework or just YouTube in another tab.

For younger kids (ages 2-8), there's Khan Academy Kids—a separate app with story-based lessons, games, and songs that build early math foundations. Also completely free.

Bottom line: If you're only going to use one math resource, make it Khan Academy. It's free, it's comprehensive, and it actually works.

Best for: Making practice feel like play
Cost: Free for basic, paid memberships unlock extras
Ages: 6-14 (grades 1-8)

Prodigy turns math practice into a full RPG adventure. Kids create wizard avatars, explore fantasy worlds, battle monsters, and complete quests—all by solving standards-aligned math problems. It's the rare edutainment platform that kids genuinely beg to use.

The engagement numbers back this up: 91% of surveyed parents say their children enjoy using Prodigy. Teachers report measurable gains too—some see a 45% increase in standardized test scores after daily 25-minute sessions.

The platform adapts to your child's level, serving up problems that challenge without overwhelming. It also now includes English language arts content alongside math.

Parent/teacher dashboard provides detailed reports on skill growth, time spent, and areas needing work. You can see which specific standards your child has mastered and where they need more practice.

The catch: The free version is fully functional for learning, but paid memberships ($9.95-14.95/month) unlock cosmetic items, pets, and extra game content. This can create some "but everyone else has a membership!" pressure, especially in classrooms where Prodigy is assigned. Teachers get the platform free, which is why it's so common in schools.

Real talk: The gamification works, but it also means kids are motivated by leveling up their character, not necessarily by understanding fractions. That's fine—motivation is motivation—but don't expect deep mathematical reasoning. This is practice, not conceptual learning.

Best for: Comprehensive curriculum, detailed analytics
Cost: $9.95/month (one subject) to $19.95/month (all subjects)
Ages: Pre-K through 12th grade

IXL is the powerhouse platform serving over 17 million students who have collectively answered more than 160 billion questions. It covers math, language arts, science, social studies, and Spanish with an adaptive engine that adjusts difficulty in real-time.

The platform emphasizes mastery through practice—lots and lots of practice. Each skill has unlimited questions, and the system tracks performance with a "SmartScore" that shows progress toward mastery (100 means mastery, and it takes consistent correct answers to get there).

Real-time diagnostics show exactly where your child stands on each skill, with personalized recommendations for what to work on next. The analytics are incredibly detailed—you can see how long they spent, which questions they missed, and how their performance compares to grade-level expectations.

The awards and certificates system keeps kids motivated, and the "immersive learning experience" uses visual and interactive elements to make abstract concepts concrete.

The downside: IXL requires a paid subscription (unlike Khan Academy), and some kids find the interface less engaging than game-based platforms like Prodigy. The focus on drill-and-practice can also feel tedious for kids who prefer more creative or exploratory learning.

Best use case: Families who want comprehensive coverage across multiple subjects with granular tracking. If you're homeschooling or supplementing school with serious remediation, IXL's depth is hard to beat.

Best for: Logic, problem-solving, spatial reasoning
Cost: Free (ad-supported)
Ages: 8+

Coolmath Games is the site that's been unblocked in school computer labs since 2008. It's technically a "math" site, but really it's a collection of logic puzzles, strategy games, and brain teasers that build mathematical thinking without feeling like homework.

Games like Run 3, Papa's Freezeria, and Fireboy and Watergirl teach spatial reasoning, pattern recognition, and problem-solving. There's no curriculum alignment, no progress tracking for parents, and no explicit "learn fractions" goals—but kids are building the cognitive skills that underpin math success.

Real talk: This is where kids go when they finish their "real" work. And that's fine! The games are genuinely fun, and they're training brains to think logically. Just don't expect it to replace actual math practice.

Best for: Visualizing algebra, geometry, and data
Cost: Free
Ages: 10+ (middle school and up)

Desmos is the interactive graphing calculator that makes math visual. Kids can type in equations and instantly see the graphs, manipulate variables with sliders, and explore how functions behave.

It's especially powerful for algebra and pre-calculus, where being able to see what a function does makes abstract concepts click. Teachers love it because it's free and browser-based (no downloads, no accounts required for basic use).

There are also pre-built activities and lessons that guide students through concepts with interactive explorations. Think "what happens to the graph when you change the coefficient?" type investigations.

Parent note: This isn't a practice platform—it's a tool. Your kid won't spend hours on Desmos like they might on Prodigy. But when they're stuck on graphing or need to visualize a concept, it's invaluable.

Ages 5-8 (K-2nd grade):
Start with Khan Academy Kids for foundational skills in a playful, story-based format. Add Prodigy if they're ready for more structured practice.

Ages 8-11 (3rd-5th grade):
Khan Academy for comprehensive learning, Prodigy for daily practice, Coolmath Games for logic and fun.

Ages 11-14 (6th-8th grade):
Khan Academy remains essential, add Desmos for visualizing algebra. IXL if you want detailed tracking across subjects.

Ages 14+ (high school):
Khan Academy for everything from Algebra 2 through AP Calculus, Desmos for graphing and exploration.

1. Free doesn't mean worse.
Khan Academy is completely free and arguably the best resource available. Don't feel like you need to pay for a subscription unless you want the specific features (like IXL's detailed analytics or Prodigy's game extras).

2. These aren't magic bullets.
Even the best platform won't help if your kid is clicking through without thinking. The goal is understanding, not completion. Check in on what they're learning, not just that they spent 30 minutes on the site.

3. Gamification is a tool, not a solution.
Prodigy's RPG format gets kids to practice, but make sure they're connecting the math to real understanding. If they can't explain why an answer is correct, the game isn't doing its job.

4. Use the parent dashboards.
Every major platform has analytics for a reason. Spend 5 minutes a week reviewing what your child worked on, where they're struggling, and where they're excelling. That visibility is the real superpower of these tools.

5. Mix it up.
No single platform does everything. Khan Academy for instruction and conceptual learning, Prodigy for daily practice, Desmos for visualization, Coolmath for fun. Different tools for different needs.

The best math website for your family depends on your goals:

With 45% of families in our community using laptops for learning and screen time averaging over 4 hours a day, these platforms are a way to make some of that time genuinely productive. The key is picking tools that fit your child's learning style, using the parent dashboards to stay informed, and remembering that these are supplements—not replacements—for real math instruction.

Start with one platform, give it two weeks, and see if it sticks. If your kid is asking to do more math, you've found the right fit.

Want to explore more ways to make learning engaging? Check out our guides on coding websites for kids, educational YouTube channels, and screen time that actually builds skills.