The math app landscape changes every year. Apps that were great in 2024 have been abandoned. New tools have launched that didn't exist last year. Pricing has changed. Features have been added or removed. If you're choosing a math app for your child in 2026, you need a current guide — not a listicle from 2023 that still recommends apps that haven't been updated since the pandemic.
This is the 2026 guide. Every app on this list has been verified as actively maintained, currently available, and genuinely useful as of this year. We've tested them on current devices, checked current pricing, and evaluated them against current Common Core standards for middle school math.
How We Evaluated
- Last updated in 2025 or 2026. Apps that haven't been updated in over a year are dropped. Abandoned apps have bugs, security issues, and outdated content.
- Actual math content quality. Does the app teach real math aligned to standards? Or is it basic arithmetic with a game wrapper?
- Honest pricing. We list what you actually pay, not the "starting at" price that hides the real cost.
- Works on current devices. Tested on current iOS, Android, Chromebooks, and browsers.
- Parent/teacher visibility. Can you see what your child is actually learning?
Best Math Apps for Middle School (2026)
1. Infinilearn — Best Overall
Platform: Browser (works on all devices) · Price: Free · Grades: 6-8
Infinilearn is a fantasy RPG where students battle monsters by solving Common Core-aligned math problems. The adaptive difficulty system identifies each student's weak areas and targets them. Every problem covers real middle school content: ratios, expressions, equations, functions, geometry, and statistics.
What makes it #1 in 2026: It's the only app that combines genuine RPG engagement, adaptive difficulty, comprehensive middle school coverage, detailed parent and teacher dashboards, and zero cost. No other app hits all five.
Price: $0. No premium tier. No ads. No paywall on any feature.
2. Khan Academy — Best for Learning New Concepts
Platform: Browser, iOS, Android · Price: Free · Grades: All
Khan Academy remains the best free resource for learning math concepts you don't understand. The video lessons are clear, the practice is well-structured, and the mastery system ensures genuine understanding. The "Get Ready" courses for each grade level are excellent for summer prep.
2026 update: Khanmigo (AI tutor) is now available free for all users, adding conversational help alongside video lessons.
Price: $0.
3. Prodigy — Best for Elementary to Early Middle
Platform: Browser, iOS, Android · Price: Free with premium ($9.95/mo) · Grades: 1-8
Prodigy's wizard world is still the most popular math game for younger students. The content is strongest in grades 3-6. If your child is in that range and enjoys collect-and-battle mechanics, Prodigy delivers.
2026 update: Premium pricing remains the same. The paywall on rewards continues to be the primary parent complaint. Math content in grades 7-8 has improved slightly but still isn't as rigorous as dedicated middle school tools.
Honest price: Free to play, but the full experience requires $9.95/month ($119/year).
4. IXL — Best for Diagnostic Assessment
Platform: Browser, iOS, Android · Price: $9.95/mo (one subject) to $19.95/mo (all subjects) · Grades: K-12
IXL's diagnostic tool is the most precise available for identifying exactly where a student stands relative to grade-level expectations. The skill-by-skill breakdown is invaluable for targeted remediation. The practice is thorough and rigorous.
2026 update: Pricing unchanged. The SmartScore system remains polarizing — effective for tracking mastery but stressful for anxious students.
Honest price: $9.95-19.95/month. The free version is essentially a demo (very limited daily problems).
5. Desmos — Best Math Tool
Platform: Browser, iOS, Android · Price: Free · Grades: 6-12
Desmos is less an "app" and more an essential math tool. The graphing calculator, geometry tool, and activity builder are used on standardized tests and in classrooms nationwide. Every middle and high school student should be familiar with Desmos.
2026 update: Now part of Amplify. All tools remain free.
Price: $0.
6. Photomath — Best Homework Helper
Platform: iOS, Android · Price: Free (basic), Photomath Plus $9.99/mo · Grades: All
Point your camera at a math problem and get a step-by-step solution. The free version shows answers; the paid version explains each step with multiple solution methods. Useful as a learning tool when used to understand process, problematic when used as an answer machine.
2026 update: Now owned by Google. Integration with Google Lens means you can access similar functionality through the Google app.
Honest price: Free for basic answers. $9.99/month for explanations.
7. Brilliant — Best for Advanced Students
Platform: Browser, iOS, Android · Price: Free (limited), Premium $24.99/mo · Ages: 13+
Brilliant offers interactive courses in math, science, and computer science that go far beyond standard curriculum. The puzzle-based approach develops mathematical thinking, not just computation. Ideal for gifted students or anyone who wants to explore math beyond what school offers.
2026 update: New courses in data science and AI fundamentals. Free tier remains very limited.
Honest price: $24.99/month ($149.99/year). The free tier is too limited for meaningful use.
8. DeltaMath — Best for High School Rigor
Platform: Browser · Price: Free (basic), DeltaMath Plus (paid, school pricing) · Grades: 6-12
DeltaMath provides the most rigorous online math practice available. Free-response answers (not just multiple choice), step-by-step solutions, and coverage through calculus. Many high school teachers use it for homework. Not gamified at all — it's pure practice.
Price: Free for students (teachers may need Plus for advanced features).
Quick Comparison
Here's what to use based on your specific need:
- Game-based practice (grades 6-8): Infinilearn (free)
- Game-based practice (grades 1-6): Prodigy (free/$9.95mo)
- Learning new concepts: Khan Academy (free)
- Diagnostic assessment: IXL ($9.95-19.95/mo)
- Graphing and tools: Desmos (free)
- Homework help: Photomath (free/$9.99mo)
- Advanced enrichment: Brilliant ($24.99/mo)
- Rigorous high school practice: DeltaMath (free)
Most students benefit from 2 apps: one for practice (Infinilearn or Prodigy) and one for learning concepts (Khan Academy). Everything else is supplementary.
The Bottom Line
The best math apps in 2026 are mostly the same tools that were best in 2025 — they've just gotten better. The biggest shift is that genuinely free, high-quality options now exist at every level. You don't need to spend money on math apps unless you want specific features (IXL's diagnostics, Brilliant's advanced content). For most middle school students, Infinilearn for practice and Khan Academy for instruction covers everything — both free, both excellent, both actively maintained.