Choosing a maths app for primary school: what parents should check

Disclosure: we build a maths app ourselves, Recheneule. The checklist below is still written so that it works for any app, including ours. At the end we show how Recheneule answers the points, so you can judge for yourself.

1. How much advertising is there?

Banners, videos between tasks and “rewards” for watching ads interrupt concentration, and children easily tap the wrong thing. While testing, check whether and how often ads appear. For apps, free often means paid for by advertising.

2. What does it really cost?

Trustworthy apps say clearly what is free and what is not. Watch for the difference between a one-off purchase and a subscription, and for purchases hidden inside the game. Turn on purchase authentication in Google Play so children cannot buy something by accident.

3. How does the app handle data?

Does the app need an account or an email address? For a maths exercise that is rarely necessary. On Google Play, the “Data safety” section shows what data is collected and shared. Also read the app’s privacy policy. The less data a children’s app collects, the better.

4. Does it work offline?

An app that runs without internet works on the train, on holiday and in the waiting room, and sends less data somewhere in the background.

5. Does the content fit the grade?

The number range should match the grade, and the task types should match what is currently taught. For the first grade, tasks with numbers up to 20 make sense, for the second grade tasks up to 100 with the times tables. Ask the teacher about the current stage.

6. Are mistakes explained?

A good app does not just say “wrong”; it shows the right route and lets the child try again. Check whether tasks are clearly worded and whether the child understands the rules.

7. Is pressure built up?

Time limits, lost streaks and rewards that disappear if you skip a day create pressure. A timer can make single game modes exciting but should not be everywhere. Good practice feels calm. How to practise without pressure is covered in the guide Practise without pressure.

8. Can parents see progress?

A clear overview of which tasks go well and where it gets stuck helps a conversation with your child, without you having to police them.

Are free apps automatically worse?

No, and expensive ones are not automatically better. What matters is how the app is financed and whether it pushes children into something. A free app with no ads and no data collection can be very good; a paid one with hidden purchases can be very poor.

The ten-minute test

Before your child uses a new app, try it yourself for ten minutes. Answer the eight questions above while you do. Also check whether you can leave the app easily: is there a clear “back” or “quit” button, or are you held in?

How does Recheneule score?

This is how we answer the points for Recheneule:

• Ads: none. The app shows no advertising.
• Cost: the app is free to install, and the full version can optionally be unlocked in the Play Store. RevenueCat processes technical purchase data for that.
• Data: no account, and progress stays on the device. Details are in the privacy policy.
• Offline: yes.
• Grade: grades 1 to 4, with number ranges from 20 to 10,000 and tasks in addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.

More on the Recheneule page.