The Best Math Curriculum for 2026: Free, Print and Online Picks
Updated · By Edulist · 12 sources
Our top picks
How we chose
- Full scope and sequenceEach pick covers whole grades in order. Practice apps and games are covered on other lists.
- Clear approachWe grouped picks by how they teach: conceptual, mastery, spiral or adaptive. The right approach for your child matters more than any ranking.
- Evidence and reputationWe gave weight to published evidence, such as Zearn's Evidence for ESSA rating, and to long, consistent records in independent reviews like Cathy Duffy's.
- Works at home and alongside schoolEvery pick can be used by a family directly, whether as a full homeschool program or to fill gaps next to school math.
- Transparent costPrices come from publisher pages or major retailers as of October 2026. Free options are flagged.
Rankings are editorial. Vendors can’t pay for placement. Prices and grades update from each listing.
1. Singapore Math
- Price
- From $13.60 one-time
- Grades
- K–6
- Type
- Curriculum, Books
Singapore Math's Primary Mathematics series teaches with objects, then pictures, then numbers, and leans hard on mental math and bar-model word problems. It is print-based and written for a parent or teacher to lead. A 2022 Edition semester with Student Book, Additional Practice and Home Instructor's Guide is about $53 at list price as of October 2026. Plan to teach most lessons and add fact practice.
Pros
- Deep number sense and word-problem skills
- Inexpensive for a full program
- Free placement tests for every level
Cons
- Parent-intensive
- Several editions confuse first-time buyers
Best for: Families who want kids to truly understand elementary math
2. Zearn Math
- Price
- Free
- Grades
- K–8
- Type
- App, Curriculum
Zearn is a free nonprofit program with more than 1,000 K–8 lessons led by on-screen teachers, digital manipulatives and paper-and-pencil problems. It is built from Eureka Math for K–5 and Open Up Resources for 6–8, and it holds a Strong (Tier 1) rating from Evidence for ESSA. It was designed to support a classroom teacher, so a home parent fills that role.
Pros
- Free for families
- Strong published evidence
- Natural fit if your school uses Eureka Math
Cons
- Built for classrooms; less home guidance
- Can feel slow for quick learners
Best for: Families who want free, structured grade-level lessons
3. Khan Academy
- Price
- From $3.67/mo
- Grades
- K–12 · College
- Type
- App, Course
Khan Academy offers free, ad-free math courses from kindergarten through AP Calculus, with videos, mastery practice, unit tests and parent assignment tools. It is run by a nonprofit and costs nothing; the optional Khanmigo AI tutor is $4 a month (October 2026). Many homeschoolers use it as a spine and pair it with a workbook. It is not accredited and offers little live help.
Pros
- Free for every grade
- Course challenges find gaps fast
- Strong high school and test prep coverage
Cons
- Not accredited; no transcripts
- Videos can feel dry
Best for: A free full course or a gap-filling backup at any grade
4. Saxon Math
- Price
- From $74.99 one-time
- Grades
- K–12
- Type
- Curriculum, Books
Saxon uses short incremental lessons and constant mixed review from Math K through Calculus. Homeschool kits usually run about $120 to $200 per level at major retailers (October 2026). It keeps skills from slipping and suits kids who like routine and worked examples. Lessons with 20–30 mixed problems can feel long, and it explains rules more than reasons.
Pros
- Daily review builds retention
- One series all the way to calculus
Cons
- Long lessons
- Procedural more than conceptual
Best for: Students who forget skills without steady review
5. Math-U-See
- Price
- From $5.83/mo
- Grades
- K–12
- Type
- Curriculum, Books
Math-U-See teaches each concept with color-coded blocks and a short video, then requires mastery before moving on. Levels run from Primer through Calculus, and level sets start around $206 including blocks (October 2026). It is a favorite for visual and hands-on learners and for kids who struggled in spiral programs. Geometry is lighter than most.
Pros
- Concrete blocks make ideas click
- Video teaching supports unsure parents
Cons
- Higher starting cost
- Plain upper-level workbooks
Best for: Hands-on learners and kids rebuilding confidence
6. Math Mammoth
- Price
- From $9.60 one-time
- Grades
- K–8
- Type
- Curriculum, Books
Math Mammoth offers conceptual, Singapore-style lessons in worktexts many kids can read themselves, from K to grade 8. A grade costs about $42.50 as a download and the full K–8 bundle is $245.50 (October 2026). Short explanations mean some students need help on harder word problems.
Pros
- Very affordable
- Can be used fairly independently
Cons
- Brief explanations
- PDF-first; print it or buy printed copies
Best for: Families who want depth on a small budget
7. Art of Problem Solving
- Price
- From $465 one-time
- Grades
- 5–12
- Type
- Curriculum, Books, Course
Art of Problem Solving publishes rigorous textbooks and live online courses from prealgebra through calculus, built around discovering ideas by trying hard problems first. Textbooks with solutions cost about $47–$74, live courses are priced per course, and the Alcumus practice system is free (October 2026). AoPS Online is accredited by ACS WASC. It is hard by design.
Pros
- Deep reasoning and contest preparation
- Books, live classes and free practice
- Accredited online courses
Cons
- Can discourage even strong students
- Live classes are expensive per course
Best for: Math-loving students who want more than school offers
8. Beast Academy
- Price
- From $5.42/mo
- Grades
- 1–6
- Type
- Curriculum, Books, App
Beast Academy is AoPS's elementary program for ages 6–13, taught through comic-book Guides and tough Practice problems, in print or online. BA Online is about $100 a year for all five levels (October 2026). It runs about a year ahead of typical standards and builds real problem-solving skills.
Pros
- Engaging comics and puzzles
- Leads straight into AoPS Prealgebra
Cons
- Very hard for kids with gaps
- Parents may need to coach
Best for: Strong elementary students who like a challenge
9. Teaching Textbooks
- Price
- From $4.08/mo
- Grades
- 3–12
- Type
- App, Curriculum
Teaching Textbooks runs Math 3 through Pre-Calculus in an app with animated lectures, step-by-step solutions and automatic grading. Levels cost $48.95 to $83.95 for a 12-month enrollment (October 2026), with a free 15-lesson trial. It paces gentler than many programs, so use the placement test.
Pros
- Students work on their own
- Automatic grading and gradebook
Cons
- Gentler pace than grade level
- Starts at Math 3
Best for: Families who need math to run without daily teaching
10. Math Academy
- Price
- $49/mo
- Grades
- 4–12 · College · Adult
- Type
- App, Course
Math Academy uses a diagnostic and a knowledge graph to move students from 4th grade math through AP Calculus and university math, with spaced review built in. Courses are accredited by ACS WASC with graded transcripts. It costs $49 a month per student with a full refund in the first 30 days (October 2026).
Pros
- Efficient, personalized pacing
- Accredited with transcripts
Cons
- No games or encouragement features
- Needs multiplication facts down first
Best for: Motivated students who want to move fast
Quick comparison
| Pick | Grades | Format | Price from (Oct 2026) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Singapore Math | K–6 | Print, parent-led | About $53 a semester | Conceptual K–5 |
| Zearn | K–8 | Online lessons | Free | Free grade-level lessons |
| Khan Academy | K–12 | Online | Free | Free full course |
| Saxon Math | K–12 | Textbook | About $120 a kit | Spiral review |
| Math-U-See | K–12 | Video + blocks | About $206 a level | Mastery, hands-on |
| Math Mammoth | K–8 | Worktext | $42.50 a grade | Budget depth |
| Art of Problem Solving | 5–12 | Books + live classes | About $47 a book | Advanced students |
| Beast Academy | 1–5 | Comics + online | About $100/yr | Challenging elementary |
| Teaching Textbooks | 3–12 | App | $48.95 a level | Independent work |
| Math Academy | 4–12 | Adaptive online | $49/mo | Fast, accredited |
The four kinds of math curriculum
The "best" math curriculum is really four different answers. Knowing which kind your child needs narrows the list fast.
| Type | What a lesson looks like | Examples | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Build with objects, draw a model, then write the numbers | Singapore Math, Math Mammoth, Beast Academy, Zearn | Needs teaching and extra fact practice |
| Mastery | One skill a week until it sticks, with review | Math-U-See | Can feel slow for quick kids |
| Spiral | A new bit each day plus mixed review of everything | Saxon | Long problem sets |
| Adaptive online | Software places, teaches and grades | Math Academy, Teaching Textbooks, Khan Academy | Kids can coast without check-ins |
How to choose the best math curriculum
Start with a placement test, not a grade. Free placement tests from Singapore Math, Math-U-See, Saxon retailers and Khan Academy's course challenges show where your child really is. Many kids test below or above their school grade in different strands.
Think about the whole path. A K–5 program like Singapore Math needs a plan for middle school. Common routes are Singapore or Beast Academy into Art of Problem Solving for strong students; Math Mammoth into Teaching Textbooks or Saxon for steady students; and Math-U-See straight through to calculus.
Be honest about teaching time. Singapore Math, Beast Academy in the early levels, and Saxon K–3 need a parent most days. Teaching Textbooks, Math Academy and Khan Academy do most of the teaching for you.
If your child is in school, don't buy a second full curriculum. Use Zearn if the school uses Eureka Math, or Khan Academy to fill gaps. For tutoring help, see the best online math tutoring.
What it costs (and how to get it funded)
As of October 2026, the range is wide: Zearn and Khan Academy are free; Singapore Math and Math Mammoth run under about $110 a year; most print programs land between $120 and $220 a level; Math Academy costs $49 a month; and AoPS live courses are priced per course, often several hundred dollars.
If you homeschool or use a private school choice program, curriculum is commonly an allowed expense, but each program decides. Save picks to your Edulist wishlist and check scholarships in your state, for example Arizona, Florida or North Carolina.
Mistakes to avoid
- Chasing the hardest program. Rigor only helps if your child can keep up. A frustrated child learns less from AoPS than a confident one learns from Saxon.
- Mixing two full methods. Running Saxon and Singapore side by side doubles the work and can confuse a child. Pick one core and add a light supplement.
- Skipping facts. Conceptual programs assume facts get practiced. Add Reflex Math or XtraMath.
Compare favorites in Saxon vs Singapore Math and Math-U-See vs Singapore Math. For homeschool-specific picks, see the best homeschool math curriculum, or browse every math curriculum.
See all curriculum math programs →
Sources
- Singapore Math: Primary Mathematics 2022 Edition
- Zearn: how Zearn Math works
- Zearn research
- Khan Academy: about
- Christianbook: Saxon homeschool math
- Math-U-See placement tool
- Math Mammoth complete curriculum
- Art of Problem Solving store
- AoPS online school catalog
- Beast Academy online enrollment
- Teaching Textbooks
- Math Academy courses
Questions
What math curriculum do most schools use?
US districts choose their own, so there is no single national curriculum. Eureka Math, Illustrative Mathematics and similar standards-aligned programs are common. If your child's school uses Eureka Math, Zearn follows the same lessons and is free for families.
Is Singapore Math better than Common Core programs?
They have more in common than people think: both stress understanding, models and word problems. Singapore Math is known for a tighter sequence and heavy mental math. The better choice is the one your child can follow with the teaching support you can give.
What is the best online math curriculum?
For free, Khan Academy and Zearn are hard to beat. For an independent paid option, Teaching Textbooks and CTC Math are popular. For accredited high school courses with transcripts, Math Academy and Art of Problem Solving online classes are strong choices.
Should I supplement school math at home?
If your child is behind or bored, yes, lightly. A free placement or course challenge on Khan Academy shows gaps, and 15 to 20 minutes a few times a week can close them. Avoid teaching a conflicting method without checking what the teacher uses.
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