IXL
An online practice program with thousands of skills in math (pre-K to calculus), language arts (pre-K–12), science and social studies, plus a Real-Time Diagnostic and personalized recommendations. Family plans start at $9.95 a month.
What is IXL?
IXL is an online practice program from IXL Learning in San Mateo, California. It breaks each subject into thousands of small skills. Kids answer questions on one skill until they show mastery, then move on. Math runs from pre-K to calculus, and language arts runs from pre-K to 12th grade. Science, social studies and Spanish are also available.
IXL is used in a huge number of schools, so many kids already know it. Families can buy their own membership to use it at home.
How it works
Most families start with the Real-Time Diagnostic. Your child answers adaptive questions for 45 to 60 minutes total, often split over a few days. IXL estimates a level in each strand and builds a list of recommended skills.
Each skill has a SmartScore from 0 to 100. Getting to 80 shows proficiency. Getting to 100 means mastery, but the last 10 points are the hardest. Correct answers add points, and wrong answers take points away, sometimes many at once. After a miss, IXL shows a worked explanation.
A typical day is 15 to 30 minutes on assigned skills. Parents check the analytics page to see time spent, trouble spots and every question missed.
What it covers
| Subject | Grades on IXL |
|---|---|
| Math | Pre-K through calculus |
| Language arts | Pre-K through grade 12 |
| Science | K through high school |
| Social studies | K through grade 12 |
| Spanish | Add-on |
IXL lines up with state standards and many textbooks. It explains after mistakes, but it doesn't teach a new topic the way a lesson or video course does.
Who it's best for
IXL suits kids who like clear goals and parents who want hard data. It's especially handy for homeschool families teaching several grades at once. Look elsewhere if your child gets upset over lost points. Khan Academy is free and more forgiving, and Zearn teaches concepts before practice.
Pricing at a glance
As of October 2026, IXL lists one subject at $9.95 a month, math plus language arts at $15.95 and core subjects at $19.95 per child. Yearly plans cost less, and siblings are discounted. New memberships carry a 30-day money-back guarantee. The full breakdown lives on the IXL pricing page.
Can a scholarship or ESA pay for it?
Some programs treat a subscription like IXL as an eligible educational software or instructional materials expense. Florida's PEP handbook lists instructional materials, for example, but every program writes its own rules. Start with our scholarships hub, then check your state, such as Florida or Arizona. Save IXL to your wishlist and apply once on Edulist.
How it compares
- Khan Academy is free, teaches with videos and is gentler on mistakes. See IXL vs Khan Academy.
- Prodigy is a free game for grades 1–8, more fun and less thorough. See IXL vs Prodigy.
- SplashLearn is more playful for pre-K to grade 5.
- DreamBox adapts lessons with virtual manipulatives for K–8. See DreamBox vs IXL.
- For a full online curriculum instead of practice, see IXL vs Time4Learning.
Browse more math programs or see our best math apps for kids.
Who IXL is for (and who it isn’t)
Best for
- Parents who want precise data on skill gaps
- Self-motivated students who like clear targets
- Homeschoolers who need independent practice across several subjects
- Families with kids at very different grade levels
Look elsewhere if
- Anxious or perfectionist kids who melt down over lost points
- Students who need concepts taught before they practice
- Families looking for a full curriculum
IXL pros and cons
Pros
- Huge scope: math from pre-K to calculus and language arts to grade 12
- Real-Time Diagnostic gives a clear starting point and action plan
- Detailed parent analytics, including trouble spots
- Explanations appear after every wrong answer
- Low-distraction design without game upsells
Cons
- SmartScore drops sharply after a mistake, which frustrates many kids
- Formatting quirks can mark a correct answer wrong
- Repetitive drill format; little conceptual teaching
- No real free version beyond a daily question limit
- Costs add up per child and per subject
What’s included
- Thousands of skills across math, language arts, science, social studies and Spanish
- SmartScore mastery scoring on every skill
- Real-Time Diagnostic that estimates grade level and suggests next skills
- Parent analytics, including trouble spots and question-by-question history
- Explanations after wrong answers, plus video lessons on many skills
How much does IXL cost?
IXL family memberships are per child. As of October 2026, IXL's pricing page lists a single subject at $9.95 a month, the math and language arts combo at $15.95 a month, and core subjects (math, language arts, science, social studies) at $19.95 a month. Independent price trackers report annual prices of $79, $129 and $159. Extra children cost less than the first; Spanish is an add-on.
| Plan | Price | Billed | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single subject, monthly | $9.95/mo | Monthly | $9.95/mo |
| Single subject, annual | $79/yr | Yearly | $6.58/mo |
| Combo (math + language arts), monthly | $15.95/mo | Monthly | $15.95/mo |
| Combo (math + language arts), annual | $129/yr | Yearly | $10.75/mo |
| Core subjects, monthly | $19.95/mo | Monthly | $19.95/mo |
| Core subjects, annual | $159/yr | Yearly | $13.25/mo |
Free trial: Families don't get a classic free trial. Without a membership, kids can answer a limited number of questions per day (IXL's user guide says 10 a day), and new family memberships carry a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Prices from the provider, checked 2026-10-13. Always confirm on the official site.
Future opening updates
Applications are not open on Edulist. Saving a product does not subscribe you or establish eligibility. Visit your wishlist to opt in for updates.
View wishlistWhat parents say
A summary of public parent feedback we read on forums, app stores and review sites. It is not a set of Edulist family reviews.
IXL draws strong opinions. Common Sense Media's 1,600+ parent reviews skew negative, mostly about the SmartScore system, which adds a few points for correct answers and takes away many more for a miss near mastery. Homeschool reviewers who use it as a supplement praise its breadth and reports. Search data shows thousands of monthly searches for phrases like "i hate ixl" and "ixl sucks."
Common praise
- Broad coverage across grades and subjects
- Clear data on exactly where a child is stuck
- Works independently for multi-child homeschools
Common complaints
- Punishing SmartScore causes stress and tears
- Correct answers marked wrong over formatting
- Repetitive and boring for some kids
Sources: commonsensemedia.org · ixl · trustpilot.com · ixl.com · homeschooltools.net · ixl
IXL family reviews
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IXL FAQs
How much does IXL cost per month?
As of October 2026, IXL lists family plans at $9.95 a month for one subject, $15.95 for math plus language arts and $19.95 for core subjects. Annual plans are reported at $79, $129 and $159. Additional children cost less than the first.
Is IXL free?
Not really. Without a membership, kids can answer a small number of questions each day, and progress isn't tracked. Many kids use IXL free through their school, which buys classroom licenses.
Does IXL have a free trial?
IXL offers classroom trials to teachers, not a standard family trial. Instead, family memberships bought on IXL.com come with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can request a full refund within the first month.
Why do so many kids hate IXL?
Mostly because of SmartScore. Correct answers raise the score a little, and a wrong answer near the top can drop it a lot, so kids may lose several minutes of progress in one mistake. Setting a time goal instead of a SmartScore goal often helps.
Is IXL good for homeschooling?
It's a strong supplement. It covers many subjects and grades, gives clear data and runs independently. It doesn't teach concepts deeply, so most homeschoolers pair it with a core curriculum.
How do I cancel IXL?
Sign in, go to Subscription details and click Cancel membership. You keep access until the end of the billing period. If you bought through Apple or Google, cancel in that app store.
Are there real IXL discount codes?
IXL's dependable savings are annual billing and the lower price for extra children. IXL sometimes runs seasonal promotions. We don't publish coupon codes because we can't verify them.
Can an ESA or scholarship pay for IXL?
Often it can be submitted as educational software, but approval depends on your program's rules. Save IXL to your Edulist wishlist and we'll help you match it with programs in your state.
Sources and last checked
Checked 2026-10-13 against these sources: