Mathigon
A free interactive math site, now part of Amplify, with story-driven courses for middle and high school, a hint-giving virtual tutor, and the free Polypad virtual manipulatives that moved to Amplify's site.
What is Mathigon?
Mathigon is a free interactive math website that calls itself the mathematical playground and its courses the textbook of the future. It was started in London by Philipp Legner and has offered free materials in more than 20 languages since 2016. Amplify, a US curriculum company, acquired it in October 2021 and said the resources would stay free.
Mathigon is best known for two things: interactive courses for middle and high school, and Polypad, a set of virtual manipulatives that has since moved to Amplify's site.
How it works
Courses unfold like a story, with simulations, games and animations built into the text, so students interact with each idea instead of only reading about it. A virtual tutor offers hints when they get stuck. Lessons lean on storytelling, history and real-world applications to show why the math matters.
You can open course pages without an account, or sign in with Google or Microsoft. Students can work alone at their own pace. A parent's main job is to pick a topic and talk about it afterward.
Polypad is separate. It is a canvas of digital manipulatives, from fraction bars to algebra tiles, that students and teachers use for hands-on exploration. It now lives at polypad.amplify.com and uses Desmos sign-in.
What it covers
| Area | Middle school courses | High school courses |
|---|---|---|
| Geometry | Euclidean geometry, transformations and symmetry, triangles and trigonometry, polygons and polyhedra | Circles and pi, non-Euclidean geometry, fractals |
| Numbers and algebra | Divisibility and primes, sequences and patterns, quadratic equations | Exponential functions, logic, sets and proof |
| Probability and applications | Probability, statistics and data, combinatorics | Graphs and networks, codes and ciphers, game theory, chaos theory |
As of October 2026, many chapters are still marked under construction, including much of Quadratic Equations and Codes and Ciphers.
Who it's best for
Mathigon is a gem for curious and gifted math students in middle school and high school who want to explore. It also helps parents who want free manipulatives for younger kids through Polypad.
Look elsewhere if you need a complete course with grades and pacing.
Pricing at a glance
Free. The courses, tools and Polypad cost nothing, with no subscription.
Can a scholarship or ESA pay for it?
There is nothing to pay for. If your family uses an education savings account or a homeschool scholarship, put those funds toward a core math program and use Mathigon for enrichment. Save Mathigon and your main curriculum to your wishlist, then check scholarships in your state.
How it compares
Brilliant offers a similar interactive, problem-first style with more finished content, for a fee. Art of Problem Solving is the deep, rigorous choice for strong students. Khan Academy is free and covers a full scope with practice. For a structured, adaptive course, see Math Academy. Browse all high school math options.
Who Mathigon is for (and who it isn’t)
Best for
- Curious or gifted middle and high schoolers
- Families who want free, high-quality math enrichment
- Parents who want free virtual manipulatives through Polypad
Look elsewhere if
- Students who need a complete, graded math course
- Young children looking for structured lessons
- Anyone who needs the content to be fully finished
Mathigon pros and cons
Pros
- Completely free, with no subscription
- Beautiful, story-driven explanations with real-world uses and history
- Interactive simulations and a hint-giving tutor
- Polypad manipulatives work for every grade
Cons
- Many course chapters are still marked under construction
- Not a complete curriculum; no grades or pacing
- Content split across mathigon.org and Amplify's sites, which can confuse users
What’s included
- Interactive courses with simulations, games and animations
- Virtual tutor that gives hints as students work
- Courses on geometry, number theory, probability, graph theory, codes and more
- Polypad virtual manipulatives, now hosted by Amplify
- Free tools such as Timeline, Factris and Origami
- Free teacher resources
How much does Mathigon cost?
Everything on Mathigon is free: the interactive courses, tools and teacher resources. Polypad, its virtual manipulatives app, now lives at polypad.amplify.com and is still completely free for students, teachers and parents. When Amplify acquired Mathigon in October 2021, it said these resources would continue to be freely available.
Free trial: Not needed; it is free.
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.
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Mathigon FAQs
Is Mathigon free?
Yes. Mathigon's courses, tools and teacher resources are free, and Polypad is completely free for students, teachers and parents. Amplify committed to keeping them free when it acquired Mathigon in 2021.
What happened to Mathigon Polypad?
Polypad moved from mathigon.org to polypad.amplify.com in February 2024 and switched to Desmos sign-in. Amplify says it is still free and no saved work was deleted.
Who owns Mathigon?
Amplify, a US curriculum and assessment company, acquired Mathigon in October 2021. Founder Philipp Legner joined Amplify to lead Mathigon's products.
What grade level is Mathigon for?
Mathigon's courses are grouped as middle school and high school, roughly grades 6 to 12. Polypad's manipulatives, like fraction bars and algebra tiles, are useful from the early grades up.
Can Mathigon replace a math curriculum?
No. It is enrichment. Courses explore topics in depth but have no grading, pacing or full scope, and many chapters are unfinished. Use it alongside a core program.
Do I need an account to use Mathigon?
You can sign in with Google or Microsoft to save progress, but course pages are openly available. Polypad uses a Desmos account if you want to save work.
Sources and last checked
Checked 2026-10-13 against these sources: