➗ Math apps and platforms · 🏫 Classroom tools
DreamBox Math
By Discovery Education (formerly DreamBox Learning). Visit DreamBox Math
Desk research from the maker's own pages. Not yet tried by us. Checked 2026-10-24.
An adaptive math program for kindergarten through grade 8, now owned by Discovery Education. A child works through animated lessons and games that use virtual manipulatives such as number lines, beads and fraction bars, and the program adjusts the next step based on how the child solves each problem, not only whether the answer is right. Teachers and parents get dashboards. Most children use it through school; families can also subscribe at home.
Our take: A well-tested choice for K-5 math at school or home; families who want free practice or older-grade content may look elsewhere.
| Ages it suits | about 5-14 (grades K-8) |
|---|---|
| What its terms say about age | An individual must be 18 or older to register an account; a parent or guardian can then add child users under 18. School accounts are set up by the school. (terms) |
| Price | Paid. Home plans (USD, Oct 2026): individual $12.95 a month, $59.95 for 6 months, $99.95 a year or $250 for 10 years; family $19.95 a month, $99.95 for 6 months, $149.95 a year or $325 for 10 years. Free trial. Schools list $30 per student a year, site licenses from $7,900 (per Evidence for ESSA). |
| Works on | Web |
| Account | A parent's account |
| Ads | None |
| In-app purchases | None |
| The AI in it | No generative AI; its adaptive engine picks lessons and hints from how the child works each problem. |
What's good
- Independent randomized trials with a Strong ESSA rating
- Teaches ideas with visual models, not only drill
- Adapts to how a child solves, not just right or wrong
- One-time 10-year plan avoids monthly billing
Watch for
- Costs more than many home math apps
- Works best with about an hour a week of steady use
- Gains for older elementary students were small in one large trial
- Website marketing cookies track parents and teachers
Data and privacy
When a parent or teacher creates a student account, DreamBox collects the child's name, date of birth and class details, plus lesson and progress data; the terms say school-provided student data is used only to provide the service and is not sold. The public website uses marketing and advertising cookies on parents and teachers. Read the privacy policy.
Does it work?
Rated Strong by Evidence for ESSA based on two randomized studies (California charter schools and North Carolina), with an average effect of +0.10; results for grades 4-5 on the North Carolina state test were close to zero. The maker also cites its own usage studies.
In the Big Index
Alternatives to DreamBox Math
Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
99math
99math (Estonia) · ages about 5-14 (grades K-8)
A low-effort, free way for teachers to make fact practice lively; parents of kids who dislike timed competition may want a calmer tool.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
ABCmouse
Age of Learning, Inc. · ages about 2-6 (preschool to kindergarten)
A full preschool program for families who want one paid app; cancel carefully and watch the reward loop.
Desk researchFree, with paid extras
ABCya
ABCya.com LLC (a division of IXL Learning) · ages about 4-12 (pre-K to grade 6+)
Handy for quick grade-level practice in class or at home; skip if you want an ad-free experience without paying.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
Adventure Academy
Age of Learning, Inc. · ages grades 3-8 (about 8-13)
Good for kids who love online games and need a nudge toward school subjects; families wanting no social contact should set chat to off or choose a solo app.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
ALEKS
McGraw Hill (ALEKS Corporation) · ages school-age students through college (K-12 and higher ed courses)
A rigorous, mastery-based option for motivated older students or homeschoolers; younger or easily bored kids may prefer something more playful.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
AoPS Online
Art of Problem Solving (AoPS Incorporated) · ages grades 5-12 (about 10-18)
A strong fit for a child who loves hard math and wants contest prep; a child who is behind in math needs something gentler.
Where these facts come from
- https://www.dreambox.com/
- https://www.dreambox.com/family/pricing
- https://www.dreambox.com/terms
- https://www.dreambox.com/privacy
- https://www.evidenceforessa.org/program/dreambox-learning/
Prices, terms and features change. Nobody paid to be listed, nothing here is an affiliate link, and Peabody never rates itself. Where we and the maker disagree, the maker's own pages are the ones to trust.